Authenticity green coffee bean species and geographical origin using near-infrared spectroscopy combined with chemometrics

To prevent the adulteration of agricultural resources and provide a solution to enhance the green coffee bean supply chain, authentication using the near-infrared spectroscopy (NIRS) technique was investigated. Partial least square with discrimination analysis (PLS-DA) models combined with various preprocessing methods were built from NIR spectra of 153 Vietnamese green coffee samples. The model combined with the standard normal variate and the first order of derivative yielded excellent performance in predicting coffee species with the error cross-validation of 0.0261. PLS-DA model of mean centre and first-order derivative spectra also yielded good performance in verifying geographical indication of green coffee with the error of 0.0656. By contrast, the predicting abilities of post-harvest methods were poor. The overall results showed a high potential of the NIRS in online authentication practices.     

High‐intensity sweeteners in espresso coffee: ideal and equivalent sweetness and time–intensity analysis

The efficient substitution of sucrose by a sweetener in beverages requires the application of some sensory techniques. First, one must determine the concentrations of the sweeteners under study, equivalent in sweetness to the ideal sucrose concentration. In addition, it is fundamental to determine which is most similar to sucrose. The objectives of this study were to determine the ideal sweetness for espresso coffee and the equivalent concentrations in sweetness of different sweeteners, as well as characterise the time–intensity profile of each sweetener in relation to sweetness. The sweeteners evaluated were sucralose, aspartame, neotame, a cyclamate/saccharin mixture (2:1) and stevia. The sucrose concentration considered ideal by consumers was 12.5% (w/v), and the equivalent concentrations of the sweeteners were 0.0159% for sucralose, 0.0549% for aspartame, 0.0016% for neotame, 0.0359% for the cyclamate/saccharin mixture and 0.0998% for stevia. The time–intensity analysis indicated that possibly the sweeteners neotame, aspartame and sucralose would be the best substitutes for sucrose.     

Simultaneous determination of mycotoxin in commercial coffee

Mycotoxins are secondary metabolites produced by filamentous fungi that usually contaminate food products. Coffee is a natural product susceptible to mycotoxin contamination. The present study evaluates the presence of nivalenol, deoxynivalenol, T-2 and HT-2 Toxin, diacetoxyscirpenol, aflatoxin B₁, aflatoxin B₂, aflatoxin G₁, aflatoxin G₂, fumonisin B₁, fumonisin B₂, ochratoxin A, zearalenone, enniatin A, enniatin A₁, enniatin B, enniatin B₁, and beauvericin in coffee samples, using liquid chromatography tandem mass spectrometry (LC-MS/MS). The results show that zearalenone was not present in any sample. In the positive samples the contents of fumonisins ranged from 58.62 to 537.45 μg/kg, emerging mycotoxins ranged from 0.10 to 3569.92 μg/kg, aflatoxins ranged from 0.25 to 13.12 μg/kg, and trichothecenes, excepting nivalenol, ranged from 5.70 to 325.68 μg/kg. Nivalenol presented the highest concentrations, from 0.40 to 25.86 mg/kg. Ochratoxin A ranged from 1.56 to 32.40 μg/kg, and five samples exceeded the maximum limit established by the European Commission.     

The impact of roasting on the ochratoxin A content of coffee

Roasting coffee led to a drop in the ochratoxin A (OTA) concentration, as measured by the reference method, especially for dark type roasts. The way the beverage was prepared also affected the OTA content, which could paradoxically be higher than that of the initial roasted coffee. Assays on the thermal stability of pure OTA showed that it ought to be found in larger quantities in roasted coffee. This suggested that OTA was masked by reactions with the substrate during roasting. The absence of OTA in green coffee is therefore the best guarantee of safety.     

The effect of home storage conditions and packaging materials on the quality of frozen green beans

Home storage is the final step of the frozen foods distribution chain, and little is known on how it affects the products quality. The present research describes frozen green beans (Phaseolus vulgaris, L.) quality retention profile during the recommended ‘star marking’ system dates, at the storage temperatures of +5, −6, −12 and −18 °C (along 1, 4, 14 and 60 days, respectively).

