FoodNet

Experimental cookery

1932

Page 11

Presented as published in 1932. Historical recipes may not meet modern food-safety standards. Cook from the modern interpretation, not the original instructions.
small portions than if added all at once. (2) The valence of the ion bring- ing about the coagulation. Coagulation is brought about by the ion having the opposite charge to that of the colloid. As a general rule, the precipitat- ing effect is increased with an increase of valence of the ion bringing about the coagulation. There are exceptions to this rule, as some monovalent ions have greater effect in bringing about coagulation than some polyvalent ions. (3) Concentration of the electrolyte. In many cases there are zones in which a definite concentration of the electrolyte brings about maximum coagulation. Higher or lower concentrations are not so effective or may not bring about coagulation. This is illustrated later in egg cookery. High con- centrations of ferric or aluminum chloride do not bring about coagulation of distilled-water custards but small concentrations cause coagulation. (4) The concentration of the colloid also affects the amount of electrolyte required for coagulation. (5) A definite time may be required, depending upon the concentration of the protein and electrolyte. Effect of electrolytes upon hydrophilic colloids. The effect of electrolytes upon hydrophilic colloids is varied. Kruyt states that the hydro- philic colloids are stabilized by two factors, the electric charge and the strong hydration of the particles, and after the hydrophilic colloid is dehydrated it is as sensitive to electrolytes as the hydrophobic colloids. Dehydration of the hydrophilic colloids may be brought about by different means. Some proteins may be dehydrated by heating. Alcohol may be used to dehydrate hydrophilic colloids, and tannins may also bring about dehydration. This dehydration by heating or other means is called denatur- ation. If an egg white is dialyzed and the electrolytes removed it is not coagulated when heated. But the addition of electrolytes to the heated dialyzed egg white brings about coagulation. Kruyt states that if small quantities of electrolytes are added to a starch or agar-agar sol the electric charge is removed but the colloidal particles do not precipitate. If alcohol, a dehydrating agent, is added to the above starch or agar-agar sol, coagu- lation occurs. It is immaterial in which order the two stability factors, the electric charge and hydration, are removed. The removal of one has no evident effect, but the removal of both factors causes coagulation. The term denaturation will be used in later references to indicate sensitization of hydrophilic colloids to electrolytes. The term denotes whatever changes are brought about during dehydration of the colloid. The action of electrolytes upon proteins is given as follows by Buchanan and Fulmer. "1. Those electrolytes which bring about a reversible precipitation in high concentration. These include the salts of the alkalis, K, Na, NH4, Li and possibly Mg. Ammonium sulphate is commonly used in 'salting out' of proteins. The precipitate so formed will be redis- solved on dilution, i.e., the process is reversible. ''When the protein is on the alkaline side of its isoelectric point (i.e., ISOELECTRIC POINT 11 negatively charged), the order of effectiveness of the salt is on the basis of cations: Li > K > Na > NH4 > Mg and of anions, citrate > tartrate > SO4 > acetate > CI > NO3 > CIO3 > I > SCN.