“Melt-in-the-mouth” gels from mixtures of xanthan and konjac glucomannan under acidic conditions: A rheological and calorimetric study of the mechanism of synergistic gelation

The effect of acidification on a typical commercial xanthan and on pyruvate-free xanthan (PFX), alone and in gelling mixtures with konjac glucomannan (KGM), has been studied by differential scanning calorimetry (DSC) and small-deformation oscillatory measurements of storage modulus (G′) and loss modulus (G″). For both xanthan samples, progressive reduction in pH caused a progressive increase in temperature of the disorder–order transition in DSC, and a progressive reduction in gelation temperature with KGM. This inverse correlation is interpreted as showing that synergistic gelation involves disruption of the xanthan 5-fold helix, probably by attachment of KGM to the cellulosic backbone of the xanthan molecule (as proposed previously by a research group in the Institute of Food Research, Norwich, UK). Higher transition temperature accompanied by lower gelation temperature for PFX in comparison with commercial xanthan at neutral pH is explained in the same way. However, an additional postulate from the Norwich group, that attachment of KGM (or galactomannans) can occur only when the xanthan molecule is disordered, is inconsistent with the observation that gelation of acidified mixtures of KGM with PFX can occur at temperatures more than 60 °C below completion of conformational ordering of the PFX component (as characterised by DSC). Increase in G′ on cooling for mixtures of commercial xanthan with KGM at pH values of 4.5 and 4.25 occurred in two discrete steps, the first following the temperature-course observed for the same mixtures at neutral pH and the second occurring over the lower temperatures observed for mixtures of KGM with PFX at the same values of pH. These two “waves” of gel formation are attributed to interaction of KGM with, respectively, xanthan sequences that had retained a high content of pyruvate substituents, and sequences depleted in pyruvate by acid hydrolysis. At pH values of 4.0 and lower, gelation of mixtures of KGM with commercial xanthan followed essentially the same temperature-course as for mixtures with PFX, indicating extensive loss of pyruvate under these more strongly acidic conditions. Mixtures prepared at pH values in the range 4.0–3.5 gave comparable moduli at room temperature (20 °C) to those obtained at neutral pH, but showed substantial softening on heating to body temperature, suggesting possible applications in replacement of gelatin in products where “melt-in-the-mouth” characteristics are important for acceptability to the consumer.     

Physicochemical properties of extrusion-modified konjac glucomannan

Konjac glucomannan was extruded and subsequently ground under four conditions denoted: KGM1 (33% solids, 90 °C), KGM2 (24% solids, 90 °C), KGM3 (24% solids, 90 °C, die restriction), and KGM4 (24% solids, 110 °C). SEM and particle size analysis showed that extruded KGM had slightly larger and rougher particles. The water absorption index was decreased to 47.92-128.80, as compared to 153.64 for the control (KGMC). The crystallinity index increased to 2.97 and 3.42 for KGM3 and KGM4 samples, as compared to 1.72 for the control. Zero-shear viscosity of 0.5% solutions decreased to 0.36-3.01 Pa s. All samples were shear-thinning and data were best fitted by the Cross model. Based on capillary viscometry, molecular weights were decreased to 2.7 × 10⁵-9.9 × 10⁵, as compared to 1.2 × 10⁶ for the control. In most cases, properties were most altered by higher temperature and shear, and to a lesser extent by lower solids in the feed.     

魔芋葡甘露聚糖-丙烯腈接枝共聚反应的研究

本研究以硝酸铈铵作为引发剂,探讨反应时间、反应温度、引发剂浓度和单体用量对魔芋葡甘露聚糖-丙烯腈接枝共聚反应的影响;并利用扫描电镜等分析技术对接枝共聚物结构与性能的关系作了初步探。结果表明,接枝共聚物的粘度比反应前提高了2—4倍;溶胶的相对稳定性提高了近4倍;接枝共聚物成膜更为均匀、细密;且气泡明显减少。     

固氮类芽孢杆菌YUPP-5中环糊精糖基转移酶基因的克隆与功能分析

从魔芋根际分离的固氮类芽孢杆菌Paenibacillus azotofixans YUPP-5对多种β-1,4糖苷键连接的多糖具有水解作用。通过构建该菌的fosmid文库,克隆到2 157 bp的基因片段,编码环糊精糖基转移酶。大肠杆菌中表达此酶,能降解葡甘聚糖、羧甲基纤维素钠盐、几丁质、木聚糖等多种β-1,4糖苷键连接的多糖,同时该酶还能以葡甘聚糖为底物生成β-1,4糖苷键连接的环糊精,而文献报道这种酶仅能利用α-1,4糖苷键连接的淀粉为底物生成环糊精;并展示了环糊精糖基转移酶的一些新功能。     

