Uma contribuição à pesquisa das propriedades químicas dos concentrados proteicos de soro do leite

Abstract

The objective of this study was to use Raman spectroscopy and Rapid Viscosity Analyzer (RVA) in the study of chemical properties of Whey Protein Concentrates (WPC), aiming to identify intrinsic attributes of the products during processing or during industrial use. By means of Raman spectroscopy, it was possible to identify the structure of the lactose present in the WPC samples, obtained in a pilot plant under different technological parameters, due to the characteristics of the physical state of this sugar in the powder particles. The crystallization process of the lactose has been identified in different repetitions of treatments because of the spectral changes occurring in the region of 2900 cm-1 and especially in the region between 1200 and 800 cm-1. These changes in the profile of the spectra were attributed to phase change process of amorphous lactose to crystalline lactose, which occurs during the appearance of new bands due to the lowering of symmetry in the phase transition. The RVA was used to evaluate the synergistic behavior of WPC containing rehydrated protein systems, to elucidate the effect of different protein structures of these systems in various thermal processing under the influence of pH, allowing to a better optimization of definition of products and processes. The interpretation of reactions and interactions that occur simultaneously among the protein constituents of these systems in dispersion during thermal processing is still a major challenge, and this work was carried out by observing the rheological changes in viscosity during the heating ramp, using 10 specific analytical parameters obtained from the viscographic profiles. The study showed a clear influence of pH 5.5 in the elevation of at least 5°C in the initial temperature of the start-up viscosity of the protein systems and the impact of different protein ratios at pH 7.0 in the profile of viscographic curves, the main agent being the synergistic effect between the reactions and interactions of caseins with whey proteins during processing. This study reinforces the importance of Raman spectroscopy as an analytical tool in characterizing the physical state of lactose and the RVA as an analytical tool used in the simulation of industrial processes involving protein systems and also the use of start-up viscosity ramp as a means of interpretation of the interactions of its components in relation to thermal treatment related changes.