Turbidity and Protein Aggregation in Whey Protein Beverages

ABSTRACT:  During storage of heat-treated acidic (pH ≤ 4.6) whey protein beverages, formation of protein aggregates can create undesirable turbidity and sedimentation. In this study, we found that a slow protein aggregation process controlled the rate of formation of sediment and turbidity. A heat-treated model beverage containing 12.5 g/L whey protein at a pH of 4 was stored for 6 wk at 3 different storage temperatures and analyzed for turbidity, soluble protein, and protein aggregates. One sample was stored without further treatment and the other sample was filtered to remove protein aggregates formed during heating. This was done to test the hypothesis that aggregates formed during heat treatment served as nuclei for deposition of soluble protein. Turbidity increased and soluble protein decreased as protein aggregates formed during storage. Increasing the storage temperature accelerated this process. The loss of soluble protein during storage was fit to first- and second-order kinetic equations, allowing the prediction of the effect of protein concentration, storage time, and storage temperature on the formation of protein aggregates.     

Theoretical model for fast bubble growth in small channels with reference to startup of capillary pumped loops used in spacecraft thermal management systems

A capillary pumped loop (CPL) is a closed two-phase loop in which capillary forces developed in a wicked evaporator passively pump the working fluid over long distances to dissipate heat from electronic and power sources. Because it has no moving parts and requires minimal power to sustain operation, the CPL is considered an enabling technology for thermal management of spacecraft. While the steady-state operation of a CPL is fairly well understood, its thermal response during startup remains very illusive. During the startup, initial vapor bubble growth in the evaporator is responsible for liquid acceleration that results in a differential pressure spike. A large pressure spike can deprime the evaporator by forcing vapor into the evaporator’s liquid-saturated wick, which is the only failure mode of a CPL other than fluid loss or physical damage to the loop. In this study, a numerical transient 3D model is constructed to predict the initial bubble growth. This model is used to examine the influence of initial system superheat, evaporator groove shape and size, and wick material. A simplified model is also presented which facilitates the assessment of parametric influences by analytic means. It is shown how these design parameters may be optimized to greatly reduce the bubble growth rate and therefore help prevent a deprime.     

Ingredients and pH are Key to Clear Beverages that Contain Whey Protein

ABSTRACT:  A challenge of shelf stable beverages that contain whey protein is that a small portion of protein can be denatured and aggregated during thermal processing, resulting in a turbid solution or white precipitate that consumers perceive as a defect. In this study, 3 approaches were taken to reduce turbidity in heat-treated beverages that contain whey protein: (1) centrifugation to remove insoluble protein aggregates, (2) addition of ingredients, and (3) alteration of pH in the range from 3.0 to 4.0. At pH 3.6 and below, all samples were essentially clear both before and after heating for all ingredients. At a pH of 3.8 and above, ingredient selection was crucial to solution clarity after heat treatment. At a pH of 4.0, addition of salts at both 10 and 50 mM increased the turbidity significantly compared to the control, which contained only whey protein in water. Neither addition of sugars at 25, 50, and 100 g/L, nor addition of sugar alcohols at 25 g/L significantly affected turbidity after heat treatment compared to the control. However, sugar alcohols added at 50 or 100 g/L significantly reduced turbidity after heat treatment compared to the control. Removal of insoluble protein aggregates by centrifugation prior to heat treatment resulted in a statistically significant decrease in turbidity after heat treatment. Understanding these results at the molecular level will assist food scientists in selecting processing treatments, ingredients, and pH in the development of shelf stable clear beverages that contain whey protein.     

Purification and Use of Glycomacropeptide for Nutritional Management of Phenylketonuria

ABSTRACT:  Individuals with phenylketonuria (PKU) cannot metabolize phenylalanine (Phe) and must adhere to a low-Phe diet in which most dietary protein is provided by a Phe-free amino acid formula. Glycomacropeptide (GMP) is the only naturally occurring protein that does not contain Phe, and is of interest as a source of protein for dietary management of PKU. However, commercially available GMP contains too much Phe from residual whey proteins and does not contain adequate levels of all the indispensable amino acids to provide a nutritionally complete protein. The aim of this study was to increase purity of GMP and develop a mass balance calculation for indispensable amino acid supplementation of GMP foods. Cation exchange chromatography, ultrafiltration/diafiltration, and lyophilization were used at the pilot plant scale to decrease Phe. Enough purified GMP (5 kg) was manufactured to provide 15 PKU subjects with a 4-d diet in which the majority of protein was from GMP foods. A mass balance was used to supplement GMP foods so that all indispensable amino acids met or exceeded the daily recommended intake. GMP foods were tested in a human clinical trial as a replacement for the traditional amino acid formula. Nutritionally complete GMP foods created with high purity GMP provide individuals with PKU with more options to manage PKU, which may lead to improved compliance and quality of life.