• Food Science and Biotechnology
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• v.16 no.6
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• pp.954-957
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• 2007

Gelation mechanism of xanthan-carob mixture (X/C) was investigated based on thermorheological behavior. Three X/C ratios (1:3, 1:1, and 3:1) were studied. Small amplitude oscillatory shear tests were performed to measure linear viscoelastic behavior during gelation. Temperature sweep ($-1^{\circ}C/min$) experiments were conducted. Using a non-isothermal kinetic model, activation energy (Ea) during gelation was calculated. At 1% total concentration, the Ea for xanthan fraction (${\phi}_x$)=0.25, 0.5, and 0.75 were 178, 159, and 123 kJ/mol, respectively. However, a discontinuity was observed in the activation energy plots. Based on this, two gelation mechanisms were presumed-association of xanthan and carob molecules and aggregation of polymer strands. The association process is the primary mechanism to form 3-D networks in the initial stage of gelation and the aggregation of polymer strands played a major role in the later stage.

• 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 ${\omega}^{1/2}$.

• Food Science and Biotechnology
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• v.16 no.6
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• pp.1069-1071
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• 2007

The frequency independent critical concentration (Cc) of xanthan and carob (X/C) mixed gel was determined based on the Winter-Chambon's theory. X/C mixed (X/C=1:1 ratio) gels were prepared from 0.1 to 1% of concentration. The linear viscoelastic properties, i.e., storage and loss modulus, of X/C mixed gel at $20^{\circ}C$ were measured by frequency sweep tests. The frequency independence of tangent function of phase angle (tan ${\delta}$) of X/C mixed gels was graphically determined from the intersection of the plot of phase angle against concentration at varied frequencies. The intersection (C=0.43%) was considered to be Cc of X/C mixed gel.