Phycocyanin, like chlorophyll and carotenoids, contributes to photosynthesis and plays an important role in life support. It also has high antioxidant properties and is attracting lots of attention as a health food ingredient.
Properties
① Solubility
Linablue® powder dissolves quickly in cold or warm water to make a homogeneously transparent solution.
② pH stability
Its color shade is stable between pH 4,5 - 8,0. Aggregation and precipitation occur at around pH 4,2 as phycocyanin's structure is combined with protein. Its stability is improved when used together with milk, egg or other ingredients containing protein.
③ Heat stability
It is recommended to add Linablue® to a solution after it is cooled down. It can also be added to a solutiont hat is 60°C or cooler, but should be cooled down further immediately after adding in Linablue. Its stability improves in high density sucrose solutions.
④ Light stability
Its color shade deteriorates when exposed to light, but when used together with an antioxidation agent like sodium ascorbate, its color stability is improved.
⑤ Solubility in alcohol
Precipitation occurs if used in 100% alcohol, but Linablue can be dissolved in solutions with less than 20% alcohol.
Appearance
Linablue's shade is vivid sky blue when dissolved in water.
The color shade of Linablue® is much more brilliant and vivid than gardenia blue.
Recommended Usage
Add Linablue® in 0.01 - 0.1% volume weight. It is recommended to add after the solution's heat treatment.