Phase behaviour of oat β-glucan/sodium caseinate mixtures varying in molecular weight

Jacob K. Agbenorhevi, Vassilis Kontogiorgos, Stefan Kasapis

Research output: Contribution to journalArticlepeer-review

14 Citations (Scopus)

Abstract

The isothermal phase behaviour at 5 °C of mixtures of sodium caseinate and oat β-glucan isolates varying in molecular weight (MW) was investigated by means of phase diagram construction, rheometry, fluorescence microscopy and electrophoresis. Phase diagrams indicated that the compatibility of the β-glucan/sodium caseinate system increases as β-glucan MW decreases. Images of mixtures taken at various biopolymer concentrations revealed phase separated domains. Results also revealed that at the state of thermodynamic equilibrium, lower MW samples yielded considerable viscosity in the mixture. At equivalent hydrodynamic volume of β-glucan in the mixtures, samples varying in molecular weight exhibited similar flow behaviour. A deviation dependent on the protein concentration was observed for the high MW sample in the concentrated regime due to the size of β-glucan aggregates formed. Results demonstrate that by controlling the structural features of β-glucan in mixtures with sodium caseinate, informed manipulation of rheological properties in these systems can be achieved.

Original languageEnglish
Pages (from-to)630-637
Number of pages8
JournalFood Chemistry
Volume138
Issue number1
Early online date12 Nov 2012
DOIs
Publication statusPublished - 1 May 2013

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