Heat stability of milk: influence of colloidal calcium phosphate and β-lactoglobulin

Structural Properties of Casein Micelles with Adjusted Micellar Calcium Phosphate Content

Micellar calcium phosphate (MCP) content of skim milk was modified by pH adjustment followed by dialysis. Turbidity, casein micelle size and partitioning of Ca and caseins between the colloidal and soluble phases of milk were determined. Protein structure was characterised by Fourier transform infrared (FTIR) spectroscopy and proton nuclear magnetic resonance (1H NMR), whereas organic and inorganic phosphorus were studied by phosphorus-31 nuclear magnetic resonance (31P NMR). The sample with the lowest MCP content (MCP7) exhibited the smallest particle size and turbidity, measuring 83 ± 8 nm and 0.08 ± 0.01 cm-1, respectively. Concentrations of soluble caseins increased with decreasing MCP levels. At ~60% MCP removal, FTIR analysis indicated a critical stage of structural rearrangement and 31P NMR analysis showed an increase in signal intensity for Ca-free Ser-P, which further increased as MCP concentration was further reduced. In conclusion, this study highlighted the importance of MCP in maintaining micellar structure and its impact on the integrity of casein micelle.

Influence of pH on Heat-Induced Changes in Skim Milk Containing Various Levels of Micellar Calcium Phosphate

The present study investigated the effect of micellar calcium phosphate (MCP) content and pH of skim milk on heat-induced changes in skim milk. Four MCP-adjusted samples, ranging from 67 to 113% of the original MCP content, were heated (90 °C for 10 min) at different pH values (6.3, 6.6, 6.9, and 7.2), followed by determining changes in particle size, turbidity, protein distribution, and structure. The results demonstrate a strong effect of MCP level and pH on heat-induced changes in milk, with the MCP67 samples revealing the greatest thermal stability. Specifically, decreasing MCP content by 33% (MCP67) led to a smaller increase in non-sedimentable κ-casein and a lower decrease in αs2-casein concentrations after heating compared to other samples. Lower MCP content resulted in a moderate rise in the average particle size and turbidity, along with lower loading of β-turn structural component after heating at low pH (pH 6.3). Notably, MCP113 exhibited instability upon heating, with increased particle size, turbidity, and a significant decrease in non-sedimentable αs2-casein concentration, along with a slight increase in non-sedimentable κ-casein concentration. The FTIR results also revealed higher loading of intermolecular β-sheet, β-turn, and random coil structures, as well as lower loading of α-helix and β-sheet structures in MCP-enhanced skim milk samples. This suggests significant changes in the secondary structure of milk protein and greater formation of larger aggregates.

Calcium: A comprehensive review on quantification, interaction with milk proteins and implications for processing of dairy products

Calcium (Ca) is a key micronutrient of high relevance for human nutrition that also influences the texture and taste of dairy products and their processability. In bovine milk, Ca is presented in several speciation forms, such as complexed with other milk components or free as ionic calcium while being distributed between colloidal and serum phases of milk. Partitioning of Ca between these phases is highly dynamic and influenced by factors, such as temperature, ionic strength, pH, and milk composition. Processing steps used during the manufacture of dairy products, such as preconditioning, concentration, acidification, salting, cooling, and heating, all contribute to modify Ca speciation and partition, thereby influencing product functionality, product yield, and fouling of equipment. This review aims to provide a comprehensive understanding of the influence of Ca partition on dairy products properties to support the development of kinetics models to reduce product losses and develop added-value products with improved functionality. To achieve this objective, approaches to separate milk phases, analytical approaches to determine Ca partition and speciation, the role of Ca on protein-protein interactions, and their influence on processing of dairy products are discussed.

