Interfacial dynamic properties of whey protein concentrate/polysaccharide mixtures at neutral pH

Abstract

The effect of two non-surface active polysaccharides (sodium alginate, SA, and λ-carrageenan, λ-C) in the aqueous phase on the surface dynamic properties (dynamic surface pressure and surface dilatational properties) of a commercial milk whey protein concentrate (WPC) adsorbed film at the air–water interface has been studied. A whey protein isolate (WPI) was used as reference. The WPC and WPI concentration (at 1.0% wt), temperature (at 20 °C), pH (7), and ionic strength (at 0.05 M) were maintained constant, while the effect of polysaccharide (PS) was evaluated within the concentration range 0.0–1.0% wt. The surface dynamic properties of the adsorbed films were measured in an automatic pendant drop tensiometer. At short adsorption time and in the presence of PS, the rate of diffusion of WPC to the interface was affected by the interactions with PS in the aqueous phase, which could limit protein availability for the adsorption. On the other hand, at long-term adsorption, the magnitudes of the molecular penetration and configurational rearrangement rates of WPC in mixed systems (WPC/PS) reflected the viscoelastic characteristics of the adsorbed films. The attractive interactions between WPC and PS and/or the WPC aggregation in the presence of PS, which depend on the proper polysaccharide and its concentration in the aqueous phase, have an effect on the adsorption kinetic parameters, the amount of WPC adsorbed at the air–water interface, and the dilatational viscoelastic characteristics of WPC/PS mixed systems.