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.     

Role of cosolutes in gelation of high-methoxy pectin. Part 2. Anomalous behaviour of fructose: calorimetric evidence of site-binding

Gels of high-methoxy pectin (DE 70; 1.0 wt%; pH 3.0) in the presence of fructose at concentrations of 50, 55, 60 and 65 wt% showed an intense endotherm followed immediately by an intense exotherm on heating. These transitions occurred over approximately the same temperature-range as initial gelation on cooling (characterised by low-amplitude oscillatory measurements of G′ and G″) and increased in magnitude with increasing concentration of fructose. The displacement of both transitions, and particularly the exotherm, to progressively higher temperature as the rate of heating was increased was much greater than anticipated from simple thermal lag, indicating that the underlying structural changes are slow. The proposed interpretation is that fructose is capable of site-binding to pectin in both the ordered (threefold helix) and disordered state; the endotherm is attributed to helix melting and displacement of fructose; the subsequent exotherm is attributed to re-attachment of fructose to disordered chains, and the slow kinetics of this process to the conformational mobility of disordered pectin. On cooling over the same temperature range, a single exotherm was observed; the absence of detectable splitting is attributed to rapid re-attachment of fructose to conformationally-rigid helices. The magnitude of this endotherm (ΔH≈20 J/g) is close to the value found for cosolutes that show no evidence of site-binding, and to the net change in enthalpy for the endothermic and exothermic processes observed on heating, suggesting that the values of ΔH for displacement and re-attachment of fructose are essentially equal and opposite, with the net change coming from formation or melting of threefold helices. A smaller thermal process at higher temperature (endothermic on heating and exothermic on cooling) is attributed to hydrophobic association, which was also seen as an increase in G′ and G″ on heating in two consecutive cycles of temperature change.     

Gelling properties of kefiran, a food-grade polysaccharide obtained from kefir grain

The physicochemical and gelling properties of kefiran, a water-soluble glucogalactan with probed health-promoting properties, were investigated. Gel permeation chromatograms revealed a single distribution of molecular weight corresponding to 10⁷ Da. Intrinsic viscosity of kefiran determined using Huggins extrapolations was 6.0 dl/g and using Kramer approximations was 5.95 dl/g.Kefiran has a Newtonian behaviour in diluted solutions, which becomes pseudoplastic at higher concentrations. Rheological behaviour of the solution before and after freeze drying was evaluated by small deformation oscillatory rheological measurements. The mechanical spectrum of solution corresponded to an entangled network behaviour. After freeze–thaw treatment of the solution, a rheological behaviour transition from a liquid-like system to a gel was observed. The storage modulus (G′) in cryogels was 35 times higher than the value obtained for the solution. Rheological characteristics of the cryogel were influenced by kefiran concentration. As the polymer concentration increased, higher number of interactions was evident for the increment in both moduli (G′ and G″). The behaviour of kefiran cryogels about 37 °C determines its ability to melt at mouth temperature. These results suggest that kefiran cryogels could be an interesting alternative for its application in food formulations.     

Rheological and thermal properties of milk gels formed with κ-carrageenan. I. Sodium caseinate

Mixed gels, formed by κ-carrageenan, and sodium caseinate were studied by differential scanning calorimetry (DSC) and rheometry. DSC showed that during gelation (i.e. cooling) the thermal behaviour of κ-carrageenan was almost uninfluenced by the presence of sodium caseinate. Thus the interaction of κ-carrageenan with sodium caseinate has little (or no) effect on the carrageenan's coil-to-helix transition. In contrast, during melting, added sodium caseinate strongly modified the thermal behaviour. The DSC peak became progressively broader with addition of sodium caseinate, indicating that the junction zones are highly heterogeneous in the mixed gel. Rheometry showed that sodium caseinate strongly influences the storage modulus (G′). In experiments in which the concentration of sodium caseinate was fixed and that of κ-carrageenan varied, plots of G′ vs. concentration of κ-carrageenan were biphasic, with an abrupt change in slope at a concentration that increased linearly with the concentration of sodium caseinate. When the concentration of κ-carrageenan was constant and that of sodium caseinate varied, G′ as a function of concentration of sodium caseinate passed through a minimum. This behaviour could be modelled quantitatively, by assuming that: (a) the sodium caseinate adsorbs κ-carrageenan, but with a limited adsorptive capacity; (b) sodium caseinate aggregates (sub-micelles) with adsorbed κ-carrageenan can associate via interaction between free ends of adsorbed κ-carrageenan chains and form a gel network; and (c) the contributions to G′ from the sodium caseinate–κ-carrageenan network and the network formed by κ-carrageenan alone are additive. At low κ-carrageenan to sodium caseinate ratios, the sodium caseinate and κ-carrageenan combine to form a mixed gel. As the ratio of κ-carrageenan to sodium caseinate increases, the sodium caseinate becomes saturated and no further association with κ-carrageenan can occur—the increase in G′, as further κ-carrageenan is added, comes from a gel network formed by κ-carrageenan alone.     

