The effects of gellan to gelatin ratio and NaCl concentration on a mixed gel’s WHC is shown in Fig. 9. WHC was significantly affected by both the NaCl concentration and gellan to gelatin ratio. In general, WHC decreased with increasing NaCl concentration, except at high amounts of gelatin in the mixed gel (V). Electrostatic repulsion increased as NaCl concentration increased, which may cause the partial collapse of the gel
Fig. 8. Turbidity of gellan/gelatin mixed gels as a function of NaCl concentration.
Fig. 9. The effect of NaCl concentration on WHC (%) of gellan/ gelatin mixed gels subjected to centrifugation (8000 rpm).
matrix, resulting in a low WHC. The mixed gel V showed that WHC significantly increased with increas- ing NaCl concentration. In general, water may exist inside the gels by capillary action and/or H-bonding. These interactions could be changed as gelatin concen- tration increased, resulting in different WHC.