Impact of High Hydrostatic Pressure on the Emulsifying Properties of Whey Protein Isolate–Chitosan Mixtures

The influence of high hydrostatic pressure (HHP) on the emulsifying properties of whey protein isolate (WPI) and chitosan mixtures in sunflower oil-in-water emulsion has been investigated at pH 4.0. WPI and chitosan mixtures at various ratios were treated at pressure levels in the range of 0–600 MPa for 10–30 min. The emulsifying properties of the mixtures were analyzed by dynamic light scattering and a centrifugal sedimentation technique. HHP treatments of the mixtures resulted in improvement in their emulsifying properties, with the emulsions formed showing more than threefold reductions in droplet size, much more homogeneous droplet distribution, and better creaming stability. The higher the treatment pressure was, the smaller the droplet size and more stable the emulsions were, with those prepared with the mixtures treated at 600 MPa showing no noticeable creaming after 30 days of storage at ambient temperature. The ratio of WPI to chitosan and treatment time also affected the emulsification stability of the mixtures, with a WPI to chitosan ratio of 1:4 (w/w) and treatment time of 20 min found to be the optimum conditions. These results showed that HHP could be a useful method for enhancing the emulsifying properties of protein–polysaccharide mixtures.     

Physicochemical properties and emulsion stabilization of rice dreg glutelin conjugated with κ‐carrageenan through Maillard reaction

BACKGROUND: Rice dreg is an underutilized source of cereal protein with good potential for application in the food industry. Glutelin represents about 850 g kg^?1 of total storage protein in rice dreg. The objective of this study was to characterize the physicochemical properties and emulsion stabilization of the Maillard type conjugate formed with rice dreg glutelin (RDG) and κ‐carrageenan (1:2 weight ratio) dry‐heated at 60 °C and 79% relative humidity for 24 h. RESULTS: Sodium dodecyl sulfate‐polyacrylamide gel electrophoresis and Fourier transform‐infrared analysis provided evidence on the formation of the Maillard type conjugation. Amino acid analysis suggested that the major locus during the Maillard reaction were lysine and arginine. Circular dichroism spectra showed decreasing amounts of α‐helix and β‐strand in the products with increment in the amount of turns and random coil. Conjugation with κ‐carrageenan could significantly improve solubility of RDG (P < 0.05). Measurements of mean droplet size and creaming stability in oil‐in‐water emulsions showed that the conjugate was more effective at stabilizing emulsions at low pH or in the presence of high ionic strength. CONCLUSION: The Maillard reaction can be successfully used as a coupling method for RDG and κ‐carrageenan to form the conjugate with improved solubility and emulsion stabilization. Copyright © 2012 Society of Chemical Industry     

Stabilization of soybean oil body emulsions using κ, ι, λ-carrageenan at different pH values

Oil bodies, with their unique structural proteins, oleosins, are known to be useful in foods and other emulsion systems. The influence of ??, ??, and ??-carrageenans on the stability of soybean oil body emulsions at different pH values (pH 3, 4, 5 and 7) was investigated by particle electrical charge, particle size distribution, creaming stability and confocal laser scanning microscopy measurements. In acidic environment (pH 3, 4 and 5), the droplet charge of soybean oil body emulsions stabilized with carrageenan decreased with increasing carrageenan concentration for all types of carrageenan investigated, suggesting their adsorption to the oil body droplet surfaces. Extensive droplet aggregation and creaming were observed in the emulsions stabilized with ??-carrageenan at pH 3 and 5, indicating that soybean oil body droplets were bridged by carrageenan. At pH 7, there was no significant change in the droplet charge of soybean oil body emulsions stabilized with three types of carrageenan, but the emulsions stabilized with ??-carrageenan were more stable to creaming due to depletion flocculation than the emulsions stabilized with ?? or ??-carrageenan after seven days storage. The probable reason was that ??-carrageenan, which had the most densely charged helical structure, was most effective at creating highly charged interfacial membranes, thus reducing the depletion flocculation to occur.     