Studies of ovalbumin gelation in the presence of carrageenans and after manothermosonication treatments

Ovalbumin is a key ingredient in many food products due to its ability to form a three-dimensional network after heat denaturation, that is, to form gels. We have explored two ways of modifying gels based on ovalbumin: (1) the addition of carrageenans, and (2) manothermosonication (MTS) treatments of ovalbumin suspensions prior to gelation. Ovalbumin gels showed elastic modulus (G′) values of 1216 Pa after a heating and a cooling period. The addition of kappa, lambda, and iota carrageenan enhanced G′ values by 6, 1.7, and 1.7 fold, respectively. Kappa carrageenan was not only the most effective carrageenan in the improvement of ovalbumin gelation but changed also the gelation process at the end of the cooling phase. MTS treatments reduced G′ values of ovalbumin gels by about 50% measured immediately after MTS treatments but only by ca. 25% after 24 h, which reveals that ovalbumin modifications introduced by ultrasound, whatever they are, are reversible. This reduction does not preclude the use of manothermosonicated liquid egg as gelling agent.     

Effect of food matrix and heat treatment on the rheological properties of salmon-based baby food

Shelf stable baby foods from Alaskan salmon were developed from red and pink salmon with and without bones. The effect of salmon type, presence of bones and thermal treatment (121 °C for 55 min) on the dynamic (viscoelastic) and flow models were evaluated. Rheological behaviors of all samples were also tested over a temperature range of 25–55 °C. All samples had a higher viscoelastic behavior with consistently higher storage modulus (G′) than loss modulus (G″) over the entire frequency range used (0.5–100 rads/s at 25 °C). Thermal treatment had a significant effect (p < 0.0001) on viscoelastic behavior of baby foods when the exponential model (G′ or G″ = A(ω)^b) was used. A values were higher for the processed food for G′ and G″, and b values. The Casson model was found to be the best for the shear rate – shear stress for all types of tested samples. Retorted samples exhibited lower yield stress than their unretorted counterparts. Retorted samples were susceptible to temperature change more than unretorted samples as shown by energy of activation values (E_a) when the effect of temperature (25–55 °C) was studied with an Arrhenius type model. Red salmon without bone had higher E_a values among all samples and with pink salmon with bone recording a lowest among all of them.     

On solid-like rheological behaviors of globular protein solutions

Dynamic viscoelastic and steady flow properties of β-lactoglobulin, bovine serum albumin, ovalbumin, and α-lactalbumin aqueous solutions were investigated at 20°C. When a sinusoidal strain in the linear viscoelastic region was applied, the solutions of the globular proteins except for α-lactalbumin showed typical solid-like rheological behavior: the storage modulus G′ was always larger than the loss modulus G″ in the entire frequency range examined (0.1–100 rad/s). Under a steady shear flow, strong shear thinning behavior was observed with increasing shear rate from 0.001 to 800 s⁻¹, for the globular proteins except for α-lactalbumin. The values of the steady shear viscosity η were lower than those of the dynamic shear viscosity η* at a comparable time scale of observation, violating the Cox–Merz rule, and thus suggesting that a solid-like structure in a globular protein solution was susceptible to a steady shear strain. During isothermal gelation of the protein colloids at 70°C, no crossover between G′ and G″ was observed so that the gelation point was judged by an abrupt increase in the modulus or a sudden decrease in tanδ.     

