Physico-chemical study of sucrose and calcium ions interactions in alkaline aqueous solutions

Interactions between sucrose and calcium hydoxide have been the subject of our work. They were studied in dilute solutions (sucrose concentration < 40 % w/w, with a molar stoichiometric ratio Ca(OH)(2) / sucrose < 2) by severa l physico-chemical methods, titration of free and bound calcium ions, C-13 NMR spectroscopy, static light scattering and low shear viscosimetry. From these analyses we propose a polymer-like complex formation with calcium ion s bound to at least two sucrose molecules. Moreover, this polymer-like aggr egate can be described as a linear short chain at low Ca(OH)(2) and sucrose concentrations and as dense fractal particles at higher concentrations.