Process for preparing plasticized proteinaceous materials involving the step of identifying compatible proteins and plasticizers

摘要

The method of identifying compatible proteins and plasticizers for the formation of a plasticized proteinaceous material comprises: a) selecting a protein component; b) determining the solubility parameter of the protein component defined by the formula: d12 = dD12 + dP12 + dH12 wherein d1 is the total solubility parameter value of the protein component; dD1 is the solubility parameter value contributed by dispersive forces of the protein component; dP1 is the solubility parameter value contributed by the polar forces of the protein component and dH1 is the solubility parameter value contributed by hydrogen bonding forces of the protein component; c) selecting a plasticizer component having a second solubility parameter defined by the formula: d22 = dD22 + dP22 + dH22 wherein d2 is the total solubility parameter value of the plasticizer component; dD2 is the solubility parameter value contributed by dispersive forces of the plasticizer component; dP2 is the solubility parameter value contributed by the polar forces of the plasticizer component and dH2 is the solubility parameter value contributed by hydrogen bonding forces of the plasticizer component and d) matching a protein component with a plasticizer component wherein at least one of the following pairs of solubility parameter values d1 - d2, dD1 - dD2, dP1 - dP2 and dH1 - dH2 are within 15% of each other. The matched protein and plasticizer components can be combined to form a blend and then the blend can be treated to form a plasticized proteinaceous material wherein the plasticizer component is uniformly dispersed within the protein component wherein the step of treating the blend comprises heating the blend in the melt state at a temperature of from 20 to 140oC under controlled high shear conditions such that the plasticizer is dispersed or trapped within a denaturated matrix of the protein component to provide the plasticized proteinaceous material. This plasticized proteinaceous material can be combined with other ingredient to form a gum or confectionery composition.