Yolk Dispersions Research Articles

Acidic and Heat Processing of Egg Yolk Dispersions

Egg yolk is a multifunctional ingredient widely used in many food products, wherein proteins are the dominant component contributing to this functionality. However, the potential risk of foodborne illness associated with egg use forces us to ensure that foodstuffs based on egg yolk are managed in a safe and sanitary manner. Lowering the pH under a certain value by adding acids could serve this purpose, but it can also greatly modify the rheological and functional properties of egg yolk. This research aims to assess the influence of citric acid on the rheological properties and microstructure of chicken egg yolk dispersions and their heat-set gels. The dispersions were prepared from fresh hen’s eggs yolks by adding water or citric acid to obtain a technical yolk (45 wt.% in solids) at the desired pH value. Viscoelastic measurements were carried out using a control stress rheometer, and microstructure was evaluated by cryo-scanning electronic microscopy (CryoSEM). An evolution of the viscoelastic properties of egg yolk dispersions from fluid to gel behavior was observed as the pH decreased until 2 but showing a predominantly fluid behavior at pH 3. The profile of viscoelastic properties along the thermal cycle applied is modified to a great extent, also showing a strong dependence on pH. Thus, the sol–gel transition can be modulated by the pH value.

Effects of pH and NaCl on the physicochemical and interfacial properties of egg white/yolk

Abstract The effects of pH and NaCl on the physicochemical (zeta potential, particle size and surface tension) and interfacial properties (foaming and emulsifying properties) of egg white and yolk were investigated in order to protmote its applications in food industries. Results showed that the increase of foam expansion power/emulsifying activity index of egg white exhibited a good correlation with the decrease of particle size and increase of surface tension. However, the extra charge and decreasing surface tension of egg white/yolk dispersions at pH > 7.0/NaCl ≥ 0.6% resulted in the destabilization of foams. The emulsifying stability of egg yolk dispersions continued climbing to pH 10.0 due to the continuous reduction of particle size and started declining with the slow decrease amplitude of particle size at NaCl > 1.8%, thus z-average particle size is the main factor that dominates the emulsifying stability index of egg yolk dispersions. These results indicated that the foaming/emulsifying properties of egg white/yolk proteins can be manipulated by altering the physicochemical characteristics such as charge, surface tension and particle size in order to achieve optimal functional properties for food industrial applications.

Characteristics of gelling and water holding properties of hen egg white/yolk gel with NaCl addition

The effects of NaCl addition on the gelling and water holding properties of egg white/yolk gels were studied via solubility, surface hydrophobicity, reduced sodium dodecyl sulfate-polyacrylamide gel electrophoresis (SDS-PAGE), Fourier transform infrared spectra (FTIR), textural analysis, low-field nuclear magnetic resonance (LF-NMR) and centrifugation. Results showed that more solubility and surface hydrophobicity increase of egg yolk dispersions were observed than that of egg white dispersions. SDS-PAGE results indicated that the different change trend of surface hydrophobicity between two egg proteins was closely related with the dissociation of egg yolk granule proteins. NaCl-induced protein heat denaturation will result in the decrease of ordered secondary structure (α-helix and β-sheet) by breaking hydrogen bond for both egg protein gels. A rapid decrease (p < 0.05) in fracture strength/strain of egg white gels was found as the NaCl increased, while the fracture strength/strain of egg yolk gels first rose and then descended, indicating that the significant increases of solubility and hydrophobicity of egg yolk dispersions at a certain NaCl concentration (≤1.8%) were benefit to the formation of strong molecule interaction among gel network. Results from LF-NMR and centrifugation water holding capacity (WHC) tests revealed that NaCl addition affected the WHC of egg white gels by increasing the mobility and distribution of free water, and had a complex influence on proton mobility and relaxation peak changeability of egg yolk gels due to the interaction among lipid, protein and water.

Influencia del pH y de la fuerza iónica sobre la gelificación térmica de proteínas de la yema de huevo

Thermal-induced transitions of egg yolk were studied by using Differential Scanning Calorimetry (DSC) and temperature controlled Small Amplitude Oscillatory Shear (SAOS). The influence of composition (pH and electrolyte concentration and type) was analyzed. The results obtained under DSC measurements suggest a continuous evolution in protein denaturation which depends on pH and salt content. Slope temperature measured by SAOS allowed the analysis of the evolution of the viscoelasticity functions during the gelification process. Viscoelasticity functions showed a dramatic increase and were affected by the pH, ionic strength and salt type. SAOS was also used to obtain the mechanical spectra of egg yolk dispersions and gels as a function of composition. The influence of pH and ionic strength on line ar viscoelastic properties and microstructure may be explained in terms of the model for the formation of gel networks of globular proteins

Influence of high pressure processing on the linear viscoelastic properties of egg yolk dispersions

The effect of high-pressure treatments on the gelation of egg yolk dispersions was studied by using differential scanning calorimetry (DSC) and small ampli- tude oscillatory shear (SAOS). The influence of pressure of processing and pH were analysed. The DSC results suggest a progressive decrease in thermal denaturation enthalpy as pressure level increases related to protein denaturation. SAOS was used to evaluate the effect of different pressure levels on the linear viscoelastic behaviour of egg yolk dispersions. An increase in the pressure level produces a dramatic change in the linear viscoelastic behaviour under- going a sol-gel transition. High hydrostatic pressure (HHP) processing was also analysed as a function of pH and solids content. The results obtained confirm that the impact of high pressure on aggregation and network formation can be modulated by pH. HHP processing of egg yolk systems is highly affected by protein concentration particularly when it is compared to heat processing.

Effect of pH and added electrolyte on the thermal-induced transitions of egg yolk

Thermally-induced transitions of egg yolk were studied using Differential Scanning Calorimetry (DSC) and temperature-controlled Small Amplitude Oscillatory Shear (SAOS). The influence of composition (pH and electrolyte content and type) was analysed. The results obtained under DSC measurements suggest a continuous evolution in protein denaturation that depends on pH and salt content. Cure experiments performed using SAOS show dramatic increases in viscoelasticity functions. Protein gelation is affected by the pH, ionic strength and salt type. SAOS was also used to obtain the mechanical spectra of egg yolk dispersions and gels as a function of composition. The microstructures of gels were also evaluated by Scanning Electron Microscopy (SEM). SEM results reveal an increase in microstructure homogeneity and a decrease in the size of aggregates at lowered pH. The influence of pH and ionic strength on linear viscoelastic properties and microstructure may be explained in terms of the model for the formation of gel networks of globular proteins. However, the characteristic structure of native yolk must also be considered.

Ascorbic acid and ascorbic acid 6-palmitate induced oxidation in egg yolk dispersions.

The oxidation in aqueous dispersions of egg yolk powder and the influence of addition of the proposed antioxidants ascorbic acid and ascorbic acid 6-palmitate indicate that both ascorbic acid and ascorbic acid 6-palmitate propagated the oxidation of egg yolk powder dispersions. Ascorbic acid 6-palmitate was found to be more prooxidative than ascorbic acid. Moreover, it was found that addition of ascorbic acid or ascorbic acid 6-palmitate gave rise to an increase in the amount of free iron Fe(II) in the egg yolk dispersions. It is proposed that ascorbic acid and ascorbic acid 6-palmitate react with the phosvitin-Fe(III) complex found in egg yolk and release Fe(II), which subsequently propagates lipid oxidation. It appears that less oxidation occurs in egg yolk dispersions exposed to high concentrations of peroxy radicals with added ascorbic acid than egg yolk dispersions with added ascorbic acid without exposure to peroxy radicals.