Invited review: Heat stability of milk and concentrated milk: Past, present, and future research objectives

The ability of milk and concentrated milk to withstand a defined heat treatment without noticeable changes such as flocculation of protein is commonly denoted as heat stability. A heat treatment that exceeds the heat stability limit of milk or concentrated milk, which has a much lower heat stability, may result in undesired changes, such as separation of milk fat, grittiness, sediment formation, and phase separation. Most laboratory-scale batch heating methods were developed in the early 20th century to simulate commercial sterilization, and these methods have since been standardized. Heat stability studies have been motivated by different objectives during that time, addressing different processing issues and targets in the framework of available technology, legislation, and consumer demand. Although milk hygiene has improved during the last couple of decades, rendering milk less sensitive to coagulation, different standard methods suffered from poor comparability of results, even when comparing results for the same milk sample, indicating that unknown procedural steps affect heat stability. The prediction of heat stability of concentrated milk from the heat stability results of the corresponding unconcentrated milk for rapid quality testing purposes has been difficult, mainly due to different experimental conditions. The objective of this study is to review literature on heat stability, starting from studies in the early 20th century, to summarize the vast number of studies on compositional aspects of milk affecting heat stability, and to lead the way to the most recent work related to compositional changes in concentrates produced by membrane concentration and fractionation, respectively. Particular attention is paid to early and most recent developments and findings, such as the application of kinetic models to predict and limit protein aggregation to assess and describe heat stability as a temperature-time-total milk solids continuum.

Mammals, Milk, Molecules, and Micelles

After a brief description of my family background and school days, my professional career as a dairy scientist is described under three headings: research, teaching, and writing. My research activities fall into four areas: biochemistry of cheese, fractionation and characterization of milk proteins, heat stability of milk, and dairy enzymology. Finally, I offer some advice to young scientists.

The heat stability of milk and concentrated milk containing added aldehydes and sugars

The addition of simple aldehydes brought about large increases in the heat stability of both skim-milk and concentrated skim-milk over a comparatively wide milk–pH range. The coagulation time–pH minima of type A milks were completely removed by aldehyde treatment. Some sugars, which react readily as aldehydes on heating, were also shown to stabilize concentrated milk to prolonged heat treatment at 120 °C.

Some aspects of the ethanol stability of caprine milk

Caprine skim-milk exhibits markedly lower ethanol (EtOH) stability than bovine skim-milk but can still be characterized by a sigmoidal pH profile. As with bovine milk, the position of this profile along the pH-axis was found to be sensitive to available Ca levels. Manipulation of salt levels, either by serum interchange, addition or diminution did not result in any significant increase in the EtOH stability high pH asymptote, Smax, and reduction of the colloidal calcium phosphate of caprine milk also had no significant effect. EtOH stability/pH profiles similar to those of bovine milk were achieved only by chemical modification of the caprine milk protein by reaction with aldehydes and anhydrides. It is concluded that the low EtOH stability of caprine milk as compared with bovine milk is due to the different proportions of the individual caseins present, in particular the lack of an αsl-casein homologue in caprine milk.

Effects of added salts on the heat stability of recombined concentrated milk

Changes in heat stability and Ca2+activity of recombined concentrated milk (18% solids non-fat:8% fat) induced by the additions of 0·011–0·217 mol phosphate/kg skim milk solids (SMS), 0·022–0·217 mol citrate/kg SMS, 0·011–0·022 mol Ca/kg SMS and 0·016–0·067 mol EDTA/kg SMS were evaluated. Heat stability was assessed using an objective method which involved determination of viscosity after heating under controlled conditions. Low levels of added phosphate and citrate generally effected an acid shift of the viscosity–pH profile, while higher levels caused a broadening of the profile. Addition of CaCl2at a level of 0·011 mol/kg SMS resulted in a narrowing of the viscosity–pH curve; additions of higher levels resulted in a non-heat stable recombined milk concentrate. EDTA also caused a narrowing of the viscosity–pH curve. The results highlight the importance of pH control for effective stabilization of recombined milk concentrates by additions of phosphate and citrate.