Chloroplast thylakoid membrane-stabilised emulsions

BACKGROUND: Thylakoid‐stabilised emulsions have been reported to possess satiety‐promoting effects and inhibit pancreatic lipase–colipase activity in vitro, which prompted the investigation of their interfacial properties. RESULTS: Thylakoid membranes isolated from spinach were used as an emulsifier/stabiliser in oil (triglyceride)‐in‐water emulsions. Emulsions were characterised with respect to droplet size, interfacial tension, creaming, surface load and electron microscopy. The effects of pH and thylakoid concentration were also considered. Droplet size decreased with increasing thylakoid concentration, reaching a plateau around 15 µm beyond concentrations of 2 mg protein mL^?1 oil. The resulting emulsions were stable against coalescence but were subject to creaming. The surface pressure (air/water interface) of the thylakoid isolate was 44 mN m^?1 and the surface load 13 mg m^?2 at 10 mg protein mL^?1 oil. Electron micrographs showed thylakoids adsorbed as bunched vesicles on the drop surfaces. The stabilisation mechanism can be described as a combined effect of surface‐active molecules, mainly membrane proteins but also membrane lipids, exposed on surfaces of thylakoid membrane vesicles adsorbed as particles. CONCLUSION: Thylakoid membranes effectively stabilise oil‐in‐water emulsions, which should facilitate their incorporation in food with satiety‐promoting effects. To the authors' knowledge, this is the first study on the emulsifying properties of an isolated biological membrane as a functional ingredient. Copyright © 2010 Society of Chemical Industry     

Influence of xanthan gum on the formation and stability of sodium caseinate oil-in-water emulsions

Studies have been made of the changes in droplet sizes, surface coverage and creaming stability of emulsions formed with 30% (w/w) soya oil, and aqueous solution containing 1 or 3% (w/w) sodium caseinate and varying concentrations of xanthan gum. Addition of xanthan prior to homogenization had no significant effect on average emulsion droplet size and surface protein concentration in all emulsions studied. However, addition of low levels of xanthan (≤0.2 wt%) caused flocculation of droplets that resulted in a large decrease in creaming stability and visual phase separation. At higher xanthan concentrations, the creaming stability improved, apparently due to the formation of network of flocculated droplets. It was found that emulsions formed with 3% sodium caseinate in the absence of xanthan showed extensive flocculation that resulted in very low creaming stability. The presence of xanthan in these emulsions increased the creaming stability, although the emulsion droplets were still flocculated. It appears that creaming stability of emulsions made with mixtures of sodium caseinate and xanthan was more closely related to the structure and rheology of the emulsion itself rather than to the rheology of the aqueous phase.     

Interaction between Emulsion Droplets and Escherichia coli Cells

ABSTRACT Oil‐in‐water emulsions (20% n‐hexadecane, v/v) were stabilized by dodecyltrimethylammonium bromide (DTAB), Tween 20, or sodium dodecyl sulfate (SDS). Particle size distribution and creaming stability were measured before and after adding Escherichia coli cells to emulsions. Both E. coli strains promoted droplet flocculation, coalescence, and creaming in DTAB emulsions, although JM109 cells (surface charge = ‐35 mV) caused faster creaming than E21 cells (surface charge = ‐5 mV). Addition of bacterial cells to SDS emulsions promoted some flocculation and coalescence, but creaming stability was unaffected. Droplet aggregation and accelerated creaming were not observed in emulsions prepared with Tween 20. Surface charges of bacterial cells and emulsion droplets played a key role in emulsion stability.     

The effect of chitosan on the properties of emulsions stabilized by whey proteins

The influence of the cationic amino polysaccharide chitosan content (0–0.5%) on particle size distribution, creaming stability, apparent viscosity, and microstructure of oil-in-water emulsions (40% of rapeseed oil) containing whey protein isolate (WPI) (4%) at pH 3 was investigated. The emulsifying properties, apparent viscosity and phase separation behaviour of aqueous WPI/chitosan mixture at pH 3 were also studied. The interface tension data showed that WPI/chitosan mixture had a slightly higher emulsifying activity than had whey protein alone. An increase in chitosan content resulted in a decreased average particle size, higher viscosity and increased creaming stability of emulsions. The microstructure analysis indicated that increasing concentration of chitosan resulted in the formation of a flocculated droplet network. This behaviour of acidic model emulsions containing WPI and chitosan was explained by a flocculation phenomenon.     

