Functional characterization of Tef (Eragostics tef) protein concentrate: Influence of altered chemical environment on its gelation, foaming, and water hydration properties

Some selected functional properties of Tef (Eragostics tef) protein concentrate (ETPC) were examined under different chemical environment (NaCl, CaCO3 NaHCO3 and CH3COOH). The least gelation concentration (LGC) was 6%. Increasing the concentration of NaCl from 0.05 to 1.0 M, lowered the LGC to 2%. It was improved to 4% in saturated NaHCO3 but saturated solution of CaCO3 and CH3COOH in the concentration range of 0.05–1.5 M had no effect on LGC. The ETPC foaming capacity (FC) improved at least by two fold in NaCl within the concentration range of 0.05–0.5 M and in saturated solution of NaHCO3. Saturated solution of CaCO3 improved the FC only slightly while 0.05–1.5 M CH3COOH decreased the FC. The water hydration capacity (WHC) was 185.3% which decreased to 149.3% in NaCl as the solution concentration increased from 0.05 to 1.0 M. WHC in 0.05–1.5 M CH3COOH was in the range of 150.0–163.3%. In saturated solutions of CaCO3 and NaHCO3, WHC were 175 and 148% respectively.