Effect of Agglomeration on Flowability of Baby Food Powders

Abstract: The aim of this study was to investigate the influence of the wet agglomeration in a fluidized bed on flowability of agglomerated products, such as baby food powders. The agglomeration process was performed in the fluidized bed. The wetting liquid used to the process was: water, 2% lecithin solution, and 50% sugar solution. Food powders flowability was expressed as: Hausner Ratio, pouring time, angles of sliding and of repose and flow function. The composition of materials, used to prepare mixtures, has a significant influence on tested properties. The higher milk powder of the mixtures caused decreasing of their flowability. Wet agglomeration of baby food powders caused an increase in the mean diameter of particles, which made it possible to receive agglomerates with good flowability and decreased bulk density. The increase of milk powder content from 0 to 73% in the mixture before the agglomeration contributed to improve its flowability. Wet agglomeration with 2% lecithin solution and 50% sugar solution reduced particle size and bulk density, improved flowability of received agglomerates in relation to agglomerates received with water as a wetting liquid. Practical Application: Agglomeration of baby food powders increases particle size of received agglomerates with a tendency to reduce their bulk density. Agglomerates flowability determined by using practical tests (Hausner ratio, pouring time, angles of sliding and of repose) is not sufficient for a comprehensive assessment of powdered deposit. For complex flow behavior, like that of agglomerated baby food powders, the Jenike shear test only remains as an acceptable test of flowability.     

Influence of top spray fluidized bed agglomeration conditions on the reconstitution property and structure modification of skim yoghurt powder

Spray dried yoghurt powder (Control) has small particle size (57 µm) that cause high cohesiveness forces between particles. Wetting time of control yoghurt powder takes more than 1 hr by forming lump on the surface of water. Smaller particle size cause higher contact surface area per unit mass of powder that limits flowability of yoghurt powder. Yoghurt powder turned into instant form due to particle size enlargement by applying agglomeration process. In addition, agglomerates showed lower bulk, tapped, and particle densities and excellent flowability. Effects of inlet air temperature (50–80 °C), atomizing pressure (0.5–1.5 bars) and sprayed water amounts (50–80 g) were investigated in this study. Response surface methodology was used to find the best conditions in view of high quality reconstitution properties of yoghurt powder. The best process conditions were determined as 62.5 °C inlet temperature, 0.9 bar atomizing pressure and 68 g sprayed water amount.

Practical applications

Optimization of top sprayed fluid bed agglomeration process parameters has not yet been studied for dairy powders. By using optimization process, effects of agglomeration process parameters (inlet air temperature, amount of binder, and atomization pressure) on quality parameters of yoghurt powder were revealed. Improvement of yoghurt powder reconstitution properties will be the first study in the literature. These studies provide an insight for further studies about top spraying bed agglomeration process.     

Investigation of breakage behavior and its effects on spray-dried agglomerated whey protein-lactose powders: Effect of protein and lactose contents

Particle breakage of dairy powders occurs easily during many processes, reducing the powder functionality. The characteristics of particles and the applied stress from processing conditions on the particles are 2 main factors that can be manipulated to reduce breakage. In this study, we explored the effect of whey protein and lactose contents on dynamic breakage in agglomerated whey protein-lactose powders to provide useful information, in terms of particle characteristics, for controlling unwanted dairy powder breakage. A series of model agglomerates with different whey protein:lactose ratios were produced under the same spray-drying conditions, through a pilot plant trial. We evaluated physical characteristics, composition, and structure of samples; analyzed dynamic breakage under different mechanical stresses; and investigated the rehydration and water adsorption properties of model powders before and after breakage. The particle size and irregularity of agglomerates with more lactose was significantly higher than of samples that contained more protein. This resulted in higher particle breakage during dynamic breakage for samples with more lactose. The breakage of agglomerates was affected by the moisture content of powders and fatigue, where particle breakage happens when mechanical loads, lower than the strength of particles, occur multiple times. Breakage changed the morphology and surface composition of particles and decreased particle size. It also decreased the dispersibility of powders and increased the wetting time of wettable samples but decreased the wetting time of powders with poor wettability. Breakage accelerated time-dependent crystallization and decreased the crystallization temperature but did not affect the glass transition temperature of samples. Thus, under the same drying conditions, composition of powders significantly affected breakage, mainly by altering the physical properties of their particles, which resulted in deteriorated functionality.     

