Rheological properties and phase separation of xanthan-sodium caseinate mixtures analyzed by a response surface method

Effects of xanthan and sodium caseinate concentrations on the rheological properties of their mixture in an aqueous medium were investigated at neutral pH. It was deduced from the use of an experimental design methodology, the existence of a critical concentration of sodium caseinate, which depends on the xanthan quantity, and beyond which repulsive segregation interactions occur, generating a weakening of the elastic modulus and an embitterment of the colloidal system structure. In addition, it was observed that when the Casson viscosity value of the aqueous solution was above 0.1 Pa.s, phase separation of the system was observed. The phase diagram of the solution was established using a polynomial fit.