Syneresis in gels of highly ferulated arabinoxylans: characterization of covalent cross-linking, rheology, and microstructure

Ana M. Morales-Burgos, Elizabeth Carvajal-millan*, Yolanda L. López-Franco, Agustín Rascón-chu, Jaime Lizardi-mendoza, Norberto Sotelo-cruz, Francisco Brown-bojórquez, Alexel Burgara-estrella, Martin Pedroza-montero

*Corresponding author for this work

Research output: Contribution to journalArticlepeer-review

25 Scopus citations

Abstract

Arabinoxylans (AXs) with high ferulic acid (FA) content (7.18 μg/mg AXs) were cross-linked using laccase. Storage (G') modulus of AX solutions at 1%(AX-1) and 2%(AX-2) (w/v) registered maximum values of 409 Pa and 889 Pa at 180 min and 83 min, respectively. Atomic force microscopy revealed the grained and irregular surface of the AX-1 gel and the smoother surface without significant depressions of the AX-2 gel. Cured AX gels exhibited a liquid phase surrounding the samples indicating syneresis. The syneresis ratio percentage (%Rs) of the gels was registered over time reaching stabilization at 20 h. The %Rs was not significantly different between AX-1 (60.0%) and AX-2 (62.8%) gels. After 20 h of syneresis development, the dimers of the FA in the AX-1 and AX-2 gels significantly increased by 9%and 78%, respectively; moreover, the trimers of the FA in the AX-1 and AX-2 gels, by 94%and 300%, respectively. Scanning electron microscopy showed that, after syneresis stabilization, AX gels presented a more compact microstructure. Syneresis development in the gels of highly ferulated AXs could be related to the polymer network contraction due to the additional formation of dimers and trimers of the FA (cross-linking structures), which may act like a "zipping" process, increasing the polymer chains' connectivity.

Original languageEnglish
Article number164
JournalPolymers
Volume9
Issue number5
DOIs
StatePublished - 1 May 2017

Bibliographical note

Publisher Copyright:
© 2017 by the authors.

Keywords

  • Arabinoxylan gel
  • Ferulic acid
  • Maize bran
  • Syneresis

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