In prior work, four polysaccharides (E-NAP, U-NAP, Al-NAP, Ac-NAP) were sequentially extracted from N. aurantialba using water (enzyme- or ultrasound-assisted), alkali and acid. In this study, the synergistic effects and compatibility between NAPs and food thickeners were investigated. NAPs were individually compounded with guar gum (GG), carrageenan (KC), xanthan gum (XG), and sodium carboxymethyl cellulose (CMC-Na). The results showed that Ac-NAP-thickeners had high fluidity, NAPs-CMC-Na had relatively high transparency. The surfaces of E-NAP-GG, E/U-NAPs-KC, Al/Ac-NAPs-XG and Al-NAP-CMC-Na were smoother than corresponding thickeners. FTIR and XRD results indicated that the composite gels had no significant impact on the thickeners’ basic structures. During the temperature sweep, both the G′ and G′′ of NAPs-GG were more stable than those of NAPs and GG. TGA results displayed that the residual mass of NAPs-GG (20.402%–22.198%) was higher than that of GG (14.807%). The results indicated that NAPs and GG synergistically enhanced thermal stability. The thermal decomposition temperature of NAPs-KC was 30°C higher than that of KC. The maximum viscosity variation of NAPs-KC after freeze-thaw was about 6 Pa·s, lower than that of KC. These findings demonstrated that NAPs and KC synergistically improved stability under high-temperature and freeze-thaw treatment. The apparent viscosity of NAPs-XG was less affected by shearing time and could maintain elasticity during low-to-high strain cyclic tests. During temperature sweep, Al/Ac-NAPs-XG maintained G' > G″ . The decomposition temperature of Ac-NAP-CMC-Na was nearly 10°C higher than that of CMC-Na. This study aimed to clarify the synergistic enhancement effect on NAPs-thickeners and offer support for wider industrial application. • Gels containing Ac-NAP showed high flowability. • NAPs-GG showed high thermal and shear resistance • NAPs-GG, NAPs-KC, E/Al/Ac-NAPs-XG gels exhibit superior freeze-thaw stability. • NAPs-GG and Al/Ac-NAPs-XG retained elasticity during low-to-high strain cycles.
Cheng et al. (Sun,) studied this question.