Heat stability of milk: role of β-lactoglobulin in the pH-dependent dissociation of micellar κ-casein

On heating casein micelle systems containing β-lactoglobulin (β-lg) at 90°C for 10 min, β-lg complexed with casein micelles at pH < 6·9, probably as a result of interaction with κ-casein via sulphydryl-disulphide interchange, and co-sedimented with the micelles on ultracentrifugation. Complex formation with β-lg appeared to prevent the dissociation of micellar κ-casein on heating. However, at pH ≥ 6·9, κ-casein/β-lg complexes dissociated from the micelles on heating, thus enhancing the release of micellar κ-casein. High concentrations of β-lg (≥0·8%) induced coagulation at pH 7·3, essentially by promoting the dissociation of micellar κ-casein. It appeared that αs1-, αs2-, β- and κ-caseins dissociated from serum protein-free casein micelles to equal extents, but the presence of β-lg specifically enhanced the dissociation of κ-casein at pH values ≥ 6·9. Micelle hydration increased slightly when casein micelles were heated in the presence of β-lg at pH 6·7, while at pH 7·3 β-lg decreased the degree of hydration of casein micelles. Formation of a complex between β-lg and κ-casein appeared to stabilize the micelles in the pH range 6·5–6·7, possibly via increased micellar charge or degree of hydration or by preventing the dissociation of κ-casein.

Heat stability of milk: influence of denaturable proteins and detergents on pH sensitivity

α-Lactalbumin and SDS in addition to β-lactoglobulin introduced pH sensitivity to the heat stability–pH curve of serum protein free casein micelles particularly by increasing stability in the pH range 6·4–6·7. Bovine serum albumin, ovalbumin and lysozyme caused marked destabilization of milk and casein micelle suspensions throughout the pH range 6·4–7·4. Tetramethyl ammonium bromide caused destabilization of milk at pH values > 7·0, but had no effect in the region of maximum stability while the non-ionic detergents Triton X-100 and Tween 80 had no effect on heat stability.

Heat stability of milk: pH-dependent dissociation of micellar κ-casein on heating milk at ultra high temperatures

Preheating milk at 140 °C for 1 min at pH 6·6, 6·8, 7·0 or 7·2 shifted the heat coagulation time (HCT)/pH profile to acidic values without significantly affecting the maximum stability. Whey proteins (both β-lactoglobulin and α-lactalbumin) co-sedimented with the casein micelles after heating milk at pH < 6·9 and the whey protein-coated micelles, dispersed in milk ultrafiltrate, showed characteristic maxima–minima in their HCT/pH profile. Heating milk at higher pH values (> 6·9) resulted in the dissociation of whey proteins and κ-casein-rich protein from the micelles and the residual micelles were unstable, without a maximum–minimum in the HCT/pH profile. Preformed whey protein–casein micelle complexes formed by preheating (140 °C for 1 min) milk at pH 6·7 dissociated from the micelles on reheating (140 °C for 1 min) at pH > 6·9. The dissociation of micellar-κ-casein, perhaps complexed with whey proteins, may reduce the micellar zeta potential at pH ≃ 6·9 sufficiently to cause a minimum in the HCT/pH profile of milk.

Heat stability of milk: influence of colloidal and soluble salts and protein modification on the pH-dependent dissociation of micellar κ-casein

Reducing the colloidal calcium phosphate (CCP) content of milk by 40% or increasing it by 20% did not significantly affect the heat-induced pH-dependent dissociation of micellar κ-casein. However, changes in soluble Ca and phosphate affected the dissociation of κ-casein markedly; decreasing the phosphate concentration or increasing the Ca concentration reduced the formation of non-sedimentable N (NSN) and non-sedimentable 12% TCA-insoluble N-acetyl-neuraminic acid (NANA). Dialysis of milk against water for short periods (∼ 5 h) reduced the formation of both NSN and non-sedimentable 12% TCA-insoluble NANA, as did NaCl at concentrations above 0·05 M. Modification of protein amino groups by succinylation promoted the release of κ-casein while amidation of carboxyl groups had the opposite effect. It appears that the pH-dependent dissociation of κ-casein produced on heating milk above 90°C is controlled by electrostatic interactions. The effects of soluble ions such as Ca2+ or Na+ appear to be due to shielding of such negatively-charged groups as seryl phosphate and carboxyl on the protein, thus reducing the release of κ-casein.

