Complexation between ovalbumin and gum Arabic in high total biopolymer concentrations and the emulsifying ability of the complexes

• Published in: Colloids and surfaces. A, Physicochemical and engineering aspects Physicochemical and engineering aspects, 2022-06, Vol.642, p.128624, Article 128624
• Main Authors: Li, Kang-Yu, Zhang, Xin-Ru, Huang, Guo-Qing, Teng, Jing, Guo, Li-Ping, Li, Xiao-Dan, Xiao, Jun-Xia
• Format: Article
• Language: English
• Subjects: Emulsifying ability; Pickering emulsion; Protein – polysaccharide polyelectrolyte complex; Total biopolymer concentration
• ISSN: 0927-7757; 1873-4359
• DOI: 10.1016/j.colsurfa.2022.128624

To promote the application of Pickering emulsions stabilized by protein – polysaccharide polyelectrolyte complexes in the production of oil powders by spray drying, the complexation between ovalbumin (OVA) and gum Arabic (GA) in high total biopolymer concentrations (TBOCs) was investigated and the emulsifying ability of the resultant OVA – GA complexes was evaluated. The results indicated that electrostatic complexation could occur between the two polyelectrolytes in TBOCs of as high as 6% (w/v), though the reaction was suppressed in TBOCs higher than 3%. The phase separation TBOC greatly affected the composition, viscoelasticity, and aggregation of the OVA – GA complexes as well as the structure of OVA. The ability of the OVA – GA complexes to stabilize the high internal phase Pickering emulsion with oil fraction 75% was closely related to the TBOC, that is, the complexes separated in TBOC 2% failed to stabilize the emulsion, but those separated in 4% and 6% could produce stable emulsions. Raman spectroscopy, contact angle, and interfacial tension analysis confirmed this result and demonstrated that the complex assembled in TBOC 4% possessed stronger emulsifying ability than TBOC 6%. The complexes in the two TBOCs allowed the possibility in the industrial production of powders with ultra-high oil contents and hence are promising as novel Pickering stabilizer in spray drying. [Display omitted] •Electrostatic complexation between OVA and GA could occur in TBOC as high as 6%.•Electrostatic interaction between OVA and GA was suppressed in TBOC higher than 3%.•TBOC affects the composition, viscoelasticity, and aggregation of the complexes.•TBOC 4% conferred the strongest emulsion stabilization ability to the complexes.•OVA – GA complexes are promising in stabilizing emulsions for spray drying.