• Food Science and Biotechnology
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• v.18 no.3
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• pp.618-623
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• 2009

Synergistic interactions between xanthan (X) and carob (C) were investigated by studying the linear viscoelastic behavior of X, C, and X/C mixtures at sol and gel states. At the solution state, storage modulus (G') dominates the linear viscoelastic properties of X/C mixtures. The gelation temperature (52 to $57^{\circ}C$) was weakly dependent on the xanthan fraction (${\phi}x$) in the mixture. The ${\phi}x$ also had a strong effect on G' until ${\phi}x=0.5$. The elastic active network concentration (EANC) of X/C gels was estimated from the pseudo-equilibrium modulus. The EANC for systems with ${\phi}x=0.25$, 0.5, 0.75, and 1 at 1% total concentration was 2.3, 4.4, 4.1, and 0.32 (${\times}10^{-3}\;mol/m^3$), respectively. The maximum synergistic effect was observed at about ${\phi}x=0.5$. The G' at the transition state of X/C mixed gel was proportional to ${\omega}^{3/2}$ at ${\omega}$>${\omega}_{tr}$ (the onset transition frequency) compared to the theoretical limit of ${\omega}^{1/2}$.