Rheological Properties
Rheological properties of samples were investigated according to a previous study [20]. Samples were prepared in 10 mg mL-1 deionized water at 95 ºC for 20 min, and kept mixing for 60 min to ensure complete solubilization, then equilibrated 30 min at ambient temperature. After processing, the sample was laid in an aluminum parallel plate and analyzed by a Discovery HR-2 rheometer (TA Instruments Ltd., New Castle, DE). The experimental conditions were as following: 40 mm diameter, 1 mm gap and 25 ºC temperature. The strain sweeping from 0.1 to 10% was performed at 1 Hz frequency. The frequency sweeps with a fixed strain of 1% were measured by the range from 100 to 0.01 rad s-1 at room temperature within the linear viscoelastic range. The storage modulus (G′) and loss modulus (G′′) were automatically recorded. Data were collected according to the logarithmic mode and performed in triplicate.