Chemicals from sugar cane as rheological modifying agents for dispersions

Abstract

Sugar molasses contains thousands of chemical components and undoubtedly many of these components are potentially useful rheological modifying agents. In this study only a handful of these chemical components were evaluated for their rheological modifying properties with slurries. These compounds are cis- and trans-aconitic acids, citric acids, and a modified starch. A yield stress-pH technique was used to probe the surface forces arising from these adsorbed additives in colloidal alumina dispersions. Citric acid and starch decreased the maximum yield stress of the dispersion very significantly. These compounds adsorbed and acted as a steric layer. In contrast trans-aconitic acid increased the maximum yield stress quite substantially while its cis- counterpart did neither increase nor decrease the maximum yield stress. The trans-aconitic acid behaves as an effective particle-bridging agent. Its ciscounterpart is neither effective as a bridging or steric agent. Trans-aconitic acid may be used as an additive for strengthening colloidal gels commonly found in foods and cosmetics. The others may be used to reduce gel strength or yield stress of colloidal dispersion products.