Inactivation of Escherichia coli K-12 in Apple Juice Using Combination of High-Pressure Homogenization and Chitosan

ABSTRACT:  Apple juice and apple cider were inoculated with Escherichia coli K-12 and processed using a high-pressure homogenizer to study bacterial inactivation. Seven levels of pressure ranging from 50 to 350 MPa were used in the high-pressure homogenizer. Two types of chitosan (regular and water soluble) with 2 levels of concentration 0.01% and 0.1% were investigated for synergistic effect with high-pressure homogenization for the bacterial inactivation. E. coli K-12 inactivation was evaluated as a function of homogenizing pressure at different concentration of 2 types of chitosan in apple juice and cider. High-pressure homogenization (HPH) induced significant inactivation in the range of 100 to 200 MPa, while thermal inactivation was the primary factor for the bacterial inactivation above 250 MPa. Significant ( P < 0.05) 2-way interactions involving pressure and type of substrate or pressure and chitosan concentration were observed during the study. The homogenization pressure and the incremental quantity of chitosan (both types) acted synergistically with the pressure to give higher inactivation. Significantly ( P < 0.05) higher inactivation was observed in apple juice than apple cider at same homogenizing pressure. No effect of type of chitosan was observed on the bacterial inactivation.     

Tensile and Barrier Properties of Edible Films Made from Whey Proteins

ABSTRACT: Whey protein isolate (WPI)-based edible biopolymer films were prepared using a film-forming stage designed to provide heat-induced gelation. Effects of whey-protein ratios, calcium, glycerol (plasticizer), and emulsion droplet incorporation on film tensile and barrier properties were investigated. Protein ratios had less influence on tensile strength, elongation, and water vapor permeability than glycerol and calcium ion concentrations. Semitransparent films with reasonably high tensile and UV-light barrier properties and moderate water vapor barrier properties were prepared from WPI:20% glycerol:10 mM calcium solutions. Microstructure analysis revealed the influence of glycerol and calcium concentrations on gel networks, which could be related to film tensile properties.     

Association of Triclosan to Casein Proteins Through Solvent-Mediated High-Pressure Homogenization

ABSTRACT:  The association of triclosan (TCS), a widely used hydrophobic compound, to the bovine casein micelle is investigated in this study. The use of high-pressure homogenization (HPH) at 0, 100, 200, and 300 MPa was introduced as a method for the dissociation of casein micelles in a skim milk/ethanol solution (1: 1, v/v) in the presence of TCS at 20, 80, and 160 mg/L where ethanol evaporation served as the final step for TCS association to caseins. The majority of TCS (over 80%) was associated with the caseins regardless of initial TCS concentration or applied pressure. TCS association to caseins was enhanced by 30% with continued pressurization to 300 MPa. Micellar dissociation and reassociation was found to be an irreversible process as evidenced by microscopy images. Pressurization to 300 MPa resulted in the formation of an integrated protein network of casein proteins and noncovalently linked whey proteins where the solubility of TCS was enhanced up to 40 times its reported water solubility at the highest initial TCS level of 160 mg/L. Reformed micelles exhibited Newtonian flow behavior at all pressure levels. This study provides evidence for the solubility enhancing quality of TCS through the solvent-mediated pressure/shear-induced dissociation of casein proteins.     

Development and Characterization of Biodegradable/Edible Wheat Protein Films

Biodegradable and edible films were prepared from three types of wheat flours: commercial bread, hard red winter, and soft white. Films were produced at two pH values (4 and 11) and tested for oxygen permeability as related to temperature. Films were also produced with a cross-linked agent and tested for tensile strengths. Oxygen permeability was 5.9 × 10^?20 to 18.5 × 10^?20 m³O₂ m m^?2 s^?1 Pa^?1 similar to values for commercial nylon. The oxygen permeability activation energy varied from 9.1 to 14.5 kcal mol^?1, depending on type of flour and pH did not affect oxygen permeability. Presence of the cross-linking agent increased the strength of films and elongation at break ranged from 490% to 640%, while tensile stress at break ranged from 25.8 × 10^?3 kg m^?2 to 44.1 × 10^?3 kg m^?2, lower than commercial nylon.     

