Rheological properties of mucilage aqueous solutions ( Opuntia ficus-indica L. Mill)

QUINZIO C., CORVALÁN M., LOPEZ DE MISHIMA B., ITURRIAGA L.; LÓPEZ DE MISHIMA B.; ITURRIAGA L.

Zurich

Simposio; 7 TH International Symposiumon Food Rheologyand Structure.; 2015

Intitute of Food, Nutrition and Health. Zurich

The mucilage is a complex polysaccharide present in thestems of Opuntia ficus indica ( L. Mill) plants. The sample of mucilage wasobtained by precipitation with ethyl alcohol from natural . exudate ofparenchyma tissue(MP). The aim of this work was to study the rheologicalproperties of solutions mucilage as a function of mucilage concentration. MPsolutions at all concentrations studied showed pseudoplastic behavior. Anincrease in viscosity with increasing concentration in the range of mucilage.0.5 to 4.5 % (w/v) was observed, accentuating the pseudoplastic behavior.Regarding the  dynamic behavior solutionsMP 0.5  and 1 % (w/v) showed a cross overwhere G´ exeeds  G´´. The mostconcentrated systems ( 1.5 and 4.5 % ( w/v) showed macromolecular behaviorconcentrated solution with G´greater than G´´ in all range of frequenciesstudied. Cox-Merz rule indicated macromolecular aggregation in the mostconcentrated mucilage solution ( 4.5 % w/v) . The rotational and dynamic testsshowed that the mucilage solutions have a similar behavior than otherhydrocolloids used in the food industry. This new hydrocolloid showed similarguar gum  thickening capacity, allowingits use in the food industry as a thickener and stabilizer agent.