Solution behavior of barley beta-glucan as studied with asymmetrical flow field-flow fractionation
Author
Summary, in English
Abstract in Undetermined
Physicochemical properties of cereal beta-glucans, associated with beneficial health effects, are related to their solution behavior and possibly to their propensity to form aggregates. Such properties are often analyzed with methods that may influence the aggregates per se. In this paper, the effect of processing on solution behavior of pure barley b-glucan was studied using asymmetrical flow field-flow fractionation (AsFlFFF), a method which is capable of analyzing the present aggregates. Molar mass distributions were determined by in-line multi-angle light scattering and refractive index detectors. Unprocessed samples had a main fraction of aggregates with a weight-average molar mass of 2.8 * 10^6 g/mol. Microwave heating to 100C reduced the largest aggregates, while heating to 121C prominently decreased the molar mass. Frozen storage for 1 week did not influence the aggregation, but repeated freezeethaw cycles changed the structure of aggregates in a way that suggests cryogelation. The influence of processing conditions on solution behavior might explain why differently processed food products containing b-glucan have given different health effects. Experiments with the aim to eliminate aggregates demonstrated that filtration (0.45 mm) prior to analysis resulted in disruption of the largest aggregates, indicating that these aggregates will not be detected when filtration is used. Dissolution in NaOH solution, one of few solvents reported to eliminate aggregates, resulted in retained molar mass. Using
AsFlFFF to study the solution behavior of b-glucans is a gentle method to analyze subtle changes of physicochemical properties.
Physicochemical properties of cereal beta-glucans, associated with beneficial health effects, are related to their solution behavior and possibly to their propensity to form aggregates. Such properties are often analyzed with methods that may influence the aggregates per se. In this paper, the effect of processing on solution behavior of pure barley b-glucan was studied using asymmetrical flow field-flow fractionation (AsFlFFF), a method which is capable of analyzing the present aggregates. Molar mass distributions were determined by in-line multi-angle light scattering and refractive index detectors. Unprocessed samples had a main fraction of aggregates with a weight-average molar mass of 2.8 * 10^6 g/mol. Microwave heating to 100C reduced the largest aggregates, while heating to 121C prominently decreased the molar mass. Frozen storage for 1 week did not influence the aggregation, but repeated freezeethaw cycles changed the structure of aggregates in a way that suggests cryogelation. The influence of processing conditions on solution behavior might explain why differently processed food products containing b-glucan have given different health effects. Experiments with the aim to eliminate aggregates demonstrated that filtration (0.45 mm) prior to analysis resulted in disruption of the largest aggregates, indicating that these aggregates will not be detected when filtration is used. Dissolution in NaOH solution, one of few solvents reported to eliminate aggregates, resulted in retained molar mass. Using
AsFlFFF to study the solution behavior of b-glucans is a gentle method to analyze subtle changes of physicochemical properties.
Department/s
- Pure and Applied Biochemistry
- Department of Food Technology, Engineering and Nutrition
Publishing year
2012
Language
English
Pages
175-180
Publication/Series
Food Hydrocolloids
Volume
26
Issue
1
Document type
Journal article
Publisher
Elsevier
Topic
- Food Engineering
- Biochemistry and Molecular Biology
Keywords
- Cereal b-glucan
- Aggregation
- Molar mass
- Field-flow fractionation
- Multi-angle light scattering
Status
Published
ISBN/ISSN/Other
- ISSN: 0268-005X