Influence of Sucrose on the Thermal Denaturation, Gelation, and Emulsion Stabilization of Whey Proteins

The influence of sucrose (0−40 wt %) on the thermal denaturation and functionality of whey protein isolate (WPI) solutions has been studied. The effect of sucrose on the heat denaturation of 0.2 wt % WPI solutions (pH 7.0) was measured using differential scanning calorimetry. Sucrose increased the temperature at which protein denaturation occurred, for example, by 6−8 °C for 40 wt % sucrose. The dynamic shear rheology of 10 wt % WPI solutions (pH 7.0, 100 mM NaCl) was monitored as they were heated from 30 to 90 °C and then cooled to 30 °C. Sucrose increased the gelation temperature and the final rigidity of the cooled gels. The degree of flocculation in 10 wt % oil-in-water emulsions stabilized by 1 wt % WPI (pH 7.0, 100 mM NaCl) was measured using a light scattering technique after they were heated at fixed temperatures from 30 to 90 °C for 15 min and then cooled to 30 °C. Sucrose increased the temperature at which maximum flocculation was observed and increased the extent of droplet flocculation. These results are interpreted in terms of the influence of sucrose on the thermal unfolding and aggregation of protein molecules. Keywords: Whey proteins; heat denaturation; functionality; emulsion stability; gelation; sucrose; osmotic stress