Associative and segregative interactions between gelatin and low-methoxy pectin: Part 2—co-gelation in the presence of Ca

The effect of segregative interactions with gelatin (type B; pI=4.9; 0–10 wt%) on the networks formed by low-methoxy pectin on cooling in the presence of stoichiometric Ca²⁺ at pH 3.9 has been investigated by rheological measurements under low-amplitude oscillatory shear. Samples were prepared and loaded at 85 °C, cooled (1 °C/min) to 5 °C, held for 100 min, and re-heated (1 °C/min) to 85 °C, with measurement of storage and loss moduli (G′ and G″) at 10 rad s⁻¹ and 2% strain. The final values of G′ at 5 °C for mixtures prepared at the same pH without Ca²⁺ were virtually identical to those observed for the same concentrations (0.5–10.0 wt%) of gelatin alone, consistent with the conclusion from the preceding paper that electrostatic (associative) interactions between the two polymers become significant only at pH values below 3.9. Increases in moduli on cooling in the presence of Ca²⁺ occurred in two discrete steps, the first coincident with gelation of calcium pectinate alone and the second with gelation of gelatin. Both processes were fully reversible on heating, but displaced to higher temperature (by 10 °C), as was also observed for the individual components. The magnitude of the changes occurring over the temperature range of the gelatin sol–gel and gel–sol transitions demonstrates that the gelatin component forms a continuous network; survival of gel structure after completion of gelatin melting shows that the calcium pectinate network is also continuous (i.e. that the co-gel is bicontinuous). On progressive incorporation of NaCl (to induce phase separation before, or during, pectin gelation) the second melting process, coincident with loss of calcium pectinate gel structure, was progressively abolished, indicating conversion to a gelatin-continuous network with dispersed particles of calcium pectinate. These qualitative conclusions are supported by quantitative analyses reported in the following paper.     

Analysis of cooling curve to determine the end point of freezing

The cooling curve method used for the measurement of freezing point of food is further analyzed to explore whether it can be used to identify the end point of freezing or glass transition. In this method, slope of the cooling curve is determined and plotted as a function of time to identify the end point of freezing (T′_m). Initially, the slope is decreased and then reached a minimum value, which is identified as the nucleation of ice. Then the slope is increased until the end point of freezing. The end point of freezing is identified when the slope starts to decrease from its highest value or plateau. Sucrose solutions and starch gels were used to measure its T′_m in identifying validity of the proposed method. The measured values of T′_m by the proposed method is very close to the literature values.     

Effect of oxidised starch on calcium pectinate gels

Small-deformation oscillatory measurements have been used to study the effect of low-viscosity oxidised starch on the rheology of calcium pectinate gels formed by controlled cooling from the sol state at high temperature. Large reductions in modulus (G′; 0.5% strain; 10°C) were observed at starch concentrations below the minimum critical concentration for gelation of oxidised starch alone under the same conditions (32 wt%). This behaviour is tentatively ascribed to thermodynamic incompatibility between the two polymers causing incipient precipitation of calcium pectinate within the gel network.     

Whey protein concentrate/λ-carrageenan systems: Effect of processing parameters on the dynamics of gelation and gel properties

The thermal characteristics, dynamics of gelation and gel properties of commercial whey protein concentrate (WPC), WPC/λ-carrageenan (λ-C) mixtures (M) and WPC/λ-C spray-dried mixtures (DM) have been characterized. In a second stage, the effect of the gelling variables (T, pH, total solid content) on gelation and textural properties of DM was evaluated through a Doehlert uniform shell design.The presence of λ-C either in mixtures (M) or in DM promoted the WPC gelation at lower concentration (8%). M showed higher rates of formation and better gel properties (higher hardness, adhesiveness, springiness and cohesiveness) than DM.Nevertheless, when the effects of pH (6.0–7.0), heating temperature (75–90 °C) and total solid content (12–20 wt%) on gelation dynamics and gel properties of DM were studied, gels with a wide range of rheological and textural properties were obtained. While pH did not affect the gelation dynamics, it had some effect on rheological and textural properties. Total solid content and heating temperature were the most important variables for the dynamics of gelation (gelation rate (1/t_gel), gelation temperature (T_gel), rate constant of gel structure development (k_G), elastic modulus after cooling (G′_c) and textural parameters (hardness, springiness and cohesiveness).     

