Mechanical properties of κ-carrageenan in high concentration of sugar solutions

Abstract While the mechanism of gelation of carrageenan in an aqueous environment, via a coil–helix transition followed by aggregation, is well accepted, its behaviour in highly concentrated sugar is still not well understood. Therefore, the effect of biopolymer and salt concentration on the gelling properties of κ-carrageenans in the presence of high concentrations of sugars was investigated rheologically. A solution of 1% κ-carrageenan in the presence of 10 mM KCl and 87.5% corn syrup did not form a measurable network whereas 1% κ-carrageenan in the presence of 10 mM KCl in aqueous solution forms a gel. Gelation was again observed as KCl concentration was increased to 40 mM KCl. An increase of κ-carrageenan concentration from 1 to 2% with 10 mM KCl present did not restore the capacity for gelation. The effect of type of the sugar solution was also investigated by substituting a corn syrup/glucose syrup mixture for the original corn syrup. In the presence of corn syrup/glucose syrup mixture and salt at concentrations higher than 40 mM KCl, a different gelation behaviour was observed: a gel structure was already present at high temperature and a glass transition was measurable at the lowest temperatures. We believe this study gives new insights into the molecular state of carrageenan in the presence of high concentrations of sugars.