Characterization of gelation time and texture of gelatin and gelatin–polysaccharide mixed gels

The effects of cooling rate, holding temperature, pH and polysaccharide concentration on gelation characteristics of gelatin and gelatin–polysaccharide mixtures were investigated using a mechanical rheometer which monitored the evolution of G′ and G″. At low holding temperatures of 0 and 4 °C, elastic gelatin gels were formed whereas a higher holding temperature of 10 °C produced less elastic gels. At slow cooling rates of 1 and 2 °C/min, gelling was observed during the cooling phase in which the temperature was decreased from room temperature to the holding temperature. On the other hand, at higher cooling rates of 4 and 8 °C/min, no gelation was observed during the cooling phase. Good gelling behavior similar to that of commercial Strawberry Jell-O^® Gelatin Dessert was observed for mixtures of 1.5 and 15 g sucrose in 100 ml 0.01 M citrate buffer containing 0.0029–0.0066 g low-acyl gellan. Also, these mixed gels were stronger than Strawberry Jell-O^® Gelatin Desserts as evidenced by higher G′ and gel strength values. At a very low gellan content of 0.0029 g, increasing pH from 4.2 to 4.4 led to a decrease in the temperature at the onset of gelation, G′ at the end of cooling, holding and melting as well as an increase in gel strength. The gelation time was found to decrease to about 40 min for gelatin/sucrose dispersions in the presence of 0.0029 g gellan at pH 4.2 whereas the corresponding time at pH 4.4 was higher (79 min). In general, the gelation time of gelatin/sucrose dispersions decreased by a factor of 2 to 3 in the presence of low-acyl gellan. The addition of low-acyl gellan resulted in an increase in the gelation rate constant from 157.4 to 291 Pa. There was an optimum low-acyl gellan content for minimum gelation time, this optimum being pH dependent. Addition of guar gum also led to a decrease in gelation time to 73 min with a corresponding increase in the gelation rate constant to 211 Pa/min though these values were not sensitive to guar gum content in the range of 0.008–0.05 g. The melting temperature of gelatin/sucrose/gellan as well as gelatin/sucrose/guar mixtures did not differ significantly from that of pure gelatin or Strawberry Jell-O^® Gelatin Desserts. At pH 4.2, the melting rate constant was highest at a low-acyl gellan content of 0.0029 g whereas the rate constant was insensitive to low-acyl gellan content at pH 4.4. Addition of guar did not seem to affect the melting temperature or the melting rate constant.     

Texture profile and turbidity of gellan/gelatin mixed gels

The effect of gellan (1.6–0.2%) to gelatin (0–1.4%) ratio and calcium ion concentration (0–30 mM) on the textural properties and turbidity of gellan/gelatin mixed gels was examined using instrumental Texture Profile Analysis (TPA) and spectrophotometry. Hardness of the mixed gels decreased as the proportion of gellan decreased. Hardness increased with increasing calcium ions until calcium concentration reached a critical level, after which further increases in calcium resulted in a reduction of hardness. Brittleness, springiness and cohesiveness were very sensitive to low levels of added calcium (0–10 mM), but less sensitive to higher calcium concentrations and gellan/gelatin ratio. In general, the addition of calcium ions caused gels to be more brittle and less cohesive and springy. Decreasing gellan to gelatin ratio caused an increase in gel turbidity at lower calcium ion levels (2–4 mM) and a decrease in turbidity at high calcium levels (20–30 mM). Maximum turbidity was observed in 0.6% gellan–1.0% gelatin gels without added calcium. The results of this study suggested a weak positive interaction between gellan and gelatin when no calcium was added, whereas at higher calcium levels gellan formed a continuous network and gelatin a discontinuous phase.     

Characterization of gellan/gelatin mixed solutions and gels

The physico-chemical properties of gellan/gelatin mixed solutions and gels were examined at five different ratios of gellan to gelatin (100:0 (I), 80:20 (II), 60:40 (III), 40:60 (IV), 20:80 (V)) and four different NaCl levels (0–300 mmol/l). All mixed solutions exhibited the shear-thinning behavior, which decreased with increasing gelatin proportion, temperature, and NaCl level. Synergism on G′ was observed in mixed solution III and IV depending on NaCl level. Hardness of mixed gel decreased with increasing gelatin proportion and cohesiveness increased up to the gellan to gelatin ratio of 40–60 and then decreased. For gellan dominant gels, maximum hardness and cohesiveness were observed at NaCl level of 150 mmol/l. Increasing gelatin proportion caused an increase in gel turbidity at lower NaCl levels and a decrease in gel turbidity at higher NaCl levels. In general, WHC increased with increasing gelatin proportion and decreasing NaCl level. Color holding capacity significantly increased with increasing gelatin proportion. Flavor holding capacity increased by adding gelatin and then linearly decreased with increasing gelatin proportion. Therefore, this study suggests that there is an optimum NaCl concentration and gellan to gelatin ratio to enhance the physico-chemical properties of gellan/gelatin mixed solutions and gels.     