Heat stability of recombined milk: influence of lecithins on the heat coagulation time-pH profile

Two types of lecithin, namely egg and soya lecithin, were investigated as potential stabilizers of recombined milk. They were incorporated into recombined milk both before and after homogenization (20·7 MPa; 60 °C). Their presence at homogenization changed neither mineral equilibria nor homogenization efficiency. However, heat stability varied significantly irrespective of batch of low-heat skim milk powder used in recombined milk. The variation in heat stability depended on type of lecithin. Soya lecithin proved to be a very effective stabilizer. It improved heat stability over a wide pH range (6·3–7·1) and the effect occurred even when the lecithin was added after homogenization. In contrast, egg lecithin destabilized the system to heat at pH < 6·7 by converting a Type A into a Type B heat coagulation time-pH profile if it was incorporated before homogenization; after homogenization it had no effect. The effects of both egg and soya lecithin on the heat stability of recombined milk strongly suggest that interactions occur between phospholipids and milk protein.

Heat stability of milk: the mechanism of stabilization by formaldehyde

The increase produced by formaldehyde (HCHO) in the heat stability of milk did not occur when milk was treated with HCHO at temperatures up to 60°C followed by dialysis at 5°C. However, the minimum in the heat coagulation time (HCT)–pH curve was irreversibly removed if the milk was preheated at 80–C for 10 min in the presence of 5 mM-HCHO. Although this treatment blocked the ε-amino groups of lysyl residues, the stabilizing mechanism is considered to be due to the cross linking action of HCHO which reduced the level of non-sedimentable, κ-casein-rich protein dissociated from the micelles on heating. The specific crosslinking agent, dimethyl suberimidate, modified the HCT-pH profile of milk in a manner similar to preheating at 80°C for 10 min with 5 mM-HCHO, supporting the crosslinking hypothesis. The results of this study appear to lend some support to the proposal of Kudo (1980) that the minimum in the HCT-pH curve of milk is due to the dissociation of κ-casein from the micelles on heating at high temperatures at pH values greater than 6η7.

Influence of sulphydryl group interactions on the heat stability of homogenized concentrated milk

The heat stability of homogenized concentrated milk was found to be more susceptible than that of unhomogenized concentrated milk to changes in the ratio of β-lactoglobulin to κ-casein which were deliberately designed to alter the extent of disulphide-linked complex formation during heating. When sulphydryl group interactions were prevented by the addition to the milk before homogenization of blocking or oxidizing agents, homogenization did not change the heat stability of subsequently concentrated milk.

Heat stability of milk: influence of κ-casein hydrolysis

The release of 12% (w/v) TCA-solubleN-acetylneuraminic acid from casein at 5 temperatures between 110 and 150°C was determined and showed aQ10°C about 3; coagulation occurred when about 20% of the κ-casein was hydrolysed. Renneting of milk or colloidal calcium phosphate-free milk rendered the caseinate very heat-labile at its normal pH when more than about 20% of the κ-casein had been hydrolysed. Heat stability at the pH of maximum stability was not significantly decreased until after very prolonged renneting, but stability at pH values alkaline to the minimum was very sensitive to such hydrolysis suggesting that κ-casein is the principal factor responsible for heat stability in that region. Systems which do not have a maximum or minimum in the heat coagulation time–pH profile, i.e. serum protein-free casein micelles in milk diffusate, or milk which had been dialysed against water, were destabilized by renneting throughout the pH range 6·4–7·4.

Heat stability of milk: influence of modifying sulphydryl-disulphide interactions on the heat coagulation time–pH profile

Addition of reducing agents such as 2-mercaptoethanol (2-ME), dithio-threitol and Na sulphite to milk markedly reduced its heat stability at pH values below 7·1. 2-ME reversibly destabilized milk or serum protein-free casein micelle dispersions and promoted the release of κ-casein-rich protein from the micelles. Reduction of either casein micelles or β-lactoglobulin (β-lg) with 2-ME and subsequent blocking of the newly formed –SH groups with N-ethylmaleimide irreversibly reduced the maximum to minimum ratio in the heat stability profile. 2-ME disrupted κ-casein/β-lg complexes and stripped κ-casein from the micelles on heating. The milk or caseinate systems were thus destabilized. Addition of KBrO4or iodosobenzoate to milk at 5 HIM eliminated the minimum but destabilized milk in the region of the maximum. However, KIO3at 5 mm had a strong stabilizing effect throughout the pH range 6·5–7·3.

