Thermal behavior of cashew gum by simultaneous TG/DTG/DSC-FT-IR and EDXRF

Cashew gum, an exudate polysaccharide from Anacardium occidentale L., was purified by alcohol precipitation. Thermal behavior of this polysaccharide was investigated by simultaneous TG/DTG/DSC-FT-IR analysis performed under nitrogen and air atmospheres and heating rate of 10 K min^?1. TG/DTG curves under oxidative atmosphere were similar to the curves under N₂ atmosphere until 340 °C, however, it was observed a profile difference due to the presence of two DTG peaks at 430 and 460 °C. DSC results showed endothermic and exothermic events corroborating with TG/DTG curves. The Simultaneous TG/DSC-FTIR analysis revealed that evolved gases from the decomposition of cashew gum sample were CO₂, CO, and groups: O–H, C–H, C=O, C–C, and C–O, in nitrogen and air atmospheres. Energy dispersive X-ray fluorescence analysis from the ash showed that the elements in larger amounts are CaO, MgO, and K₂O.