Dynamic interfacial rheology as a tool for the characterization of whey protein isolates gelation at the oil-water interface

Heat-induced interfacial aggregation of a whey protein isolate (WPI), previously adsorbed at the oil-water interface, was studied by interfacial dynamic characteristics coupled with microscopic observation and image analysis of the drop after heat treatment. The experiments were carried out at temperatures ranging from 20 to 80 degrees C with different thermal regimes. During the heating period, competition exists between the effect of temperature on the film fluidity and the increase in mechanical properties associated with the interfacial gelation process. During the isothermal treatment, the surface dilational modulus, E, increases, and the phase angle, delta, decreases with time to a plateau value. The frequency dependence of E and delta is characteristic of viscoelastic films with increasing delta and decreasing E at lower frequencies. The effects of heat treatment depend on the conditions at which the gelation process takes place. Microscopic observation of gelled films gives complementary information on the effect of heat treatment on WPI adsorbed films.