Products of the heat-promoted reaction between urea and the protein fraction of bovine milk

Enzymic digests of samples of heated skimmed milk were found to contain small amounts of S-carbamyl-L-cysteine. This material was concluded to have arisen from reaction of a cysteinyl residue in βlactoglobulin (β-lg) with cyanate derived from the native urea of bovine milk. After heating at 75 or 90 °C for 20 min skimmed milk contained 0·009 and 0·029 μmol/ml respectively of protein-bound S-carbamyl-cysteine. Evaporated milk contained 0·058 μmol/ml. The S-carbamylcysteine contents of samples of β-lg heated under similar conditions in equimolar 0·17 mM-KCNO at pH 6·6 were 0·016 and 0·062 μmol/ml respectively. At 60 °C no formation of S-carbamyl-cysteine was detected. Samples of evaporated milk and skimmed milk which had been heated for 20 min at 60, 75 or 90 °C were examined, after acid hydrolysis, for the presence of homocitrulline. None was found. Similarly αs1- and β-caseins heated at 60 and 75 °C in 4 mM-urea at pH 6·6 yielded no homocitrulline, but after treatment at 90 °C for 20 min αs1-casein contained 68 μg/g and β-casein contained 73 μg/g protein-bound homocitrulline. This was concluded to have been the product of reaction of cyanate and ε-amino groupings of lysyl residues of the caseins. The relative importance of carbamylation involving ε-amino groups or sulphydryl groups in milk is discussed.

Effect of homogenization on the heat stability of milk

The effect of homogenization on the heat stability characteristics of milk was examined. The heat stability of homogenized milk, as determined by the time taken for protein clots to form when heated at 140 °C, was reduced with increasing pressure in the range 3·5–34·5 MPa. The heat stability of homogenized milks was greater for samples obtained in the summer months than for those obtained in the winter. The general destabilizing effect of homogenization could be partly offset by 2-stage homogenization (20·7 MPa followed by 3·5 MPa), addition of phosphate stabilizers (0·08% w/v) or homogenization at a high temperature (65 °C). Whilst homogenized and unhomogenized milks reacted similarly to the addition of Ca, phosphate stabilizers, sulphydryl-blocking and oxidizing agents, the effects of season, addition of urea or formaldehyde were different for homogenized milk.

Influence of κ-casein and β-lactoglobulin genetic variants on the heat stability of milk

Heat coagulation time-pH curves at 140°C were obtained for 43 blended skim milk samples from Holstein cows to determine the effects of genetic variants of κ-casein and β-lactoglobulin on milk heat stability. The blended milk samples were similar in terms of protein content and milk salts, but were genotypically different for κ-casein (AA, AB) and β-lactoglobulin (AA, AB, BB). Type A curves were obtained for all milks. Maximum heat stability was affected by the κ-casein genotype (AB > AA, P < 0·01) but the influence of the β-lactoglobulin genotype was only significant when the κ-casein AA genotype was present (β-lactoglobulin AA > BB, P < 0·0001). Minimum heat stability was significantly higher (P < 0·0001) for milk genotyped κ-casein AB:β-lactoglobulin BB. The effects of milk genotyped κ-casein BB on maximum and minimum heat stability were determined by analysing individual milks: κ-casein BB:β-lactoglobulin AB (n=8) and reconstituted milks: κ-casein BB:β-lactoglobulin AA, AB and BB (n = 17). Type B curves were obtained on three occasions for individual κ-casein BB:β-lactoglobulin AB milk and on five occasions in the case of reconstituted milks with κ-casein BB:β-lactoglobulin AA, AB and BB. This suggests a relationship between the type B curve and the κ-casein B genetic variant. Comparison of the mean values of heat stability at the pH of maximum heat stability of each individual and reconstituted milk genotype suggested that the best genotype for κ-casein in terms of heat stability was BB.

