Anyone tried boiling their gum arabic?

Aimee Danger

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I'm making my own solution from powder and have added too much water to this batch (not by much, but enough that I think it'll impede a good layer). I was thinking of either adding preservative and then evaporating it by leaving the lid off (slow) or just heating it on the stove to evaporate it before putting a preservative in it. Does anyone have enough experience with gum arabic to offer suggestions?
I can't find anything online about what happens chemically when you heat a gum arabic solution.
 

SilverShutter

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Seems like something that would work well. AFAIK gum arabic is used in the food industry, so it would seem it can handle heat. I wouldnt bring it to boiling, but probably heating it midly to evaporate will work although it may take a much longer time.
 

removed account4

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hi aimee

you might consider heating it in a double boiler so it is a gentler boil.
no clue what happens to GA when it is boiled i get mine pre solution'ized !
sounds like a messy job mixing it oneself ...
 
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Aimee Danger

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I decided to go with the 'add more gum' route instead of trying to evaporate what I had. However, I took a small amount and put it on a mug warmer that I use to keep wax liquid. It evaporated nicely, leaving a sticky scum as it shrunk in the cup. I'd recommend using this method if you ever needed to concentrate your gum solution, though it will take a while.
 
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