Interactions in food - Depletion interaction

6 important questions on Interactions in food - Depletion interaction

What happens with depletion interactions?

There is no electrostatic attraction or hydrophobic interactions between particles and the polymers. The polymers stay in the continuous phase. At high concentrations of one of them, there is limited space to distribute the particles and polymers. The particles get together and the polymers get together --> phase separation.

Osmotic pressure difference (osmotic pressure between particles is lower), the water between the particles will move outside, to decrease the concentration of polymers there. The particles are pushed together and aggregate/flocculate.

What is lighter? Protein aggregates or polymers?

Polymers

What happens when the polymer concentration is high enough to cover the surface of the particles?

Steric stabilization
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What happens when the polymer concentration is too low to cover the surface of the particles?

Bridging flocculation

What does the size of the polymers have to do with the depletion interactions?

Larger molecules shows earlier depletion interactions, as they fit less between the particles

Which conformation of polymers do you have? And what is their size?

  • Globular --> smallest
  • Random coil --> intermediate
  • Rigid rod --> largest

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