ABSTRACT
It is the presence of cis-hydroxyl pairs in the component sugars of galactomannan and glucomannan polysaccharides that makes a major difference in their interactions when compared to those in cellulose. Cellulose and starch, which are two glucose homopolymers, have all trans-hydroxyl pairs in their component sugar, glucose. There is also much difference in the functional properties and interactions of soluble cellulose derivatives (e.g., carboxymethylcellulose [CMC]) on one hand and galactomannans on the other hand. Both these groups of polysaccharides have a backbone composed of β(1→4)-linked pyranose sugars.