Characterization of Phase Separation Behavior, Emulsion Stability, Rheology, and Microstructure of Egg White–Polysaccharide Mixtures

ABSTRACT:  Phase separation behavior of egg white-pectin/guar gum mixtures was investigated. These systems led to phase separation arisen by either depletion flocculation or thermodynamic incompatibility. The influence of polysaccharides on the emulsifying activity index (EAI), emulsifying stability index (ESI), creaming stability, microstructure, and rheological properties was also studied at different polysaccharide concentrations (0% to 0.5%, [w/v]). Increasing pectin and guar gum concentration from 0.01% to 0.5% significantly improved EAI by 51% and 25%, respectively. The highest ESI and EAI values were obtained in the presence of 0.5% (w/v) pectin/guar gum. Microscopic images showed that emulsions containing polysaccharides had small droplets as compared to that of emulsions without polysaccharides. The addition of polysaccharides improved emulsion stability against creaming. Egg white-stabilized emulsions with and without polysaccharides reflect the pseudoplastic behavior with  n  < 1.0. Polysaccharides, especially at high concentrations, affected the viscoelastic behavior of the emulsions; storage ( G ') and loss modulus ( G ") crossed-over at lower frequency values as compared to that of emulsions containing no polysaccharide.     

Physical and oxidative stability of whey protein oil-in-water emulsions produced by conventional and ultra high-pressure homogenization: Effects of pressure and protein concentration on emulsion characteristics

Oil-in-water pre-emulsions (15% sunflower + 5% olive oils) obtained by colloid mill homogenization (CM) at 5000 rpm using whey protein isolate at different levels (1, 2 and 4%) were stabilized by ultra high-pressure homogenization (UHPH, 100 and 200 MPa) and by conventional homogenization (CH, 15 MPa). Emulsions were characterized for their physical properties (droplet size distribution, microstructure, surface protein concentration, emulsifying stability against creaming and coalescence, and viscosity) and oxidative stability (hydroperoxide content and thiobarbituric acid reactive substances, TBARs) under light (2000 lux/m² for 10 days). UHPH produced emulsions with lipid droplets of small size in the sub-micron range (100–200 nm) and low surface protein with unimodal distribution when produced at 4% whey proteins and 200 MPa. All emulsions exhibited Newtonian behavior (n ≈ 1). Long term physical stability against creaming and coalescence was observed in UHPH-emulsions, compared to those obtained by CM and CH. However, CH emulsions were highly stable against creaming (days) in comparison to the CM emulsions (hours). UHPH resulted in emulsions highly stable to oxidation compared to CM and CH treatments, especially when 100 MPa treatment was applied.Industrial relevanceIn the food, cosmetic and pharmaceutical sectors, industrial operators are currently interested in developing encapsulating systems to delivery bioactive compounds, which are generally hydrophobic, unstable and sensitive to light, temperature or/and oxygen. Ultra high-pressure homogenization is capable of producing stable submicron emulsions (< 1 μm) with a narrow size distribution, inducing more significant changes in the interfacial protein layer thus preventing droplet coalescence and also inhibit lipid oxidation. The present study suggests that emulsions produced by whey protein (4%) treated by ultra high-pressure homogenization have a good physical stability to flocculation, coalescence and creaming and also high stability to lipid oxidation, opening a wide range of opportunities in the formulation of emulsions containing bioactive components with lipid nature.     