Use of a Mathematical Model to Describe the Barrier Properties of Edible Films

ABSTRACT: A study on the influence of the solubilization and diffusion process on the barrier properties of 4 different edible films is presented. The water and oxygen barrier properties of zein, alginate, casein, and chitosan films were measured at 25°C. A mathematical model was fitted to the experimental data to obtain quantitative information on both solubilization and diffusion process. Results suggest that alginate film, which shows the highest water and oxygen permeability coefficient, has both higher affinity with water and a higher macromolecular mobility than the other 3 films. The lowest water and oxygen permeability coefficient was detected for chitosan and zein films. The casein film has shown an intermediate behavior.     

Edible Apple Film Wraps Containing Plant Antimicrobials Inactivate Foodborne Pathogens on Meat and Poultry Products

ABSTRACT:  Apple-based edible films containing plant antimicrobials were evaluated for their activity against pathogenic bacteria on meat and poultry products.  Salmonella enterica  or  E. coli  O157:H7 (10⁷ CFU/g) cultures were surface inoculated on chicken breasts and  Listeria monocytogenes  (10⁶ CFU/g) on ham. The inoculated products were then wrapped with edible films containing 3 concentrations (0.5%, 1.5%, and 3%) of cinnamaldehyde or carvacrol. Following incubation at either 23 or 4 °C for 72 h, samples were stomached in buffered peptone water, diluted, and plated for enumeration of survivors. The antimicrobial films exhibited concentration-dependent activities against the pathogens tested. At 23 °C on chicken breasts, films with 3% antimicrobials showed the highest reductions (4.3 to 6.8 log CFU/g) of both  S. enterica  and  E. coli  O157:H7. Films with 1.5% and 0.5% antimicrobials showed 2.4 to 4.3 and 1.6 to 2.8 log reductions, respectively. At 4 °C, carvacrol exhibited greater activity than did cinnamaldehyde. Films with 3%, 1.5%, and 0.5% carvacrol reduced the bacterial populations by about 3, 1.6 to 3, and 0.8 to 1 logs, respectively. Films with 3% and 1.5% cinnamaldehyde induced 1.2 to 2.8 and 1.2 to 1.3 log reductions, respectively. For  L. monocytogenes  on ham, carvacrol films induced greater reductions than did cinnamaldehyde films at all concentrations tested. In general, the reduction of  L. monocytogenes  on ham at 23 °C was greater than at 4 °C. Added antimicrobials had minor effects on physical properties of the films. The results suggest that the food industry and consumers could use these films as wrappings to control surface contamination by foodborne pathogenic microorganisms.     

Development and Characterization of Edible Films from Cranberry Pomace Extracts

The feasibility of using cranberry pomace extract as a new film‐forming material was studied. Cranberry pomaces were extracted using hot water. Low methoxyl pectin (LMP) or high methoxyl pectin (HMP) at a concentration of 0.50% or 0.75% (w/w) and 0.25% (w/w) sorbitol or glycerol was incorporated into film‐forming solutions (FFSs) for improving film functionality. Proximate compositions of cranberry pomace and its extract were determined. The pH and total soluble solid content (SSC) of FFSs, physical and mechanical properties, water vapor permeability, and microstructure of dried films were analyzed. About 1.4% (w/w) of solids was obtained from cranberry pomace water extracts, of which about 93% was carbohydrate. Dried films had bright red color and strong cranberry flavor. Films plasticized with sorbitol were denser in matrix structure and had higher color intensity than those of glycerol plasticized films. In general, LMP and sorbitol incorporated films had higher tensile strength and lower elongation at break and lower water vapor permeability than other films. The higher (0.75%) pectin concentration resulted in increased tensile strength, but decreased elongation at break. Scanning electron microscopy images revealed that sorbitol added films had more regular and compact cross‐section structure than those of glycerol added films. This study demonstrated that it is feasible to create natural colorful and fruit flavor edible films from fruit pomace water extracts. Depending on specific applications of the films, targeted film functionality can be achieved by incorporating proper pectin type and concentration and plasticizer into pomace extracts.     

Milk Protein-based Edible Film Mechanical Strength Changes due to Ultrasound Process

The effects of ultrasound frequency, acoustic power, and exposure time on the functional properties of whey protein concentrate and sodium caseinate films were examined. Average tensile strength of the ultrasound treated caseinate films was 224% higher than that of the control. The ultrasonic process was more effective on sodium caseinate than whey protein concentrate film. Resistance to puncture was improved for both types of films treated at an acoustic power of 5.22W. Increased exposure time resulted in stronger films. Elongation at break, water vapor permeability, and moisture content of films were not affected by the treatment. Ultrasound showed potential for improving mechanical strengths of milk protein films.     

