Protein Coagulation through Reversible and Irreversible Bindings of Calcium

Abstract

The coagulation of soybean protein by a CaCl₂ solution, involving the binding of calcium to the coagulate, was analyzed as the superposition of reversibly bound calcium to soybean protein and irreversibly bound calcium to phytate. The maximum moles of the two calcium binding sites and the binding constants were estimated and compared with the results in literature. The mixing conditions at the time of coagulation were important for controlling the calcium and phosphorus contents of the coagulate.