The influence of gelation rate on the physical properties/structure of salt-induced gels of soy protein isolate–gellan gum

The cold-set gelation of soy protein isolate (SPI)-gellan gum was induced by the addition of salts (KCl or CaCl₂) using two different procedures: the direct addition of salts (fast gelation) or the diffusion of salts through a membrane (slow gelation). The mechanical properties, syneresis and microstructure of the mixed gels were evaluated, as well as for gellan and SPI gels. The mixed gels induced by calcium diffusion were stronger and more deformable than gels induced by the direct addition of calcium, while the opposite occurred for potassium-induced gels. All the mixed gels were macroscopically homogeneous, but at the microscopic level two independent networks could be observed. These two separate networks were more evident for the calcium-induced gels, and the structural characteristics depended strongly on the concentration of the protein and the polysaccharide. However an organized microstructure with the formation of microtubes surrounded by other network was only observed for the mixed gels induced by calcium diffusion at the higher protein/polysaccharide (10:1) ratio. Thus besides the composition and concentration of the biopolymers, the results showed that the type of salt and its velocity of incorporation led to gels with different structures and consequently different mechanical properties.     

结冷胶-羧甲基纤维素复配胶性能的研究

利用全质构分析、离心分离和分光光度法研究了结冷胶-羧甲基纤维素（carboxyl methyl cellulose,CMC）的配比、离子种类和离子浓度对结冷胶-CMC复配胶质构、持水力以及透明度的影响。结果表明：复配胶硬度随结冷胶比例降低而降低;在离子浓度达到临界水平前随离子浓度增加而增加,临界水平之后随离子浓度增加而降低;添加钙离子比钠离子更容易得到高硬度的凝胶。总的来说,添加离子会降低凝胶的弹性和内聚性;适当的结冷胶和CMC比例可提高凝胶弹性和内聚性。降低结冷胶-CMC复配比例可提高复配胶的透明度。     

低酰基结冷胶酸性凝胶的凝胶特性

以葡萄糖酸-δ-内酯(glucono-δ-lactone,GDL)作为酸诱导剂,制备低酰基结冷胶(low acyl gellan gum,LA)酸性凝胶,考察基体质量浓度、GDL/LA复配比例以及酸液浸泡对酸性凝胶凝胶特性的影响。研究结果表明,GDL酸化为缓慢酸化,GDL/LA复配比例越高、体系的pH值越低,酸化速率越快。基体质量浓度和GDL/LA复配比例对酸性凝胶结构影响显著,断裂应力和保水性随着GDL/LA复配比例的增大先升高后降低。基体质量浓度越高,断裂应力和不透明性越大。GDL/LA复配比例增大,断裂应变减小,不透明性增大。当酸液pH值为1时,酸液浸泡对GDL/LA复配比例为2∶1和4∶1的酸性凝胶强度无影响,但GDL/LA复配比例为1∶4、1∶2和1∶1时,凝胶强度随浸泡时间的增加而增强,酸液浸泡可以促使酸性凝胶进行结构重建。     

Influence of pH and added gums on the properties of konjac flour gels

The gel strength and texture of konjac gel and mixed gels of konjac and various gums were measured after gelation at various concentrations of alkali. A selection of different alkaline reagents was used. Regardless of alkali concentration, increasing konjac levels caused a decrease in pH but an increase in hardness and strength of konjac/gellan gum mixed gels. The highest gel strength and hardness were given by mixed konjac/gellan gum gels using sodium carbonate as the gelling medium. Under similar gelling conditions, the addition of gellan gum resulted in the greatest gel hardness. Of the gums examined, a possible synergistic effect on konjac/gellan gum mixed gel texture was observed.     

