Determination of Foaming Properties of Proteins by Conductivity Measurements

Abstract
A new method was established to estimate the foaming properties of proteins from the conductivity of foams using a simple apparatus that consisted of a glass column with the conductivity cell. A close correlation was observed between the initial conductivity of foams and the foam volumes of heat‐denatured ovalbumins or 11 native proteins, suggesting that the initial conductivity of foams can be used as a measure of foaming power. In addition, a close correlation was obtained between the foam stability determined from changes in the conductivity and foam volume with time of heat‐denatured ovalbumins or 11 native proteins, suggesting that foam stability also can be estimated from changes in the conductivity of foams. The advantages of the conductivity measurements are to determine the foaming properties more simply and accurately than the currently used methods.