苹果果胶改善马铃薯淀粉的糊化和流变特性

马铃薯淀粉黏度高、热稳定性差和抗剪切性能低的特点使其在食品加工中的应用受到限制。该研究将马铃薯淀粉与苹果果胶复配,制备不同果胶质量分数的淀粉-果胶体系,考察苹果果胶对马铃薯淀粉的糊化和流变特性的改善作用。结果表明添加苹果果胶显著降低了马铃薯淀粉的峰值黏度（4 400 cP至849 cP）、谷值黏度（1 210 cP至141 cP）、终值黏度（1 639 cP至941 cP）和崩解值（3 157 cP至208 cP）,增加了峰值时间（4.93 min至9.71 min）和糊化温度（65.15 ℃至68.87 ℃）。同时,苹果果胶降低了马铃薯淀粉糊的稠度系数K（41.18 Pa•sn至15.23 Pa•sn）,增加了流体指数（0.41至0.52）和抗剪切能力。总之,相比于纯马铃薯淀粉,马铃薯淀粉-苹果果胶体系具有更低的黏度,更好的热稳定性、抗老化特性和抗剪切能力,因此苹果果胶有效改善了马铃薯淀粉的糊化和流变特性。     

高压均质处理对豌豆淀粉流变特性及多尺度结构的影响

以豌豆淀粉(pea starch,PS)为原料,分别在0、20、40、60、80、100 MPa条件下高压均质(high-pressure homogenization,HPH)处理3次,每次约30 min,探究HPH处理对PS凝胶流变特性及淀粉多尺度结构的影响。结果表明,随着均质压力的增加,PS黏度、触变性先增加后减小;频率扫描结果显示,HPH处理后PS凝胶的储能模量G’、损耗模量G”明显升高,40 MPa处理后PS凝胶黏性和弹性最好;PS凝胶的G’、G”曲线在70～75℃区间内出现拐点。HPH处理使PS的颗粒形貌、晶体结构及短程有序结构等多尺度结构均发生变化。其中,HPH处理后PS颗粒表面出现裂缝、塌陷及坑洞,其粒径分布发生变化;通过X射线衍射、傅里叶变换红外光谱分析发现,与原PS相比,100 MPa处理后PS非结晶区比例增加,且HPH处理使PS的在1 047、1 022 cm^-1处吸收峰峰面积的比值升高,短程有序结构数量增多;¹H核磁共振图谱表明PS中α-1,4糖苷键、α-1,6糖苷键均受到破坏,PS的分支度降低。本研究为HPH在淀粉流...     

响应面法优化高压均质提取椪柑渣中可溶性膳食纤维及抗氧化活性研究

以椪柑渣为试验原料,采用响应面分析法(RSM)建立了高压均质(HPH)提取椪柑渣中可溶性膳食纤维(SDF)得率的二次多项数学模型,验证了数学模型的有效性,探讨了均质压力、处理次数和物料温度对SDF得率的作用规律,优化提取工艺参数。结果表明:在压力37 MPa,处理8次,物料温度41℃条件下,SDF提取率高达43.86%。在最佳高压均质工艺条件下,经均质改性的可溶性膳食纤维(H-SDF)具有一定的还原能力,对·OH、O2-·和DPPH均表现出较强的清除能力,其IC50分别为7.89,6.87,6.17 mg/m L。采用高压均质提取椪柑渣中的SDF切实可行。     

类脂物质对大米蛋白可食用膜的影响

以大米蛋白为基料，研究了硬脂酸、蜂蜡、蔗糖脂肪酸酯3种类脂物质对大米蛋白膜的性能的影响，并考查了添加不同类脂量后大米蛋白膜机械性能争透水率的变化。实验表明，加入硬脂酸、蔗糖脂肪酸脂及蜂蜡使膜的阻水性有了较大的提高，添加硬脂酸、蔗糖脂肪酸脂对膜的机械性能影响不大。     

Physical Properties of Whey Protein–Hydroxypropylmethylcellulose Blend Edible Films

