Moisture

Mineralogy

Food science

Organic chemistry

Chemistry

Journal of Food Science and Technology-mysore

Papad khar (also known as sajji khar) is used in the preparation of papads (see preceding abstr.) to improve dough rolling properties and frying quality. It is an efflorescent ash obtained either from alkaline deposits in the soil or by burning a variety of plants, e.g. Salicornia, Arthrocnemum, Salsola, Haloxylon recurvum. 13 samples of papad khar obtained from different areas of India were examined and, on the basis of their appearance, classified into 3 groups. Ranges of the various characteristics examined were: sp. gr. of crystalline samples 1.245-1.738, bulk density of powdered samples 0.552-0.824; moisture 0.6-26.3%, total ash 71.7-96.5%, acid-insoluble ash 0-28.4%, carbonates 1.6-58.3%, bicarbonate 0-18.9%, chlorides 1.2-72.0%, Fe 0-5.5%, sulphate S 0.9-2.6%, and volatile sulphide S 0.5-1.6%. Since it is the bicarbonates and carbonates which have the most significant effects on papad quality it is recommended that papad khar be replaced by food grade carbonates to overcome the wide variation in the properties of this ash.

Physico-chemical characteristics of papad (sajji) khar.