Studies of gelation process investigated by fast field cycling relaxometry and dynamical rheology: the case of aqueous low methoxyl pectin solution

The Fast Field Cycling Relaxometry and the dynamical rheology were applied to study the gelation process in aqueous low methoxyl pectin solution in the presence of divalent cations from the calcium chloride. The model-free approach to the analysis of 1H NMRD data was used to separate the information on the static and dynamic behaviour of the system provided by the dispersion profiles of the systems tested. Mechanical spectroscopy was applied as a complementary method to probe the network formation. The structural changes were most pronounced for the concentration of calcium chloride between 10 and 15 mM (the static parameter beta was found to vary from 0.936 x 10(7) to 1.27 x 10(7) 1/s2) revealing the sol-gel transition on visual inspection. The presence of the gel network was confirmed by the rheological measurements. All mechanical spectra exhibited the gel like character, and the solid like response was more evident at higher concentrations of calcium cations. The mean correlation time increased with increasing salt concentration, but remained unchanged for the concentrations above 15 mM. The dynamical changes were most significant at the phase transition from the sol to the gel state.