Polymer and Ion Concentration Effects on Gellan Gel Strength and Strain

Failure stresses and strains were measured in compressive, tensile and torsional modes on gellan gels at four polymer (0.6–1.8% w/v) and seven Ca⁺⁺ (1.5–60 mM) concentrations. Shear stresses at failure were equal in all three testing modes and proportional to gellan content. Low calcium gels increased linearly in strength with Ca⁺⁺ concentration until it reached a level of about 0.5 calcium ions per repeat tetrasaccharide unit of gellan gum polymer. Gel strength decreased linearly with Ca⁺⁺ at higher concentrations. Low calcium gels were extensible with failure strains decreasing as the logarithm of Ca⁺⁺; whereas high calcium gels were brittle and failed at a constant strain, the value of which was twice as high in compression and torsion as in tension.     

低酰基结冷胶-果胶复配体系的性能

利用质构仪和流变仪对低酰基结冷胶(low acyl gellan,LA)和果胶复配体系的胶体质构和流变性能进行研究。考察不同种类离子(Ca~(2+)、K~+)、离子浓度(0、2、4、6、8、10、20、40 mmol/L)以及LA和果胶不同质量比(100:0、75:25、50:50、25:75)对复配体系质构特性的影响。结果表明,随着离子浓度的增加破坏应力先增大,当达到临界值后开始减小,二价离子(Ca~(2+))的作用效果要强于一价离子(K~+)。复配胶破坏应力随LA比例降低先增加后减少,质量比在75:25时具有显著协同效应。复配体系的黏度随剪切速率增大而减小;当剪切速率相同时,黏度随LA比例的增加而增加,离子种类和浓度对复配体系黏度的影响与质构特性一致。随着温度的升高,复配体系黏度减小,在相同温度条件下,结冷胶与果胶质量比75:25时,体系的黏度最大。储能模量G’大于相应质量比损耗模量G",且G’和G"随LA比例的增加而增大,说明体系的黏性和弹性随LA比例增加而变大。     

Sweetening power of aspartame in hydrocolloids gels: Influence of texture

Equivalent sweetness of aspartame relative to two sucrose concentrations (10% and 20% w/w) were determined in water and in hydrocolloids gels. The influence of the texture of three hydrocolloids gelled systems—gellan gum, κ-carrageenan, and κ-carrageenan/locust bean gum (LBG)—at two gums concentrations (0.3% and 1.2% w/w) on the equivalent sweetness of aspartame were then studied. For the three gelled systems, the increase in hydrocolloid concentration produced a significant increase in the true rupture stress and in the deformability modulus values. For both κ-carrageenan and mixed gels the true rupture strain values increased when increasing hydrocolloid concentration while for gellan gels, decreased. For the same hydrocolloid concentrations the κ-carrageenan/LBG gels showed the largest strain at rupture and gellan gels the smallest (most brittle). For both soft (0.3% gum) and hard (1.2% gum) gellan gels and κ-carrageenan gels, the concentrations of aspartame needed to deliver a sweetness intensity equivalent to that of gels with 10% sucrose (0.079–0.087% w/w) were similar to those obtained for aqueous solutions (0.084% w/v). For hard κ-carrageenan/LBG gels the corresponding concentration of aspartame was slightly lower. For all gelled systems the concentrations of aspartame needed to deliver a sweetness intensity equivalent to that of gels with 20% sucrose were higher for soft gels than for hard gels.     

MECHANICAL PROPERTIES OF TWO-PHASE DISPERSE AGAR/GELATIN MIXED GELS

Agar/gelatin mixed gels with the same composition but with a different two-phase disperse structure were prepared and their mechanical properties compared. The agar/gelatin mixture was first kept at temperature above the gelling temperature of gelatin but below that of agar and stirred for the selected period, before cooling it below the gelling temperature of gelatin. For the low rupture stress system the agar concentration was 0.7% (w/w), while the gelatin concentration was 4.5% (w/w) to achieve the same rupture stress as the agar gel. The mixing temperatures selected were 20 and 37C. For the high rupture stress system, the agar and gelatin concentration was 2.8 and 10.4% (w/w), respectively, to achieve the same rupture stress. The mixing temperatures selected were 37 and 40C. The both mixed gels prepared by this method consisted of a dispersed phase of agar and a continuous phase of gelatin. The rupture stress of the mixed gels decreased as the content of the dispersed phase increased. The rupture stress had a tendency to be lower as the size of the dispersed particles increased. These results suggest that the interface between the dispersed phase and the continuous phase plays an important role as Griffith's crack, with the rupture of mixed gels occurring from that place.     