pH-dependent emulsifying properties of pea [Pisum sativum (L.)] proteins

Emulsifying properties of two partially purified legumin and vicilin (PL and PV) and protein isolate (PPI) from dry pea seeds at various pH values (3.0, 5.0, 7.0 and 9.0) were investigated. The tested emulsion characteristics included droplet size, flocculation and coalescence indices (FI and CI), creaming index, as well as interfacial protein adsorption. Some physicochemical properties of these proteins, e.g., free sulfhydryl and disulfide bond contents, protein solubility (PS), surface hydrophobicity (H_o) and thermal stability (and denaturation), were also characterized. The results indicated that emulsifying ability and emulsion stability of various pea proteins considerably varied with the preparation process, protein composition and pH. Overall, all the pea proteins exhibited least emulsifying ability at pH 5.0 (around isoelectric point), and concomitantly, the resultant emulsions were most unstable against coalescence and creaming. The emulsifying ability of these proteins at pH 3.0 was generally better than that at neutral or alkali pH values, and among all the three proteins, PL exhibited highest emulsifying ability at this pH. The flocculated state and size of droplets in fresh emulsions did not directly affect stability of these emulsions against flocculation and coalescence (upon 24 h of storage), and even creaming (up to 7 days). Interestingly, the PL and PV exhibited much better creaming stability than PPI, at pH deviating from the pI. The emulsifying properties of these proteins were not only related to their PS and H_o, but also associated with the protein adsorption and nature (e.g., viscoelasticity) of interfacial protein films. These results can greatly extend the knowledge for understanding the emulsifying properties of pea proteins, especially the pH dependence of emulsion characteristics.     

Improvement of emulsifying properties of milk proteins with κ or λ carrageenan: effect of pH and ionic strength

The objective of this work was to determine the effect of λ‐carrageenan or κ‐carrageenan on the emulsion capacity, emulsion work and emulsion stability of milk proteins concentrate (MP) or sodium caseinate (SC) emulsions at different levels of pH and ionic strength. Incorporation of carrageenans to proteins emulsions resulted in an improvement of emulsifying properties at pH 6.0 and low ionic strength (0.2 m NaCl). Although emulsion capacity was high in MP than for SC, irrespectively of carrageenan employed, addition of λ‐carrageenan increased twofold emulsion work values (15 327 Ω s^?1 for MP and 11 455 Ω s^?1 for SC; around 6000 Ω s^?1 in the other treatments). Emulsion stability was high with λ‐carrageenan (9.8 s) than MP‐κ‐carrageenan or MP (7.45 and 7.40 s, respectively). Carrageenan improving of emulsion properties was because of the complex formation with MP, characteristic of this type of food system when pH was above of isoelectric point.     

Depletion Flocculation of Beverage Emulsions by Gum Arabic and Modified Starch

ABSTRACT: The creaming velocity, apparent viscosity, and ultrasonic attenuation spectra (1 to 50 MHz) of 5 wt% n hexadecane oil-in-water emulsions containing different droplet radii (r = 0.15 - 0.7 μm), biopolymer types (gum arabic or modified starch), and biopolymer concentrations (0 to 2.5 wt%) were measured. Depletion flocculation was observed in the emulsions when the nonabsorbed biopolymer concentration exceeded a critical concentration (CFC). The CFC increased with decreasing droplet radius for both biopolymers because the magnitude of the depletion attraction increases with droplet size. The CFC was lower for gum arabic than modified starch because it has a higher effective volume in solution. Depletion flocculation led to an increase in creaming instability and apparent viscosity of the emulsions. Flocculation could be nondestructively monitored by measuring the decrease in ultrasonic attenuation of the emulsions. These results show that depletion flocculation by gum arabic and modified starch can have an adverse effect on the stability of beverage emulsions.     

Effect of CaCl2 and KCl on Physiochemical Properties of Model Nutritional Beverages Based on Whey Protein Stabilized Oil-in-Water Emulsions

ABSTRACT: Calcium chloride (0 to 10 mM) and potassium chloride (0 to 600 mM) were added into model nutritional beverage emulsions containing 7% (w/w) soybean oil droplets and 0.35% (w/w) whey protein isolate (pH 6.7). The particle size, surface charge, viscosity, and creaming stability of the emulsions then were measured. The surface charge decreased with increasing mineral ion concentration. The particle size, viscosity, and creaming instability of the emulsions increased appreciably above critical CaCl₂ (3 mM) and KCl (200 mM) concentrations because of droplet flocculation. The origin of this effect was attributed to reduction of the electrostatic repulsion between droplets due to electrostatic screening and ion binding. CaCl₂ promoted emulsion instability more efficiently than KCl because Ca²⁺ ions are more effective at reducing electrostatic repulsion than K⁺ ions.     