Influence of physicochemical binder properties on agglomeration of wheat powder in couscous grain

Wet agglomeration mechanisms developing in low shear mixers have been described considering a fractal morphogenesis process that links the median size of the agglomerates with their solid volume fraction via a fractal dimension. It appears fundamental to integrate the polydispersity of the generated structures (nuclei, agglomerates, dough pieces) in the analysis of the agglomeration process in order to approach the industrial problems. The objective of this study is to correlate the influence of the physicochemical characteristics of several liquid binders, on the fractal agglomeration mechanisms. To do so, we considered the values of the fractal model parameters. The obtained results confirmed that semolina wet agglomeration follows a fractal morphogenesis for the different applied liquid binders. Our results also showed a marked influence of the studied physicochemical properties of the liquid binder on the value of the fractal model parameters. During wet agglomeration in low shear mixers, the mechanisms implied during agglomeration (wetting, nucleation and growth) do not occur consecutively, but they coexist throughout at each water contents.     

Dairy powder rehydration: influence of protein state, incorporation mode, and agglomeration

A simplified method to study rehydration was used on different dairy powders. The method involved dispersing powder in a stirred vessel equipped with a turbidity sensor. The changes of turbidity occurring during powder rehydration highlighted the rehydration stage, and the influence of the proteins’ state on rehydration was clarified. Casein powders had a quick wetting time but very slow dispersion, making the total rehydration process time-consuming. On the other hand, whey powders were found to have poor wettability but demonstrated immediate dispersion after wetting. Mixing casein (80%) and whey (20%) before spray drying greatly improved rehydration time compared with casein powder; whereas mixing whey powder with casein powder at the same ratio after spray drying caused a dramatic deterioration in the rehydration properties. Moreover, agglomeration was found to significantly improve the rehydration time of whey protein powder and to slow down the rehydration time of casein powder. These opposite effects were related to the rate-controlling stage (i.e., wetting stage for whey protein and dispersion stage for casein).     

Thickening of molten white chocolates during storage

When white chocolates are kept molten in storage tanks, problems can arise due to uncontrolled thickening and solidifying of the chocolate mass. The thickening of molten white chocolate was simulated on a laboratory scale using a rotational rheometer under static conditions, interrupted by short shear periods to measure the increasing viscosity. Several chocolates having different dairy components and fat contents were investigated for their tendency to thicken. In addition, sorption isotherms for white chocolates were obtained using dynamic vapour sorption at different temperatures. The sorption isotherms showed the presence of amorphous lactose in all the chocolates that were manufactured from milk powders. Moisture that is released during the crystallization of amorphous lactose causes stickiness and agglomeration of the neighbouring particles and starts the thickening process. This process is highly temperature-dependent. On elevating the temperature the lactose crystallization occurs at lower relative humidities. In order to reduce the tendency of white chocolate to thicken, a high free-fat level should be maintained, based on a high total fat content and on the use of high free-fat milk powders, preferably roller-dried whole milk powders or the combination of skimmed milk powder and anhydrous milk fat.     

Agglomeration of durum wheat semolina: Thermodynamic approaches for hydration properties measurements

In the manufacturing process of pasta or couscous, durum wheat semolina agglomeration comprises successive steps, in particular a wetting and hydration stage. In this step, interactions between water molecules and semolina grains contribute to the agglomeration properties. Hydration properties of semolina have been recognised to play an important role in agglomeration.The hydration properties of semolina have been characterised using various methods which can be divided into 2 groups according to the water addition: liquid or vapour. Several parameters can be used to describe hydration properties and hydration mechanisms, such as: water sorption capacity, hydration kinetics, diffusion of water within the solid (swelling, dissolution, solid-water affinity and thermodynamic properties).In this study, sorption isotherms and diffusion coefficients have been determined by gravimetric method in specific conditions. The immersion enthalpy of the semolina and its main sub-components, starch and gluten have been measured by mixing micro-calorimetry. Hydration thermodynamic properties, Gibbs free energy, enthalpy and entropy, were calculated from these experimental data. It was found that hydration by vapour or liquid water is an exothermic reaction.The determined diffusion coefficient was used to estimate the stabilisation time of water within the solid. Being high at low relative humidity, the diffusion coefficient decreases during progressive saturation of solid sites. Sorption energy and solid-water affinity yield information about the type of interaction between water molecules and solid sites. The drop in the sorption energy during the increase in water content can be attributed to a decrease in solid-water interactions. The hydration energy of durum wheat semolina in vapour or liquid water was found to be low. This corresponds to the energy input needed to generate contact between water and grain surface and for mixture homogenisation.     

