Whey protein gel — mechanical cleaning capability through modelling and experimental testing including compression and wire cutting investigation. (March 2021)

• Record Type: Journal Article
• Authors: Liu, Jintian; Helbig, Manuel; Majschak, Jens-Peter; Böl, Markus
• Is Part Of: Journal of food engineering. Volume 292(2021)
• Publication Date: 2021-03
• Subjects: Whey protein gel -- Whey protein isolate -- Wire cutting -- Axial compression -- Fracture modelling -- Parameter identification; Food industry and trade -- Periodicals; Food -- Analysis -- Periodicals; Aliments -- Industrie et commerce -- Périodiques; Aliments -- Analyse -- Périodiques; Aliments -- Recherche -- Périodiques; 664.005
• DOI: 10.1016/j.jfoodeng.2020.110324
• Languages: English
• ISSNs: 0260-8774

Abstract

Abstract: Whey protein has been used extensively to investigate the efficiency of procedures for cleaning dairy production equipment owing to the chemical reaction it undergoes at high temperature, similar to the formation of fouling deposits during heat treatment. In addition to the chemical and thermal aspects, a detailed understanding of the fundamental mechanical and fracture mechanisms that significantly influence the success of the cleaning procedure is indispensable. Consequently, to determine the basis for the mechanical detachment of whey protein isolate, in the present study, the mechanical characteristics and fracture properties of whey protein gels (WPGs) with a protein content of 15% and a treatment temperature of 80 °C were determined. For purely mechanical characterisation, axial compression and compression relaxation experiments were performed. The results suggest a non-linear stress–stretch behaviour combined with time-dependent mechanical characteristics. To characterise the fracture properties of WPGs, wire cutting experiments were performed. Based on a viscoelastic numerical model and the corresponding parameters identified from the experimental investigations, the cutting procedure of WPGs was simulated by assigning a fracture criterion, and the critical stress was determined based on the measured cutting forces. Highlights: WPG was mechanically characterised by compression experiments. Wire cutting experiments were realised on WPG. Three-dimensional model development to describe the fracture behaviour of WPG. Material parameters were identified by the inverse finite element method.