a portion of the
pectin microparticles obtained by ionotropic gelation (MPPEC) was
immersed for 30 min in a 4% (w/w) solution of whey protein concentrate
previously adjusted to pH 4.0 (MPPEC+WP) and the other portion
was transferred to a WPC solution previously heat treated at
80 °C for 15 min (MPPEC+WP /HT). The pH 4.0 was chosen because
the electrostatic interactions between whey protein concentrate
(isoelectric point 4.4–4.5) and pectin (pKa 2.9 approximately) can
occur at pH values below 4.5