TEXTURE PROPERTIES OF GELLAN GELS AS AFFECTED BY TEMPERATURE

Gellan gels can be made very brittle, similar to agar gels, or very flexible, like gelatin gels. The entropy or enthalpy nature governing those gellan gel behaviors was studied by mechanical testing at temperatures varying from 2 to 62C. Both failure stress and strain for 1% low acyl and low acyl/high acyl mixed gellan gels decreased with increasing temperature, indicating that the hydrogen bonding contributed significantly to the stabilization of gellan gels in addition to the polyanion-calcium-polyanion bonding. Hydrophobic interactions were less important. The initial Young's modulus for two mixed high and low acyl gellan gels containing 2 mM Ca⁺⁺ increased with temperature from 2–42C, indicating entropy elasticity. Average molecular weight between adjacent crosslinks for these two mixed gels was larger than 10⁴. For other gels, the entropy elasticity was not a dominant mechanism for elastic force because of molecular weights between crosslinks and from the observation of negative temperature dependence of the modulus.     

高酰基结冷胶/酪蛋白酸钠复合凝胶粘弹行为的研究

本文研究了酪蛋白酸钠浓度、结冷胶浓度、离子和测试条件对高酰基结冷胶/酪蛋白酸钠复合凝胶粘弹性的影响。结果表明:高酰基结冷胶/酪蛋白酸钠共混体系为典型的切力变稀流体,表观粘度随着酪蛋白酸钠浓度的升高而降低,而随着阳离子浓度的增大出现先增大后减小的变化趋势。压缩速度对复合凝胶硬度几乎无影响,而内聚性和弹性则随着压缩速度的增加而增大。内聚性随着压缩应变的增大出现先增大后减小的变化趋势。复合凝胶的硬度和弹性随着酪蛋白酸钠浓度的增加而下降,但复合凝胶的内聚性对酪蛋白酸钠浓度不敏感。高酰基结冷胶浓度越高,复合凝胶的硬度和弹性越大。相对于一价离子而言,二价离子形成的凝胶更强且用量更少。钾离子的添加对复合凝胶保水性影响较弱,而钙离子的添加则可以提高复合凝胶的保水性。     

Gelation behaviour of gelatin and alginate mixtures

Mixtures of alginate and gelatin were studied by rheology as a function of different parameters, such as temperature, biopolymer concentrations, calcium concentration and ionic strength. In particular conditions, the formation of a mixed gel of alginate and gelatin is obtained. A slow release of calcium ions leads first to an irreversible alginate gel and cooling results in a reversible gelatin gel. Depending on experimental conditions, non-linear behaviours upon gelation of alginate occur and a collapse of alginate gel is directly observable by rheology. These trends are favoured between 35 and 45 °C, by a high total biopolymer concentration or a high calcium concentration and ionic strength. Different mechanisms could be responsible for this collapse, such as a competition between alginate gelation and phase separation in the biopolymer mixture or an over-association of alginate chains at high Ca²⁺ concentration, favoured by the presence of gelatin.     

Effect of substitution of aspartame for sucrose on instrumental texture profile of hydrocolloids gelled systems

The effect of substituting aspartame (0.04–0.16% w/w) for sucrose (5–25% w/w) on the instrumental texture profile of three hydrocolloid gelled systems: -carrageenan, gellan gum and -carrageenan/locust bean gum at three different concentrations (0.3, 0.75 and 1.2% w/w) was studied. In gellan gels hardness and chewiness increased with sucrose concentration but not so in either -carrageenan or -carrageenan/LBG gels where no changes in these parameters were detected. Addition of sucrose also produced a small but significant increase in cohesiveness in gellan gels. The effect of sucrose concentration on all texture parameters of gellan gels was higher as gellan concentration increased. Aspartame addition did not affect TPA parameters. TPA results obtained for aspartame gels did not differ from those corresponding to the unsweetened gels considered here. Summarising the above information it can be said that substituting aspartame for sucrose in this type of sweetened gel changed the textural properties and that the changes produced depended on the hydrocolloid type and concentration and on the sucrose concentration replaced.     

