Surficial whey protein deposits under shear

The effect of heating on the structural modification of whey proteins is well known. However, the effect of shear is not elucidated: not only there is no consensus on the deposit formation mechanisms but also the experiments were not designed to discriminate the individual effect of shear.

Whey protein solutions were sheared in a rheometer equipped with a plate/plate geometry at a temperature lower than that of denaturation. Both qualitative and quantitative analyses of surficial deposits were conducted by microscopic techniques. Based on their size and morphology, we hypothesized three stages of deposit growth: i) adsorption of initiation points on the surface, ii) their chemical bonding leading to primary deposits, and iii) formation of thicker branched structures resulting from interconnection of primary deposits, and involving non-chemical interactions, much influenced by increasing shear.

Schematic representation of the 3 stages proposed for the whey protein deposit growth

Comparing the stability of whey proteins in the bulk solution and on the surface would help would provide a better understanding of the kinetics of deposit development understand the kinetics of deposit development.

Collaborations

• Francis Gouttefangeas and Loïc Joanny for scanning electron microscopy (CMEBA)
• Louis Thomas for atomic force microscopy (PCMP)

Read more

Grostete M., Lee J., Msibi Z., Boissel F., Jimenez M., Jeantet R., Lanotte L. (2024) Exploring the formation of surficial whey protein deposits under shear stress by rheofluidic approach, International Journal of Biological Macromolecules, 274, 133291. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.ijbiomac.2024.133291

Contacts

Luca Lanotte. Scientifique à l'UMR-STLO