Molecular Fractionation Induced by Viscosity-Driven Segregative Phase Separation Behavior of Gum Arabic/Hydroxypropyl Methylcellulose

Segregative phase separation technology demonstrates substantial potential for precise molecular fractionation in food and biomaterial applications. The investigation elucidates the causal relationship between viscosity variations and phase separation dynamics, which govern molecular fractionation i...

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Main Authors: Lingyu Han, Cunzhi Zhang, Nuo Dong, Jixin Yang, Qiuyue Zheng, Xiaobo Zhang, Ronggang Liu, Jijuan Cao, Bing Hu
Format: Article
Language:English
Published: MDPI AG 2025-07-01
Series:Foods
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Online Access:https://www.mdpi.com/2304-8158/14/15/2642
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author Lingyu Han
Cunzhi Zhang
Nuo Dong
Jixin Yang
Qiuyue Zheng
Xiaobo Zhang
Ronggang Liu
Jijuan Cao
Bing Hu
author_facet Lingyu Han
Cunzhi Zhang
Nuo Dong
Jixin Yang
Qiuyue Zheng
Xiaobo Zhang
Ronggang Liu
Jijuan Cao
Bing Hu
author_sort Lingyu Han
collection DOAJ
description Segregative phase separation technology demonstrates substantial potential for precise molecular fractionation in food and biomaterial applications. The investigation elucidates the causal relationship between viscosity variations and phase separation dynamics, which govern molecular fractionation in GA/HPMC composite systems. By conducting a comparative analysis of two GA subtypes (CGA and SGA) and three HPMC grades with controlled viscosity gradients, we utilized gel permeation chromatography-multi-angle laser light scattering (GPC-MALLS) coupled with rheological characterization to elucidate the critical relationship between continuous phase viscosity and fractionation efficiency. Notably, increasing HPMC viscosity significantly intensified phase separation, resulting in selective enrichment of arabinogalactan-protein complexes: from 6.3% to 8.5% in CGA/HPMC systems and from 27.3% to 36.5% in SGA/HPMC systems. Further mechanistic investigation revealed that elevated HPMC viscosity enhances thermodynamic incompatibility while slowing interfacial mass transfer, synergistically driving component redistribution. These findings establish a quantitative viscosity–fractionation relationship, offering theoretical insights for optimizing GA/HPMC systems in emulsion stabilization, microencapsulation, and functional biopolymer purification via viscosity-mediated phase engineering.
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institution DOAJ
issn 2304-8158
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publishDate 2025-07-01
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spelling doaj-art-7f7dd0ce80e1418b9cf0b964c7eb00332025-08-20T03:02:49ZengMDPI AGFoods2304-81582025-07-011415264210.3390/foods14152642Molecular Fractionation Induced by Viscosity-Driven Segregative Phase Separation Behavior of Gum Arabic/Hydroxypropyl MethylcelluloseLingyu Han0Cunzhi Zhang1Nuo Dong2Jixin Yang3Qiuyue Zheng4Xiaobo Zhang5Ronggang Liu6Jijuan Cao7Bing Hu8Key Lab of Biotechnology and Bioresources Utilization of Ministry of Education, College of Life Science, Dalian Minzu University, Dalian 116600, ChinaKey Lab of Biotechnology and Bioresources Utilization of Ministry of Education, College of Life Science, Dalian Minzu University, Dalian 116600, ChinaKey Lab of Biotechnology and Bioresources Utilization of Ministry of Education, College of Life Science, Dalian Minzu University, Dalian 116600, ChinaFaculty of Social and Life Sciences, Wrexham University, Plas Coch, Mold Road, Wrexham LL11 2AW, UKKey Lab of Biotechnology and Bioresources Utilization of Ministry of Education, College of Life Science, Dalian Minzu University, Dalian 116600, ChinaKey Lab of Biotechnology and Bioresources Utilization of Ministry of Education, College of Life Science, Dalian Minzu University, Dalian 116600, ChinaKey Lab of Biotechnology and Bioresources Utilization of Ministry of Education, College of Life Science, Dalian Minzu University, Dalian 116600, ChinaKey Lab of Biotechnology and Bioresources Utilization of Ministry of Education, College of Life Science, Dalian Minzu University, Dalian 116600, ChinaKey Lab of Biotechnology and Bioresources Utilization of Ministry of Education, College of Life Science, Dalian Minzu University, Dalian 116600, ChinaSegregative phase separation technology demonstrates substantial potential for precise molecular fractionation in food and biomaterial applications. The investigation elucidates the causal relationship between viscosity variations and phase separation dynamics, which govern molecular fractionation in GA/HPMC composite systems. By conducting a comparative analysis of two GA subtypes (CGA and SGA) and three HPMC grades with controlled viscosity gradients, we utilized gel permeation chromatography-multi-angle laser light scattering (GPC-MALLS) coupled with rheological characterization to elucidate the critical relationship between continuous phase viscosity and fractionation efficiency. Notably, increasing HPMC viscosity significantly intensified phase separation, resulting in selective enrichment of arabinogalactan-protein complexes: from 6.3% to 8.5% in CGA/HPMC systems and from 27.3% to 36.5% in SGA/HPMC systems. Further mechanistic investigation revealed that elevated HPMC viscosity enhances thermodynamic incompatibility while slowing interfacial mass transfer, synergistically driving component redistribution. These findings establish a quantitative viscosity–fractionation relationship, offering theoretical insights for optimizing GA/HPMC systems in emulsion stabilization, microencapsulation, and functional biopolymer purification via viscosity-mediated phase engineering.https://www.mdpi.com/2304-8158/14/15/2642segregative phase separationviscosityfractionationgum arabichydroxypropyl methyl cellulose
spellingShingle Lingyu Han
Cunzhi Zhang
Nuo Dong
Jixin Yang
Qiuyue Zheng
Xiaobo Zhang
Ronggang Liu
Jijuan Cao
Bing Hu
Molecular Fractionation Induced by Viscosity-Driven Segregative Phase Separation Behavior of Gum Arabic/Hydroxypropyl Methylcellulose
Foods
segregative phase separation
viscosity
fractionation
gum arabic
hydroxypropyl methyl cellulose
title Molecular Fractionation Induced by Viscosity-Driven Segregative Phase Separation Behavior of Gum Arabic/Hydroxypropyl Methylcellulose
title_full Molecular Fractionation Induced by Viscosity-Driven Segregative Phase Separation Behavior of Gum Arabic/Hydroxypropyl Methylcellulose
title_fullStr Molecular Fractionation Induced by Viscosity-Driven Segregative Phase Separation Behavior of Gum Arabic/Hydroxypropyl Methylcellulose
title_full_unstemmed Molecular Fractionation Induced by Viscosity-Driven Segregative Phase Separation Behavior of Gum Arabic/Hydroxypropyl Methylcellulose
title_short Molecular Fractionation Induced by Viscosity-Driven Segregative Phase Separation Behavior of Gum Arabic/Hydroxypropyl Methylcellulose
title_sort molecular fractionation induced by viscosity driven segregative phase separation behavior of gum arabic hydroxypropyl methylcellulose
topic segregative phase separation
viscosity
fractionation
gum arabic
hydroxypropyl methyl cellulose
url https://www.mdpi.com/2304-8158/14/15/2642
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