Flocculation of Whey Protein Stabilized Emulsions as Influenced by Dextran Sulfate and Electrolyte

The creaming stability and viscosity of oil-in-water emulsions stabilized by whey protein isolate were monitored as functions of dextran sulfate (DS) and electrolyte (NaCl) concentration. At a specific DS concentration (the critical flocculation concentration, CFC), the droplets became flocculated, which promoted creaming. Addition of electrolyte caused an increase in CFC. At NaCl concentrations <0.5 wt%, addition of electrolyte decreased emulsion viscosity, but at concentrations >0.5 wt% it caused an increase in viscosity due to increased flocculation. The results were due to the influence of electrostatic screening on the effective volume of DS molecules and colloidal interactions between droplets.     

天然和热处理大豆蛋白稳定乳液的性质研究

热处理(901、20℃)修饰的大豆分离蛋白用于制备水包油(O/W)乳液,并对天然和热处理蛋白乳液的粒径、微结构、絮凝率和分层稳定性进行表征。热处理蛋白的水力学半径随蛋白浓度和加热温度的增加而增加,证实了可溶性聚集体的产生。乳液粒径和分层稳定性受离子强度、聚集体粒径影响。低离子强度下(0 mmol/L),与天然蛋白相比,热处理蛋白乳液粒径较大,20 d放置后未发生分层。离子强度的增加(100mmol/L)导致天然蛋白乳液粒径明显增大;而热处理蛋白乳液则表现出较高耐盐性,体现在更小的粒径、絮凝率和分层指数。与90℃热处理相比1,20℃热处理减小了乳液液滴的粒径和絮凝。     

Impact of a thermal treatment on the emulsifying properties of egg yolk. Part 1: Effect of the heating time

The denaturation degree of egg yolk (EY) protein was determined in dilute EY suspensions containing 20% fresh EY (w/w) as a function of the heating time (0–40 min.) at 74 °C. The impact of such a thermal treatment on the emulsifying properties of the EY was studied in a fluid oil-in-water (O/W) emulsion containing 30% oil (v/v). Heating of the EY prior to emulsification appeared to slightly increase the oil droplet size and to drastically decrease of the level of flocculation. It was also shown that the concentration of proteins in the interfacial film increases with increasing degree of EY protein denaturation, which is thought to be responsible for the change in the colloidal interactions between droplets. The increased steric repulsions due to the increased interfacial protein concentration could explain the decrease of oil droplet flocculation. The impact of such modifications on the rheological properties and creaming stability of the emulsions is discussed.     

Assessing the potential of flaxseed protein as an emulsifier combined with whey protein isolate

The potential use of flaxseed protein isolate (FPI) as an emulsifying agent was studied in combination with whey protein isolate (WPI) or alone. All the FPI and WPI–FPI emulsions were kinetically unstable. The increase of FPI concentration (0.7% w/v) led to a higher creaming stability of the FPI emulsions due partly to a reduction in interfacial tension between aqueous and oil phases, but mainly to the gel network formation. However at this same high FPI concentration, WPI–FPI emulsions showed a decrease in droplet size and creaming stability, which could be due to the presence of flaxseed gum in the protein isolate enhancing depletion effects. A protein excess was verified in the mixed systems (0.14 or 0.7% (w/v) FPI) and the increase of FPI concentration led to an even greater surface protein content. Increasing homogenization conditions (pressure and number of passes), the creaming stability of the FPI systems increased, mainly at higher concentration (0.7% w/v). Meanwhile, in the mixed systems, the creaming stability of the emulsions containing 0.7% (w/v) FPI decreased even more, but was improved for the emulsions with 0.14% (w/v) FPI. Thus, it was observed that systems containing only FPI at higher concentration were stabilized by gel formation, while in WPI–FPI systems there was a competition by interface between biopolymers with a consequent depletion process. As a result, more stable systems were obtained with WPI addition at lower FPI concentration (0.14% w/v) and using higher homogenization pressure and number of passes (60 MPa, two passes).     

