Structural, rheological and functional properties of ultrasonic treated xanthan gums

Xanthan gum can improve the freeze-thaw stability of frozen foods. However, the high viscosity and long hydration time of xanthan gum limits its application. In this study, ultrasound was employed to reduce the viscosity of xanthan gum, and the effect of ultrasound on its physicochemical, structural, and rheological properties was investigated using High-performance size-exclusion chromatography (HPSEC), ion chromatograph, methylation analysis, ¹H NMR, rheometer, etc.. The application of ultrasonic-treated xanthan gum was evaluated in frozen dough bread. Results showed that the molecular weight of xanthan gum was reduced significantly by ultrasonication (from 3.0 × 10⁷ Da to 1.4 × 10⁶ Da), and the monosaccharide compositions and linkage patterns of sugar residues were altered. Results revealed that ultrasonication treatment mainly broke the molecular backbone at a lower intensity, then mainly broke the side chains with increasing intensity, which significantly reduced the apparent viscosity and viscoelastic properties of xanthan gum. The results of specific volume and hardness showed that the bread containing low molecular weight xanthan gum was of better quality. Overall, this work offers a theoretical foundation for broadening the application of xanthan gum and improving its performance in frozen dough.