Stability of flocculated particles in concentrated and high hydrophilic solid layer-by-layer (LBL) emulsions formed using whey proteins and gum Arabic

• Layer-by-layer (LBL) systems were prepared with WPI and gum Arabic.
• Characteristics of depletion flocculated particles at various pHs were examined.
• Effect of WPI concentration and total solids content effect was observed.
• Flocculated particles can be deflocculated into separate individual particles.
• System with higher amount of WPI and total solids content was the most stable.

The objective of the present study was to investigate flocculation in layer-by-layer (LBL) emulsion systems with high total solids content and deflocculation at various pH conditions, and the effects of whey protein isolate (WPI) concentration and total solids content on the stability of LBL emulsions. WPI (1.96% (1WPI) or 10.71% (10WPI), w/w in water) was prepared in water and high-pressure homogenized with sunflower oil (10%, w/w, of total emulsion). Gum Arabic (0.15%, w/w, in total emulsion) was added to assemble electrostatically on WPI at oil particle interfaces at pH 3.5 using aqueous citric acid (10% w/w) forming LBL emulsion. The ζ-potential measurements showed charge reversal upon addition of gum Arabic solution into single layer (SL) emulsion confirming the formation of LBL interface. Trehalose:maltodextrin mixture (1:1, w/w, total emulsion, 28.57% (28) or 57.14% (57), w/w, in water) was used in the continuous phase. The high total solids content of the system results in depletion flocculation of the particles leading to bridging flocculation without coalescence as deflocculation into individual particles occurred with increasing pH from pH 3.5 to pH 6.5 in 10WPI systems. Deflocculation was evident in 10WPI-28 and 10WPI-57 as found from a decreased ζ-average diameter and visually under microscope. Coalescence was observed in 1WPI systems. Viscosity of the systems was significantly (P < 0.05) increased with higher total solids content. Accelerated destabilization test showed that systems at higher WPI and total solids contents exhibited the highest stability against creaming. Deflocculation in LBL systems can be controlled by pH while high solids in the aqueous phase provide stability against creaming.