Heat-induced association-dissociation of casein micelles preceding coagulation

Heating milk at 140 °C caused an initial increase in the percentage of total casein sedimented at 10000 g for 1 h and in the relative viscosity, but as heating continued both parameters decreased before increasing again just before the onset of visible coagulation. This suggests that heating milk at high temperatures caused an initial aggregation of casein micelles with a concomitant increase in particle size and weight, followed by dissociation of these aggregates with reaggregation just before coagulation. Chromatography of heated milk on controlled pore glass confirmed the above suggestion. Calcium appeared to play a major role in the initial association of casein micelles which was also influenced by the initial pH and total solids concentration but whey protein had no effect.

A differential scanning calorimetric study of the thermal behaviour of bovine β-lactoglobulin at temperatures up to 160 °C

The thermal behaviour of β-lactoglobulin was studied by differential scanning calorimetry (DSC) in the temperature range 40–160 °C. The DSC curves revealed, in addition to the usually observed denaturation peak near 80 °C, a distinct endothermal peak between 130 and 150 °C. When the pH was increased from 6·5, the area under the peak near 80 °C (denaturation heat) decreased significantly, whereas the peak area near 140 °C increased. The temperature of maximum heat absorption in the peaks near both 80 and 140 °C gradually increased as the pH decreased. Addition of sugars and variation of the heating rate both caused a temperature shift of the endothermal heat effect at 140 °C, similar to that at 80 °C. No peak near 140 °C was observed when β-mercapto-ethanol was added to the β-lactoglobulin solution before scanning. The origin and nature of the high temperature denaturation peak is discussed in terms of conformational changes of the protein.

Studies on the heat stability of milk: I. Behaviour of divalent cations and phosphate in milks heated in a stainless steel system

Skim milk was heated rapidly to 130 °C in stainless steel tubing, and was then held at this temperature for periods of up to 1 h in a stainless steel holding vessel. Samples taken at intervals during the holding period were analysed for cations, inorganic and organic phosphate and protein in the total sample and in the supernatant after centrifugation at 60 500g. The cation and total phosphate (organic+inorganic) contents of the sedimentable material remained constant throughout the heating, although the caseins became extensively dephosphorylated. Dephosphorylated protein dissociated from the casein micelles during the first 20 min of heating, after which its concentration in the serum began to decrease, perhaps indicating the onset of the heat coagulation reaction.

Denaturation, aggregation and heat stability of milk protein during the manufacture of skim milk powder

The effect of preheat treatment, evaporation and drying in a commercial plant on the denaturation of βlactoglobulin and α-lactalbumin, their incorporation into the casein micelle and the heat stability characteristics of the milks and powders were determined. Preheat treatments between 110 °C for 2 min and 120 °C for 3 min denatured between 80 and 91% of β-lactoglobulin and between 33 and 45% of α-lactalbumin. Evaporation increased the extent of denaturation but spray drying did not increase it further. The incorporation of α-lactalbumin and βlactoglobulin into the micelles was markedly less than the amount that denatured and was not a constant ratio to it. Heat coagulation times at 140 °C of milks, concentrates and powders diluted to the original milk concentration were measured as a function of pH. In general, the greater the collective heat treatment, the shorter the time required to achieve coagulation. Spray drying shifted the peak positions in the pH-heat coagulation time profiles. In contrast, heat coagulation times (measured at 120 °C) of concentrates and powders diluted to 20% total solids content increased with the severity of the preheat treatment. Surprisingly, spray drying markedly increased the heat coagulation times of the diluted concentrates.

Factors influencing the stability of milk dialysate

The turbidity increase on storage of milk dialysate was shown to be due to Ca phosphate precipitation. The rate of precipitation at 40 °C could be decreased by shortening the duration of dialysis or by the addition of small amounts of EDTA. The dialysate was stabilized against Ca phosphate precipitation by the addition of the whey protein fraction of milk. Individual whey proteins varied in their stabilizing ability: α-lactalbumin was found to be more effective than β-lactoglobulin which gave approximately the same effect as an immunoglobulin fraction. BSA and lysozyme had a destabilizing effect and ovalbumin possessed a slight stabilizing ability.