The quality profile was assessed by a simulation system. Simulations were set by a response surface methodology to access the effect of different packaging materials (thermal conductivities and thickness), surface heat transfer coefficient, and refrigerator dynamics (effect of refrigeration cycles at the different storage temperatures) on the average retentions of Ascorbic Acid, total vitamin C, colour and flavour.

Green beans quality losses along frozen storage are significantly influenced by temperature, refrigerator dynamics and kinetic properties. Quality is also highly dependent on packaging materials thermal insulation (e.g. at temperatures above the melting point). Temperature cycles inside frozen chambers have a long term effect, and at the higher storage temperatures (e.g. T>−6 °C) are detrimental to frozen green beans quality after shorter periods.     

Absorbability of Calcium From Common Beans

Absorption of calcium from white, red, and pinto beans, labeled with ⁴⁵Ca, was measured in 24 women in a three-way randomized design using a calcium load of 72 mg and milk as the referent. Fractional absorption for the three beans averaged 0.219 ± 0.047 and did not differ by type. Milk calcium absorption at the same load was more than two times higher, 0.451 ± 0.088 (P < 0.001). Oxalate content averaged 0.34%, and phytate averaged 1.7%, a stoichiometric excess relative to calcium. To evaluate the relation of phytate to reduced absorbability, labeled pinto beans were pre-treated with phytase and fed to 10 subjects. Fractional absorption rose, averaging 0.318 ± 0.071, (P <0.01 vs. untreated beans), but was significantly below that of milk. The difference was partly accounted for by phytate, with the remainder probably due to relatively high oxalate.     

Optimizing Thermal Process for Canned White Beans in Water Cascading Retorts

Based on thermal degradation kinetics and heat transfer expressed as the Ball formula method, a simplified approach was used to optimize sterilization processes for thermal softening of white beans (Phaseolus vulgaris, subsp. nanus Metz., variety Manteca de Leon) Constant retort profiles in a still and end-over-end rotary water cascading retort (Barriquand Steriflow) were used. Quality attributes of beans processed at the optimum were evaluated by a trained taste panel and by a tenderometer. Both approaches could distinguish (P<0.01) between attributes of products from optimal rotary and still processes. End-over-end rotation resulted in faster heat penetration and better quality retention of beans. Texture of white beans processed at 4° or 8°C from the optimal temperature could be distinguished (P<0.01) by the sensory panel and by the tenderometer.     

Improvement of Coffee Aroma by Removal of Pungent Volatiles Using A-Type Zeolite

Experimental studies were conducted using molecular sieve zeolites to remove pungent smell components from a coffee aroma-containing gas evolved from roasted and ground coffee packed in a percolation vessel. The components such as methyl mercaptan or acetaldehyde were selectively adsorbed from coffee volatiles, and a decrease of pungent odor was recognized on sensory evaluation. The adsorption selectivity was based on pore sizes of adsorbents and molecular sizes of adsorbates. Zeolite 5Å was preferable to 4Å for separation efficiency of methyl mercaptan and recovery yield of residual volatile compounds.     

基于无线传感器网络的小粒种咖啡园滴灌自动控制系统

为实现小粒种咖啡种植园的精量灌溉,达到节水增收的目的,基于无线传感器网络（WSNs）设计了一种滴灌自动控制系统,主要由传感器节点、簇头、控制节点和汇聚节点组成.测试了节点间的有效通信距离为50m,并在此基础上,采用静态簇和节点定位布置的方法进行了灌区划分和节点部署,每个灌区为边长50m的正方形,内设1个簇头、1个控制节点和4个传感器节点.采用定时通信与时间同步技术、休眠技术相结合的方法实现节点数据的无线传输,融合土壤含水率、光强和空气温湿度等信息,采用分区轮灌策略实现滴灌的自动控制.实验结果表明：系统实现了预期设计目标,能应用于小粒咖啡园的精量灌溉管理.     

焙烧高岭土的结构特征和吸附性能

通过对焙烧高岭土的矿物特性和表面吸附性质的研究。用化学分析，ＸＲＤ、ＩＲ、ＸＰＳ、Ｒａｍａｎ光谱和ＳＥＭ观察证明焙烧高岭土的羟基基团完全消失，等温吸附，粒度分布试验证明焙烧高岭土水化能力较大，但吸附能力较弱。