Fabrication of water-soluble loose-fill foam from tamarind (Tamarindus indica L.) seed polysaccharide by mechanical frothing and freeze-drying process

Abstract

The water-soluble loose-fill foam obtained from tamarind seed polysaccharide (TSP) was successfully prepared by a combination of mechanical frothing and freeze-drying process. The effects of TSP concentration, plasticizer content, and surfactant content on the cellular morphology, physical properties, mechanical properties, and moisture absorption were investigated. The cellular structure of TSP foam exhibited an open cell structure with a non-uniform size of the cell window, and the density varied in a range of ∼0.006–0.106 g/cm3. Foam preparation with high TSP concentration, low plasticizer as well as glycerol content enhanced the mechanical properties of the obtained foam, including tensile strength, compressive strength, and hardness. The high compressive strength of TSP foams up to ∼1.03 MPa can be produced which demonstrates that TSP foam is capable to use as a loose-fill product.