Effect of pH and mixing ratio on interpolymer complexation of scallop (Patinopecten yessoensis) male gonad hydrolysates and κ-carrageenan.

• pH and ratio largely governed turbidity changes of SMGHs/ κ -C complexes. • pH c exhibited ratio-independent, and pH φ1 , pH max exhibited ratio-dependent behaviors. • SMGHs aggregates and agglomerated SMGHs/ κ -C support the gel strength at acid pH. • SMGHs/ κ -C at acid pH had greater interaction with water to support the gel formation. • SMGHs/ κ -C formed a denser network at acid pH with stronger gel strength. The electrostatic complex coacervation between scallop Patinopecten. yessoensis male gonad hydrolysates (SMGHs) and κ -carrageenan (κ -C) were monitored by using turbidimetry at various pH (1–12) and biopolymer mixing ratio (9:1–1:9). The pH c exhibited ratio-independent behavior, and pH φ1 , pH max exhibited ratio-dependent behavior, respectively. The decreasing ratio enhanced the gel strength of SMGHs/ κ -C at higher pH while inversely at lower pH, ascribing to more SMGHs aggregates and stronger neutralization between positively charged patches in SMGHs and κ -C at lower pH and higher ratio. Moreover, SMGHs/ κ -C gel at acid condition exhibited lower relaxation times (T 21 and T 23). Furthermore, the rheological and relaxation time T 2 data were well associated with microscopy images which indicated that SMGHs/ κ -C gel showed a well-distributed network structure at more acidic domains, supporting stronger gel rigidity and water-holding capacity. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]