Comparison of the Emulsifying Properties of Fish Gelatin and Commercial Milk Proteins

ABSTRACT: We have compared the flocculation, coalescence, and creaming properties of oil-in-water emulsions prepared with fish gelatin as sole emulsifying agent with those of emulsions prepared with sodium caseinate and whey protein. Two milk protein samples were selected from 9 commercial protein samples screened in a preliminary study. Emulsions of 20 vol% n -tetradecane or triglyceride oil were made at pH 6.8 and at different protein/oil ratios. Changes in droplet-size distribution were determined after storage and centrifugation and after treatment with excess surfactant. We have demonstrated the superior emulsifying properties of sodium caseinate, the susceptibility of whey protein emulsions to increasing flocculation on storage, and the coalescence of gelatin emulsions following centrifugation.     

Effects of xanthan gum on physicochemical properties and stability of corn oil-in-water emulsions stabilized by polyoxyethylene (20) sorbitan monooleate

The influence of added xanthan gum on rheological and dispersion characteristics and stability of concentrated (50% w/w) corn oil-in-water emulsions, stabilized with 5% (percentage on oil amount) polyoxyethylene (20) sorbitan monooleate (Tween 80), have been investigated. Emulsion with no xanthan indicated coalescence and poor creaming stability. All emulsions, with and without xanthan, showed shear-thinning flow behavior. Addition of xanthan protected emulsions from coalescence during 15 days of storage. Increase in xanthan concentration led to decrease in droplet average radius and creaming index, and increase in elastic properties of emulsions. Decrease in the emulsions flow behavior indexes, which suggested the extent of non-Newtonian behavior of emulsions, was influenced by increase in xanthan concentration. Above 0.04% of xanthan concentration, G′ and G″ values indicated formation of weak gels. Gel structure existence arises from droplet network association, due to depletion flocculation. Standard deviation of emulsions droplet size mean diameter decreased while concentration of added xanthan increased.     

Characterisation of fish oil emulsions stabilised by sodium caseinate

Fish oil emulsions varying in sodium caseinate concentration (25% w/w oil and 0.1–1.0% w/w protein, giving oil-to-protein ratios of 250–25) were investigated in terms of their creaming stability, rheological properties, the mobility of oil droplets and the oil/protein interaction at the interface. The presence of excessive protein in an emulsion (i.e., at 1% w/w) caused the aggregation of oil droplets through depletion flocculation, resulting in low creaming stability and high low-shear viscosity. At a lower protein concentration (0.1% w/w), when protein was limited, the emulsion droplets were stabilised by bridging flocculation and showed good stability to creaming. Shear-thinning behaviour was observed for both flocculated emulsions. A reduction in the low-shear viscosity and a Newtonian flow was obtained for the emulsion containing an intermediate concentration of protein (0.25% w/w). At this concentration, there was relatively little excess unadsorbed protein in the continuous phase; thus the emulsion was most stable to creaming. NMR was used to characterise these emulsion systems without dilution. Shorter T₂ values (by low-field ¹H NMR), for the emulsions containing both high (1% w/w) and low (0.1% w/w) amounts of protein, indicated increased restricted mobility of oils, caused by depletion or bridging flocculation. The line broadening in oil signals in the high-field NMR spectra (¹H, ¹³C) indicated increased interaction between oil molecules and proteins at the interface with increasing protein concentration in emulsions. In addition, ³¹P NMR spectra, which reflect the mobility of the casein component only, showed increased line broadening, with reduction in protein content due to the relatively higher proportion of the protein being adsorbed to the interface of the oil droplets, compared to that in the continuous phase (i.e., as the oil-to-protein ratio was increased). The T₂ values of resonances of the individual groups on oil molecules, obtained using high-field ¹H NMR, reflected their different environments within the oil droplet.