The effect of β-lactoglobulin and heat-induced precipitation of calcium phosphate on the pH dependence and mechanism of thermal coagulation of milk throughout the pH range 6·3–7·3 was studied using serum protein-free milk and sodium caseinate as models for micellar and non-micellar milk protein systems respectively. It appears that the specific effect of β-lactoglobulin at the pH of maximum stability may be related to its ability to chelate calcium. The effect of β-lactoglobulin at the pH of minimum stability does not appear to be directly related to heat-induced dissociation of κ-casein or micellar integrity but may be due to its ability to sensitize casein micelles to heat-induced precipitation of calcium phosphate, by increasing micellar hydrophobicity. The extent of heat-induced precipitation of calcium phosphate, as a function of pH, is an inverse reflection of the pH dependence of heat stability. Micellar integrity appears to play a critical role in the heat stability of milk but for reasons not previously appreciated.
