Xanthan-galactomannan interactions as related to xanthan conformations.

The influence of xanthan conformation on the physicochemical behaviour of their mixtures with galactomannan from Schizolobium parahybae mannose:galactose ratio (M/G=3), was studied by viscoelastic measurements, differential scanning calorimetry (DSC) and chiroptical (circular dichroism) methods. The results suggested a more effective interaction of the galactomannan with disordered xanthan segments, which are more abundant in low salt concentrations but are still present in lower proportion at temperatures lower than the temperature of xanthan conformational transition (Tm). The dependence of ellipticity with temperature in a circular dichroism (CD) spectra suggested an ordering of the xanthan chains induced by galactomannan at the temperature of gel formation (Tg approximately 25 degrees C), under conditions where xanthan alone exhibits a disordered conformation. The lower Tg value found (approximately 25 degrees C) compared with that (60 degrees C) usually described in the literature is certainly related to the M/G ratio and the galactosyl unit distribution along the mannan main chain.