PHYSICAL-CHEMICAL CHARACTERIZATION, MICROSCOPIC SWEEPING AND X-RAY DISPERSION OF CLASSY MIXED BY Opuntia ficus indica IN THE HIGH REGION OF TACNA

Abstract

The object of this study is to describe some of the characteristics of the mucilage (polymer) of nopal, which originates from the Opuntia ficus plant cultivated in the district of Sitajara. To accomplish the study the mucilage was first dried into a dust through the method of thermic shock and precipitation in alcohol. The dry dust was analyzed through microscopic scanning and the dispersion of X rays, through which the elemental composition of the mucilage was obtained. Consecutively, a rough and porous surface appeared in the image which permitted us to observe a great capacity of water absorption and enlargement due to the roughness and porousness. The physiochemical characterization consists of an analysis of testing the enlargement, ash contents, pH, amount of uranic acid, and solubility. This analysis was complimented by the inclusion of fine cap chromatography, which confirmed the absence of alkaloids, flavonoids, tannins and terpenes; in addition to an analysis with the Kjeldahl method which indicates a slight presence of proteins.