Abstract
The effects of the flow behavior at different temperatures on whey protein isolate (WPI) suspensions, pure or mixed with xanthan, were experimentally studied at pH 5.4. The experiments were performed in a continuous rotor/stator device, on the pilot-scale, using different rotational speeds and rotor geometries. The effects of a defined shear flow in a concentric cylinder system were compared with the shear and elongational flow resulting in a geometry with two scraping blades. Aggregation was documented by means of a phase inverse light microscope and quantified by particle laser diffraction measurements. All the suspensions were rheologically analyzed by a steady stress sweep. Overall, significant results were obtained.