Gelation mechanism and network structure of mixed solution of low- and high-acyl gellan studied by dynamic viscoelasticity, CD and NMR measurements

The gelation mechanism and the change of the network structure during cooling of the mixed solution of high-acyl (HA) and low-acyl (LA) gellan (containing 0.5% HA gellan and 0.5% LA gellan; hereafter called “mixed solution”) were elucidated on the basis of the results of dynamic viscoelasticity, circular dichroism (CD), and NMR measurements, which provide information about the network formation, the structural change due to random coil-double helix (C–H) transition, and the chain mobility of gellan, respectively. It was demonstrated that HA gellan chains in the mixed solution underwent C–H transition individually to form a network structure at the transition temperature for 1% HA gellan solution (75 °C), where storage modulus G′ and loss modulus G″ were steeply increased and the chain mobility of the HA gellan was restricted. The structural change of the HA gellan chains proceeded gradually with further cooling. At 25 °C, which is the C–H transition temperature for 1% LA gellan solution, LA gellan chains in the mixed solution formed a double helix, where G′ and G″ were slightly increased and the chain mobility of LA gellan was restricted. The results suggest that the double helix formation involves only the same kind of gellan chains even in the mixed solution, and that LA gellan chains decrease the mobility and promote the double helix formation of HA gellan chains, and vice versa.     

Role of cosolutes in gelation of high-methoxy pectin. Part 1. Comparison of sugars and polyols

Mixtures of high-methoxy pectin (DE 70; 1.0 wt%; pH 3.0) with ethan-1,2-diol, glycerol, xylitol, sorbitol, glucose, fructose or sucrose at concentrations of 50, 55, 60 and 65 wt% were prepared at 95 °C and changes in storage modulus (G′) and loss modulus (G″) during cooling to 5 °C, heating to 90 °C and re-cooling to 5 °C (at 1 °C/min) were measured at 1 rad s⁻¹ and 0.5% strain. In all cases, the onset temperature for gelation during cooling and the moduli recorded at 5 °C increased with increasing concentration of cosolute. Both values, however, were substantially lower for the liquid cosolutes (ethan-1,2-diol and glycerol) than for mixtures incorporating the same concentrations of the solid cosolutes. The difference is attributed to inhibition of pectin–pectin interactions by pectin–cosolute interactions, which in turn are inhibited by cosolute–cosolute interactions, these being weaker for the liquid cosolutes than for the solids (as indicated by lower melting points). On heating, there was an initial reduction in modulus, with the same temperature-course as the increase on cooling; for the solid cosolutes, this was followed by an increase attributable to hydrophobic association of methyl ester substituents. No such increase was seen with the liquid cosolutes, but differential scanning calorimetry studies showed two (reversible) thermal transitions in all cases, one over the temperature-range of the initial gelation process on cooling and the other coincident with the increase in modulus on heating in the presence of the solid cosolutes. The absence of any detectable increase in modulus on heating with the liquid cosolutes is attributed to accumulation of cosolute around the polymer chains (i.e. pectin–cosolute interactions) promoting hydrophobic association between methyl ester groups on the same chain, or within small clusters of chains, with, therefore, no contribution to network structure. At high concentrations of the solid cosolutes, the increase in modulus on heating was followed by a decrease at higher temperature; this is attributed to excessive aggregation, and was reflected in lower moduli on subsequent re-cooling to 5 °C, in contrast to the enhancement in gel strength after heating and cooling that was observed at lower concentrations of the same cosolutes.     

