Intrinsic viscosity and viscoelastic properties of xanthan/guar mixtures in dilute solutions: Effect of salt concentration on the polymer interactions

An oscillating capillary rheometer was used to investigate the dynamic viscoelastic and intrinsic viscosity properties of deacetylated xanthan (0.025%), native xanthan (0.025%), guar gum (0.075%), and xanthan–guar mixtures in dilute solutions. Influence of ionic strength on xanthan conformation and interaction with guar gum was elaborated. As the salt concentration increased, a significant (P < 0.05) decrease in viscosity (η′) and elasticity (η″) values was observed for both native xanthan–guar mixtures and deacetylated xanthan–guar mixtures. In water and 2 mM NaCl solution, the relative viscosity and η″ of both native xanthan–guar mixtures and deacetylated xanthan–guar mixtures were much higher than of those calculated for mixtures assuming no interaction, whereas no pronounced increase was found for polysaccharide mixtures in 40 mM NaCl. The intrinsic viscosities of deacetylated xanthan–guar mixtures in water and 2 mM NaCl were higher, whereas the intrinsic viscosities of native xanthan–guar mixtures were lower than those calculated from the weight averages of the two individually, assuming no interaction. These results demonstrated that intermolecular interaction has occurred between xanthan and guar mixtures in water and 2 mM NaCl, but may not occur in 40 mM NaCl, and mutual incompatibility may occur. The results suggest that the degree of disordering of xanthan played a critical role in xanthan–guar interaction and may explain the differences in η′, η″, and intrinsic viscosity measurements between 2 and 40 mM NaCl.