Heat stability of milk: influence of dilution and dialysis against water

The marked precipitation of Ca phosphate found to occur at ~ pH 6·8 when milk is heated to high temperatures may account for the minimum in the heat coagulation time (HCT)–pH curve at ~ pH 6·8. Dialysis of milk against water for about 3 h converted a normal type A milk to one with type B heat stability characteristics by reducing stability in the region of the HCT maximum while increasing stability in the region of the minimum. Reduction of the concentration of urea, lactose, Na or chloride did not cause these changes and gross micelle structure appeared to be intact following short dialysis as indicated by turbidity and sedimentability. Dilution of milk with water increased stability at the minimum without significantly affecting stability at the maximum. Pre-heating at 80°C for 10 min precluded the effect of dilution but not of dialysis.

Effect of urea on the heat coagulation of the caseinate complex in skim-milk

Additions of urea progressively increased the heat stability of milk outside of its coagulation time (CT)–pH minimum. In the region of the CT–pH minimum larger amounts of urea were required before an increase in heat stability occurred. The effect of urea was observed over the temperature range 125–140 °Cfornaturalmilk, milk which had been dialysed against synthetic sera, and milk to which a sulphydrylblocking agent had been added. Urea additions did not affect the activation energy of the heat coagulation reaction or the stability of milk to rennet or ethanol.

Physico-chemical characteristics of casein micelles in dilute aqueous media

The heat stability and rennet coagulation time (second stage) of milk were reduced by brief dialysis against water. Destabilization appears to arise from a developed imbalance between Ca and phosphate plus citrate due to the very slow diffusion of Ca on dialysis. Average micelle size as indicated by permeation chromatography in porous glass CPG 10 was slightly reduced by dialysis for 24 h. Direct addition of low levels (10–100 mM) of NaCl to milk markedly reduced heat stability at pH > 7·0 (normal minimum) possibly due to dissociation of κ-casein, but increased rennet coagulation times; higher levels of NaCl decreased heat stability throughout the pH range 6·4–7·4.

Heat stability characteristics of ovine, caprine and equine milks

Ovine and caprine milks showed a marked stability maximum at ~ pH7 in their heat-stability/pH curves, but became very unstable at higher pH values. A low level of κ-casein appears to be responsible for this low stability of ovine milk; β-lactoglobulin offsets the stabilizing influence of κ-casein at lower pH values. Removal of colloidal calcium phosphate from ovine or caprine milks had very little influence on their heat stabilities and it was necessary to reduce the concentration of soluble salts to a very low level before an effect was observed. At the pH of maximum stability ovine and caprine milks, although quite variable, had stabilities in the same range as bovine milks. Equine milk was very unstable to heat and the shape of the heat-stability/pH curve of most individual samples was similar to ovine and caprine milks.

Effect of transglutaminase on the heat stability of milk: a possible mechanism

Treatment of milk with transglutaminase (TGase) affects its heat stability, but the manner in which it does so depends on whether or not the milk had been preheated before incubation and on the temperature of preheating. In raw milk, it appears that cross-link formation between the individual caseins is responsible for preventing the dissociation of kappa-casein from the micelles at pH values in the region of minimum stability. In milks preheated before incubation with TGase, denaturation of whey protein may have allowed the formation of cross-links by TGase between denatured whey proteins and the individual caseins which, in combination with cross-linking of the caseins, contributed to greatly improved heat stability at pH > 6.5. It appears from the results of this study that TGase has potential commercial applications as a food-grade additive capable of improving the heat stability of milk.

Short communication: influence of transglutaminase on the heat stability of milk

Skim milk powders were prepared from control and transglutaminase-treated skimmed milk. The heat stability of reconstituted transglutaminase-treated skimmed milk (9.0% total solids) was markedly increased in the pH region of minimum stability (pH 6.8 to 7.1) compared with control milk, while the heat stability of reconstituted concentrated transglutaminase-treated skimmed milk (22.5% total solids) increased progressively as a function of pH relative to control milk. The effect of transglutaminase treatment on the heat stability of skimmed milk may have commercial applications, but extensive research is necessary to gain a better understanding of the mechanism by which transglutaminase improves heat stability.