ABSTRACT: The formations of glycerol (Gly)‐plasticized whey protein isolate (WPI)–hydroxypropylmethylcellulose (HPMC) films, blended using different combinations and at different conditions, were investigated. The resulting WPI: Gly‐HPMC films were analyzed for mechanical properties, oxygen permeability (OP), and water solubility. Differences due to HPMC quantity and blend method were determined via SAS software. While WPI: Gly and HPMC films were transparent, blend films were translucent, indicating some degree of immiscibility and/or WPI–HPMC aggregated domains in the blend films. WPI: Gly‐HPMC films were stronger than WPI: Gly films and more flexible and stretchable than HPMC films, with films becoming stiffer, stronger, and less stretchable as the concentration of HPMC increased. However, WPI: Gly‐HPMC blended films maintained the same low OP of WPI: Gly films, significantly lower than the OP of HPMC films. Comparison of mechanical properties and OP of films made by heat‐denaturing WPI before and after blending with HPMC did not indicate any difference in degree of cross‐linking between the methods, while solubility data indicated otherwise. Overall, while adding HPMC to WPI: Gly films had a large effect on the flexibility, strength, stretchability, and water solubility of the film polymeric network, results indicated that HPMC had no effect on OP through the polymer network. WPI–HPMC blend films had a desirable combination of mechanical and oxygen barrier properties, reflecting the combination of hydrogen‐bonding, hydrophobic interactions, and disulfide bond cross‐linking in the blended polymer network.     

高压均质对大豆分离蛋白功能特性的影响

研究了高压均质压力(40～160MPa)和均质次数(1次/2次)对大豆分离蛋白(SPI)功能特性的影响。结果表明:均质次数为1次时,40MPa和80MPa可显著提高SPI的溶解性,压力增加至120MPa和160MPa时,溶解性反而明显下降,但持水性提高;1次均质可以显著改善SPI乳化活性,而对其乳化稳定性影响不大;80MPa1次均质和160MPa2次均质能显著提高SPI凝胶性;除160MPa外,均质压力相同时,1次均质比2次均质更有利于改善SPI功能特性(包括溶解性、乳化性、凝胶性和持油性)。     

可食性膜阻水特性的研究

本实验采用拟杯子法,以CaCl2为吸水材料,以棉布为膜载体,在温度25±2 ℃、相对湿度为90%±2%的条件下,测定了各种膜的水蒸气透过率,并比较了它们的阻水特性.结果表明,海藻酸钠膜是具有最佳阻水性的多糖膜;明胶膜比大豆蛋白膜阻水性更优;脂质膜的阻水率按以下顺序依次增大:月桂酸＜棕榈酸＜硬脂酸＜石蜡＜蜂蜡,乙酰化单甘酯的阻水性优于单甘酯;增塑剂山梨醇、甘油及乙二醇的加入会使膜的阻水性降低;在三元膜中,脂质膜用作被膜剂比用作乳化剂具有更好的效果.     

蛋清蛋白/苹果多酚提高多糖基可食性包装薄膜性能及在腰果贮藏保鲜中的应用

海藻酸钠（sodium alginate,SA）、κ-卡拉胶（κ-carrageenan,κ-C）具有天然无毒、成膜性好的特点,常被用于制备可食用多糖基包装膜。但多糖薄膜具有亲水性强、机械性能差、抗氧化活性低等缺陷。本实验以SA、κ-C为复合多糖成膜基质,以乳酸钙为交联剂,并添加蛋清蛋白粉（egg white powder,EWP）增强多糖薄膜综合包装性能,添加苹果多酚（apple polyphenol,AP）作为抗氧化剂赋予薄膜抗氧化功能。通过傅里叶变换红外光谱、X射线衍射、扫描电子显微镜、紫外吸收光谱等方法分析各组分基团间相互作用,并对腰果仁进行包装贮藏保鲜实验。结果表明：本研究制备的多糖基可食用包装薄膜具有较好的综合包装性能和突出的抗氧化性能。与SA/κ-C薄膜相比,Ca2＋的交联使可食性薄膜的机械性能、阻隔性能显著提升。在最优添加量下,添加EWP使薄膜断裂延伸率由7.99%提高至20.81%,水蒸气渗透率降低了28.84%,氧气渗透率降低了27.07%;加入AP后,可食性薄膜抗张强度由18.58 MPa提升到30.23 MPa,水蒸气渗透率降低了42.35%,氧气渗透率降低了34.13%,同时薄膜阻光性能显著提升。此外,AP/EWP/SA/κ-C可食性薄膜包装降低了腰果仁贮藏期间的水分活度、水分质量分数、过氧化值和酸价,能有效抑制腰果仁的氧化酸败。结论：研究可为多糖/蛋白质基可食性复合包装薄膜的制备及应用提供参考。     