Structural properties of single and mixed milk/soya protein systems

Single-component gels were prepared by cold-setting aqueous preparations of thermally processed milk and soya proteins. Small deformation mechanical measurements on soya protein samples showed a strong elastic response (G′) even at the hydration temperature (50°C). Both proteins produced an initial monotonie increase in G′ on cooling, followed by a relatively constant modulus during a subsequent time sweep at the setting temperature (5°C). Networks were fully reversible on heating; the milk protein gels melting out completely at temperatures >60°C, whereas the soya protein gels maintained significant structure even at the highest accessible temperature (95°C). The lack of thermal hysteresis or of sharp, cooperative melting was also confirmed by differential scanning calorimetry. Further investigation of the macromolecular properties of the gels, comprising G′ dependence as a function of frequency of oscillation and creep experiments, suggests that gels remain stable within the time scale of the measurements (90 min). Finally, under increasing amplitude of oscillation, networks withstood structural breakdown up to strain levels of ~70%; behaviour anticipated for biopolymer gels. Mixed gels were studied using a fixed amount of milk protein (10% w/w) with soya protein concentrations from 6 (minimum gelling requirement) to 16% w/w (solubility limit). Comparison of melting profiles (G′ vs. T) for the phase separated systems with those obtained for the individual components indicated phase-inversion from a milk protein continuous network to a soya continuous system at a soya protein concentration of ~11%. Analysis of solvent partition between the constituent phases utilized classical theory of network deswelling for polymer combinations below the phase inversion point and phase equilibria treatment for the soya continuous network with milk protein inclusions. In the case of equilibrium separation of the two components, results were expressed in terms of a single adjustable parameter, p (the ratio of solvent to polymer in one phase divided by the corresponding ratio in the other phase), indicating a soya hydrophilicity of ~1.25 times that of milk protein.     

Gelation kinetics of an imitation-mortadella emulsion during heat treatment determined by oscillatory rheometry

The gelation kinetics of an imitation-mortadella emulsion during thermal treatment under both, isothermal and non-isothermal conditions was followed by means of oscillatory rheometry. A first order-kinetic process was found to better describe the variation of the storage modulus G′ (at 1 Hz and strain amplitude of 0.8%) during the two types of thermal treatments. An Arrhenius-type model was able to describe the effect of temperature during gelation of the emulsion under non-isothermal conditions.     

Cryogelation of cereal β-glucans: structure and molecular size effects

The effects of molecular size and fine structure of mixed-linkage cereal (1→3), (1→4) β- -glucans (β-glucans) on their cryogelation behavior were investigated. Values of apparent molecular weight (M_w) for oat β-glucans ranged between 65 and 200×10³, whereas the respective values for both barley and wheat β-glucan preparations were about 200×10³. The fine structure of cereal β-glucans, as assessed by high-performance anion-exchange chromatography of the cellulosic oligomers released by the action of lichenase, revealed differences in the relative amounts of 3-O-β-cellobiosyl- -glucose (DP3) and 3-O-β-cellotriosyl- -glucose (DP4) units only among the different genera of cereals; the weight percent of DP3 units estimated as 67.1, 63.3, and 55.3–55.8% for wheat, barley, and oat β-glucans, respectively. Aqueous β-glucan solutions (1–3% w/v) were subjected to 12 freezing (−18 °C for 24 h) and thawing (5 °C for 24 h) cycles. The phenomenological appearance of the gelled materials obtained after this process as well as the yield of cryostructurates were influenced by the initial solution concentration, the number of freeze–thaw cycles, as well as by the molecular features of the β-glucans. Such effects were unraveled by studying the cryogelation process with differential scanning calorimetry (DSC), small strain dynamic rheometry, and large deformation mechanical measurements. For the cereal β-glucan cryogels the storage modulus, G′, increased and the tan δ decreased with decreasing polysaccharide molecular size and with increasing initial solution concentration, number of freeze–thaw cycles, and trisaccharide segments in the polymeric chains. The apparent melting enthalpy values (ΔH) of β-glucan cryostructurates, as determined from the DSC endothermic peaks, increased with decreasing molecular size and with increasing amount of cellotriose units, but they were independent of the number of freeze–thaw cycles. The DSC melting temperature of the gel network was found to increase with the molecular size and amount of DP3 units of β-glucans. Moreover, large deformation mechanical tests (compression mode) revealed an increase in strength of cereal β-glucan cryogels with increasing molecular size and decreasing trisaccharide units in the polysaccharide preparation.     

