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Updated: May 29, 2026

Calcium Carbonate Formation in the Presence of Biopolymeric Additives
Published on: May 14, 2019
Effect of calcium on the morphology and functionality of whey protein nanofibrils
Simon M Loveday1, Jiahong Su, M Anandha Rao
1Riddet Institute, Massey University, Private Bag 11 222, New Zealand.
Abstract:
Self-assembly of amyloid-like nanofibrils during heating of bovine whey proteins at 80 °C and pH 2 is accelerated by the presence of NaCl and/or CaCl(2), but the rheological consequences of accelerated self-assembly are largely unknown. This investigation focused on the impact of CaCl(2) on the evolution of rheological properties and fibril morphology of heated whey protein isolate (WPI), both during self-assembly at high temperature and after cooling. Continuous rotational rheometry of heated 2% w/w WPI showed a nonlinear effect of CaCl(2) on the viscosity of fibril dispersions, which we attributed to effects on fibril flexibility and thus the balance between intrafibril and interfibril entanglements. Small-amplitude oscillatory measurements made in situ during heating of 10% w/w WPI at 80 °C suggest that CaCl(2) is not involved in either fibril structure or gel structure, and this was confirmed with dialysis experiments.
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