The theory of branching processes applied to milk proteins: I. Heat-induced coagulation of whole milk

Summary The theory of branching processes is used to present a unified kinetic model for the heat induced coagulation of milk. Nitrogen depletion curves for the overall reaction are fitted to a theoretical curve to demonstrate that the reaction is a single process and that the idea of a lag phase up to the coagulation time, followed by the aggregation reaction proper, is an unnecessary complication. Coagulation times as a function of temperature are then used to determine the activation energy of the reaction; the average value of 126 kJ/mol agrees with that found from analysis of the post-coagulation reaction.