Whey Protein Edible Film Structures Determined by Atomic Force Microscope

Atomic force microscopy was used to study edible films produced from whey proteins. The films were imaged under ambient conditions with no special sample preparation. Low resolution imaging of areas from 10 μm to 150 μm on a side was performed in the contact mode. Higher resolution scans of 350 nm to 2,700 nm required use of the noncontact imaging mode. Features about the same size as the primary protein in whey, beta-lactoglobulin (7 nm), were identified in the film samples. Molecular aggregates in the range of 1 μm, reported in other studies using transmission electron microscopy of whey protein gels, were combined in results from atomic force microscopy.     

乳清蛋白-茁霉多糖-阿魏酸复合可食性膜的研制

以乳清浓缩蛋白、茁霉多糖、阿魏酸为成膜材料,制备乳清浓缩蛋白-茁霉多糖-阿魏酸复合膜。分别对复合膜的厚度、刺穿强度、拉伸强度、水蒸气透过系数、含水量和溶解性等性能进行测试,研究成膜材料添加量和成膜条件与复合膜性能的关系。结果表明:乳清浓缩蛋白中添加茁霉多糖和阿魏酸作为增强剂,可明显提高膜的性能。最优工艺条件为成膜温度80℃,pH9.0,阿魏酸添加量200 mg/100 mL,茁霉多糖添加量150 mg/100 mL。     

Tensile and moisture barrier properties of whey protein–beeswax layered composite films

BACKGROUND: There is a lack of research on producing layered protein–lipid composite films with improved tensile and barrier properties compared to films from individual components. Several film‐forming parameters were hypothesized to influence the extent to which lipids were either dispersed within or layered upon whey protein films. Film‐forming parameters investigated were ratio of whey protein isolate (WPI) to beeswax (BW), homogenization method, sodium chloride (NaCl) concentration, and BW particle size. RESULTS: Film percent elongation (E) increased, while tensile strength (TS) and elastic modulus (EM) decreased when BW was incorporated into WPI films, demonstrating a lubricant effect of the BW. Mean water vapor permeability values for WPI film decreased by 57% when the film composition was modified by the addition of 40% BW. BW phase separation was observed in all of the tested films. Particle size of BW in the film‐forming emulsions was larger in the presence of NaCl (100 mmol L^?1), indicating a neutralization of particle charge. However, the addition of NaCl did not improve the moisture barrier of WPI‐BW film over the range of film‐forming conditions used in the study. CONCLUSION: The results from this study are useful in determining formulations and conditions for the production of composite films from WPI and BW with improved tensile and moisture barrier properties. Copyright © 2008 Society of Chemical Industry     

Effect of Continuous Flow High-Pressure Throttling on Rheological and Ultrastructural Properties of Soymilk

ABSTRACT:  Soymilk processing uses a filtration or centrifugation step to remove coarse solids in the comminuted soy. The objective was to utilize the whole beans and determine the effect of continuous flow high pressure throttling (CFHPT) process in reducing particle size and narrowing down the particle size distribution. The rheological and ultrastructural properties of such soymilk were also determined. Whole dehulled soybeans and deionized water were ground in a food processor before comminution in a Megatron (process M) or a Fitzmill (process F) or a Stonemill (process S). The comminuted slurry was homogenized at pressures of 69, 103, 138, 207, and 276 MPa using a CFHPT system, heated to 80 °C in a tubular heat exchanger prior to depressurization, and held at elevated temperatures of 97, 106, 114, 131, and 148 °C, respectively, for each applied pressure after throttling. To avoid flashing, back pressure was applied after the holding tube and soymilk was cooled immediately. Process M produced soymilk with smallest particle size and the highest apparent viscosity. All soymilk samples showed non-Newtonian pseudoplastic flow behavior. Ultrastructural images showed a clear protein network with very small fat globules entrapped in the protein matrix. Particles were uniformly distributed when the highest pressure treatment was applied for process M, which was considered as the best process.