A STUDY OF THE COMPLEXING AND GELLING ABILITIES OF PECTIC SUBSTANCES

Cranberries, lingonberries, blueberries, and food systems based on these berries with different solvents and sugars have been studied. A physicochemical analysis of cranberries, lingonberries, and blueberries has been conducted. Crystalline pectin from cranberries, lingonberries, and blueberries has been isolated to determine the degree of etherification. The gelling ability of the pectic substances has been studied. The effect of different solvents and sugars on the rheological properties of food systems containing pectin has been examined. A comparative estimation of the gelling ability of the pectic substances contained in cranberries, lingonberries, and blueberries and in chitosan and alginate gelling agents has been conducted. The viscous properties have been found to increase in the series: cranberry pectin < lingonberry pectin < blueberry pectin < sodium alginate < chitosan. The complexing ability of pectins with respect to copper and iron ions has been studied and compared to that of casein. Casein exhibits a lower complexing ability with respect to iron ions than pectin. It has been found that the complexing properties of pectin vary with its concentration: the more dilute the solution, the higher the complexing ability of pectin.