Influence of soybean protein isolates-phosphatidycholine interaction on the stability on oil-in-water emulsions

Soybean protein isolates and phospholipids present specific surface properties with synergistic or antagonistic effects on emulsion stability. Oil-in-water emulsions (25∶75 w/w) were prepared using native and denatured soybean isolates (NSI and DSI, respectively) with the addition of phosphatidylcholine (PC) (protein/PC ratio 100∶1 to 10∶1). The effect of ionic strength was also studied by adding sodium chloride (0–100 mM) to the aqueous phase. Analysis of NSI/PC and DSI/PC emulsions showed that the creaming rate diminished upon addition of PC, with the creamed phase showing more stability than those of the control systems. In DSI/PC systems, the coalescence process was partially controlled, as evidenced by a decrease in the size of oil droplets. Both systems were altered by the presence of sodium chloride, with an increase in the creaming rate attributable to flocculation and the coalescence of droplets. Under these conditions, DSI/PC emulsions exhibited a stronger protein-phospholipid interaction than those of NSI/PC.