Purification and partial physicochemical characteristics of protein free fenugreek gums

Crude fenugreek gum (3.74% protein) was purified by dissolving in aqueous solvent and centrifugation to remove impurities which yielded a purified gum fraction containing 1.10% protein residue. Further purification of the gum was achieved by treating the gum solution with phenol to obtain protein free fenugreek gum (0.16% protein residue). The three types of fenugreek gums were evaluated for: molecular weight, surface activity and rheological performance. Surface and interfacial tension, measured by a Du Nouy ring, indicated that the removal of protein in the gum significantly reduced its surface activity. However, the crude fenugreek gum exhibited lower intrinsic viscosity and radius of gyration compared to the purified and protein free fenugreek gums. It was found that both protein residue and gum concentration affected the elastic modulus (G′), viscous modulus (G″), and complex viscosity (η^*).     

Maturation effects in fish gelatin and HPMC composite gels

This study assessed the effectiveness of using hydroxylpropylmethylcellulose (HPMC) to enhance mechanical strength and thermal stability in fish skin gelatin (FG). The significant increase in absorbance (A₄₀₀) observed after HPMC had been added to FG and then matured indicated successful formation of a composite gel. Increased gel strength and storage modulus (G′) indicated the enhanced gelation ability of the matured composite gel, while increased melting temperature (T_m) and enthalpy (ΔH) indicated its improved thermal stability. Maturation-related rheological property improvements were more noticeable at 4 °C than 10 °C, but no apparent differences in T_m improvement were observed between 4 °C and 10 °C maturation. Nevertheless, the composite gel exhibited reversible cold and thermal gelation properties.     

Gelling property of soy protein–gum mixtures

Gelling properties of soy protein–gum mixtures were determined by small deformation oscillation measurement and the experimental data were analyzed with blending laws of polymers. Gel strength of soy protein–carrageenan mixture was found to follow either upper or lower bounds depending on the concentration of the constituents, suggesting the occurring of phase shift. G′ of soy protein–xanthan mixed gel always followed the upper bound, indicating that soy protein was the continuous phase regardless variations of the gum concentration. Combination of soy protein with propylene glycol alginate (PGA) produced a mixed gel with high gel strength and stayed above the upper bound at all gum concentrations examined. Covalent bonds between PGA and soy protein was suggested to contribute to the rigidity. Storage modulus of the mixture of soy protein–locust bean gum (LBG) was below the lower bound at low gum concentrations due to the limited demixing process of LBG. G′ values of the mixture of soy protein and LBG–xanthan followed the lower bound but approached upper bound on reducing protein concentration, suggesting that the presence of soy protein might inhibit LBG–xanthan mixture from forming continuous networks.     

Physicochemical properties of pectins from okra (Abelmoschus esculentus (L.) Moench)

Okra pectin obtained by hot buffer extraction (HBSS) consists of an unusual pectic rhamnogalacturonan I structure in which acetyl groups and alpha galactose residues are substituted on rhamnose residues within the backbone. The okra Chelating agent Soluble Solids (CHSS) pectin consists of slightly different structures since relatively more homogalacturonan is present within the macromolecule and the rhamnogalacturonan I segments carry slightly longer side chains. The rheological properties of both okra pectins were examined under various conditions in order to understand the unusual slimy behaviour of okra pectins. The viscosity of the okra HBSS pectin was 5–8 times higher than the viscosity of the okra CHSS pectin. The okra HBSS pectin showed an elastic behaviour (G′ > G″) over a wide range of frequencies (10⁻¹–10 Hz), at a strain of 10%, while okra CHSS and saponified okra HBSS/CHSS pectin showed predominantly viscous responses (G′ < G″) over the same frequency range. The results suggest that the structural variation within the okra pectins greatly affect their rheological behaviour and it is suggested that acetylation of the pectin plays an important role through hydrophobic associations. Dynamic light scattering was used to study the association behaviour of both okra pectins at low concentration (0.001–0.1% w/w). Results showed that the saponified okra pectins did not exhibit a tendency to aggregate in the concentration range studied, whereas both non saponified samples showed a substantial degree of association. These results suggest that the unusual slimy behaviour of the non saponified samples may be related to the tendency of these pectins to associate, driven by hydrophobic interactions.