Development of egg white protein aerogels as new matrix material for microencapsulation in food

Egg white protein hydrogels formed by heat coagulation were used to obtain aerogel structures by supercritical drying. Hydrogels were prepared from pasteurized and spray-dried egg white at different pH, ionic concentrations and protein content to modify the characteristics of the dried protein network. The largest BET-surface areas were found at low and high pH, the most mechanically stable aerogels – at alkaline pH. It was shown that the protein network is preserved during supercritical drying. Egg white as precursor for aerogels opens a new field of application for those proteins as microencapsulation material for sensitive or unpleasant tasting food additives.