Effect of solubilised carbon dioxide at low partial pressure on crystallisation behaviour, microstructure and texture...

The crystallisation and melting behaviour, fat polymorphs, microstructure and texture of anhydrous milk fat (AMF) was investigated in the presence of dissolved CO₂ (0-2000ppm) under two crystallising conditions (non-isothermal versus isothermal). CO₂ was found to induce higher onset crystallisation temperature during cooling from 35 to 5°C at 0.5°Cmin^-1. X-ray scattering analysis showed that, in the presence of dissolved CO_2, this rapid crystallisation caused the formation of unstable, α polymorph fat crystals. For milk fat crystallised under isothermal condition at 25°C for 48h, dissolved CO₂ improved solid fat content, slightly depressed melting temperature and exhibited a sharper melting peak. Microstructure of AMF visualised by Polarised light microscopy of crystallised AMF showed that increasing dissolved CO₂ concentration was associated with smaller crystal size and greater crystal number. The bulk properties of the fat appeared to mirror the microstructural differences, in that the texture of CO₂-treated AMF was harder under isothermal condition but became softer than untreated AMF under cooling condition. The results of this study are of significance in understanding how CO₂ treatment might be used to modulate the crystallisation behaviour of milkfat and thereby the structural development and physical functionality of fat-containing dairy products.