Heat-Induced Gelation of Individual Whey Proteins A Dynamic Rheological Study

Heat-induced gelation of the bovine whey proteins [serum albumin (BSA), β-lactoglobulin (β-Lg) and α-lactalbumin (α-La)] has been studied individually and in mixture at different conditions by a dynamic rheological method. Values in the shear stiffness modulus (/G*/) appeared on heating at low protein concentration for BSA (～2%) and at intermediate concentration for β-Lg (～ 5%). α-La did not form a heat-induced gel of concentrations up to 20% (w/v). The ratio of viscous to elastic properties (loss factor) at maximum possible measuring temperature was below 0.07 for the BSA gels and 0.1–0.3 for the β-Lg gels. The temperature of gelation was highly dependent on pH. In mixture one protein could not be exchange for another without changing the gelation behavior of the mixture.     

EFECT OF pH BUFFERS ON MECHANICAL PROPERTIES OF GELLAN GELS

The strength and deformability of calcium cross-linked gellan gels as affected by pH 3.5 and 5.0 citrate and acetate buffers were measured by large compressive deformation test until failure. The trend of dependence of gel strength on polymer and calcium concentrations was similar to gels formed in distilled water without pH adjustment. A critical calcium concentration was observed for each gellan concentration. Gels formed at the critical calcium concentration exhibited the maximum strength. The chelating effect of pH 5.0 citrate buffer greatly increased the critical calcium concentration. The failure strain, representing the deformability, of gellan gels formed in buffers behaved differently from gels formed in distilled water. In the pH 3.5 buffer systems, gellan gels were brittle regardless of gellan and calcium concentrations. In the pH 5.0 buffer systems, gellan gels were brittle at high calcium concentrations and ductile at calcium concentrations less than 24 mM in citric buffer and less than 6 mM in acetate buffer.     

Gelation behaviour of fish skin gelatin in the presence of methanol-water and ethanol-water solvent system

The aim of this study was to investigate the different concentrations of methanol and ethanol (5%-40%, v/v) on the gel, rheological and structural properties of fish skin gelatin (FG). The results showed that lower contents of both methanol and ethanol (5%-15%, v/v) increased gel strength, hardness and chewiness of FG gels. Rheological results showed that the viscosity of methanol-water-induced FG increased from 0.32 to 5.20 Pa·s with increased concentration of methanol, whereas an opposite trend was found for the ethanol-water-induced ones. Compared with ethanol-water-indued FG gels, methanol-water-induced gels present lower gelation times, and higher gel properties, because of the formation of more hydrogen bonds during gelation. Lower contents of methanol significantly unfold gelatin with the increase in β-sheets. Finally, the mechanism of methanol- and ethanol-induced FG gelation was updated. This research can serve as a guide for semi-solid food which contains alcohol and medicinal products.     

On the gelation of mungbean starch and its composites

Light microscopy and the concentration dependence of the elastic modulus of mungbean starch (MB) gel indicate that the gelation of MB is mainly governed by a close‐packing mechanism. The mechanical property of the entire network is influenced by the strength of swollen amylose‐rich discrete gel particles rather than the surrounding matrix. However, when the physicochemical properties of the surrounding matrix is altered by the presence of flour fillers possessing lower gelatinisation temperature and enthalpy, both the stress‐related and strain‐related parameters of MB‐based mixed flour gels were reduced (P < 0.05). Addition of iota‐carrageenan (1.0% w/v), in both the absence and presence of calcium lactate (0–20 mm ), further reduced both the stress‐related and strain‐related parameters of the composite gels. This study shows the detrimental effect of the anionic hydrocolloids and divalent cation addition on the mechanical properties of a composite structure stabilised by close‐packing mechanism.     

Comparison of gelling properties and flow behaviors of microbial transglutaminase (MTGase) and pectin modified fish gelatin

The gelling and structural properties of microbial transglutaminase (MTGase) and pectin modified fish gelatin were compared to investigate their performances on altering fish gelatin properties. Our results showed that within a certain concentration, both MTGase and pectin had positive effects on the gelation point, melting point, gel strength, textural, and swelling properties of fish gelatin. Particularly, low pectin content (0.5%, w/v) could give fish gelatin gels the highest values of gel strength, melting temperature, and hardness. Meantime, flow behavior results showed that both MTGase and pectin could increase fish gelatin viscosity without changing its fluid characteristic, but the latter gave fish gelatin higher viscosity. Both MTGase and pectin could increase the lightness of fish gelatin gels but decreases its transparency. More importantly, fluorescence and UV absorbance spectra, particle size distribution, and confocal microscopy results indicated that MTGase and pectin could change the structure of fish gelatin with the formation of large aggregates. Compared with MTGae modified fish gelatin, pectin could endow fish gelatin had similar gel strength, thermal and textural properties to pig skin gelatin.