魔芋葡甘露低聚糖的酶法制备工艺的初步研究

利用β-甘露聚糖酶产品水解魔芋胶制备魔芋葡甘露低聚糖的工艺条件。在加样顺序、pH、酶添加量、时间、温度等单因素试验的基础上,进一步通过正交试验确定的最佳工艺条件为:魔芋胶浓度10g/L,酶添加量为100U/g,pH5.5,45℃条件下,酶解时间1.5h。再利用酵母发酵去除可发酵性糖的方法,以获得最终产物为100%的魔芋葡甘露低聚糖。     

Characteristics of galactomannanase for degrading konjac gel

Galactomannanase (Glmnase) is an enzyme product derived from Aspergillus niger. The activity of Glmnase degrading (hydrolyzing) the konjac gel were investigated. Significant loss in the enzyme activity was found when the temperature above 60 °C. Similar observations were obtained when the reaction pH above 5. Further increase in the pH value resulted in entirely loss of enzyme activity at the alkaline pH region (pH 8.0 and above). The optimal hydrolyzing temperature and pH were at 60 °C and 5.0, respectively. For the stability test, the purified Glmnase increased its thermostability up to 70 °C at pH 5.0, but it retained only about 60% activity after 60 min incubation at this temperature and its activity became zero after 20 min incubation at 80 °C. The Glmnase was stable at the pH range from 3.0 to 7.0 at room temperature and retained at least 80% activity for 60 min. For the storage temperature test, the lyophilized Glmnase still conserved about 90% activity during 7 days at 30 °C, and was higher than about 80% at 4 °C. The K_m and V_max, were 0.018 mg/ml konjac powder and 0.20 mg/ml reducing sugar per min, respectively.     

魔芋飞粉总生物碱的提取工艺研究

目的:研究魔芋飞粉总生物碱提取的最佳条件。方法:以盐酸小檗碱为对照,采用酸性染料比色法测定总生物碱含量;通过单因素试验,考察乙醇浓度、料液比、pH、温度、时间、提取次数等对总生物碱提取效果的影响;通过正交实验确定最佳工艺条件。结果:影响魔芋飞粉总生物碱提取效果的因素的主次顺序是:pH>乙醇浓度>料液比>提取温度,其中pH对魔芋飞粉总生物碱提取效果影响显著(P<0.05)。魔芋飞粉总生物碱最佳提取工艺条件为:料液比为1:15,温度为50℃,乙醇浓度为70%,pH值为1。在此工艺条件下,总生物碱提取量可达到89.79mg/100g。结论:本文建立的优化方法简单可行,可为魔芋飞粉的总生物碱提取工业提供理论依据。     

Structure of the oligomers obtained by enzymatic hydrolysis of the glucomannan produced by the plant Amorphophallus konjac

Dimers and trimers obtained by enzymatic hydrolysis of the glucomannan produced by the plant Amorphophallus konjac were analysed in order to obtain information on the saccharidic sequences present in the polymer. The polysaccharide was digested with cellulase and beta-mannanase and the oligomers produced were isolated by means of size-exclusion chromatography. They were structurally characterised using electrospray mass spectrometry, capillary electrophoresis, and NMR. The investigation revealed that many possible sequences were present in the polymer backbone suggesting a Bernoulli-type chain.     

Novel biodegradable flocculating agents prepared by phosphate modification of Konjac

A series of phosphate-modified Konjac was synthesized by esterification of natural polysaccharide Konjac, and comparative studies were conducted to examine the flocculation efficiency and biodegradability for the modified and unmodified products. It is found that both modified derivatives and the unmodified parent show flocculation ability and biodegradability. However, within the polymer concentration studied, the higher the phosphoric content, the better the flocculation efficiency is, and the modified analogues show superior biodegradability to that of the parent polymer. The degradation mechanism was confirmed by IR spectrum that the P–O–P bond was cut during the aging process at 30 °C.     

魔芋葡甘聚糖磷酸酯化反应的研究(Ⅰ)

本文旨在研究干法条件下魔芋葡甘聚糖磷酸化反应,反应温度、时间、pH和磷酸盐用量对酯化反应以及酯化产物粘度的影响.利用红外光谱、X-射线衍射、扫描电镜及旋转粘度计等分析测试手段,探讨酯化产物的结构和性能之间的关系.