Wetting behaviour of instantized cocoa beverage powders

Summary The aim of this work was the characterization of various instantized cocoa beverage powders with regard to their wetting behaviour in a standardized test. Brand name powders from local superstores were compared to each other and to model powders instantized in the laboratory by steam jet agglomeration. Basic powder properties such as agglomerate size or fines content in a mixture were varied to study possible effects on the wettability of this product group.     

Agglomeration of food powder and applications

Agglomeration has many applications in food processing and major applications include easy flow table salt, dispersible milk powder and soup mix, instant chocolate mix, beverage powder, compacted cubes for nutritional-intervention program, health bars using expanded/puffed cereals, etc. The main purpose of agglomeration is to improve certain physical properties of food powders such as bulk density, flowability, dispersability, and stability. Agglomerated products are easy to use by the consumers and hence are preferred over the traditional non-agglomerated products that are usually non-flowable in nature. The properties of food agglomerates and the process of agglomeration like employing pressure, extrusion, rewetting, spray-bed drying, steam jet, heat/sintering, and binders have been reviewed. The physical and instant properties of agglomerated food products have also been discussed.     

Physical properties of goat milk powder with soy lecithin added before spray drying

In this study, physical characteristics of goat milk powder produced with the addition of soy lecithin at levels of 0 (control), 0.4, 0.8 and 1.0 g lecithin/100 g of total solids in concentrated milk before the spray drying process were investigated. Goat milk was pasteurised, concentrated at 40% of total solids, spray dried and packed in plastic bags under vaccum conditions. Lecithin addition decreased the wetting time of milk powders, although no influence was observed on dispersibility, water sorption, water activity and particle size distribution of the powders. Powders with higher levels of lecithin showed significantly lower brightness, with a greater intensity of yellow colour. It was concluded that lecithin addition before spray drying process at the minimal proportion in concentrated milk of 0.4 g lecithin/100 g of total solids in concentrated milk is useful for achieving more rapid wetting time of goat milk powder.     

Effect of spray freeze drying on the structural modification and rehydration characteristics of micellar casein powders

Micellar casein (MC) is usually spray-dried into powder form for transportation and storage. However, the micellar structure maintained by colloidal calcium phosphate (CCP) and hydrophobic forces leads to poor rehydration ability of MC powders, which limits its potential applications. Here, spray freeze drying (SFD) with controlled droplet size was used to produce MC powders. Their effects on the structure of MC and the subsequent rehydration characteristics including wetting, dispersion and dissolution were investigated. The results showed SFD powders obtained from smaller droplet size caused more than 50% of serum Ca²⁺ and PO₄³⁻ to release from the micellar structure. These powder particles exhibited extremely high porosity (92%) and spherical morphology, which thus greatly shortened their wetting time. Furthermore, the smallest droplets during SFD were believed to produce the MC powders with the quickest dispersion and best solubility, as over 80% of the solids could be completely dissolved in just 15 min.     

柑桔皮中非水溶性膳食纤维的提取及特性研究

本研究将乙醇脱色法和中性洗涤法结合提取柑橘皮中的非水溶性膳食纤维,其最佳提取工艺为：料水比1:30,提取温度70℃,提取时间90min。结果表明：持水性、膨胀性随温度增加而增加,随着氯化钠溶液、葡萄糖溶液浓度的增加而降低。在中性条件下有一定的持水力和膨胀性;偏酸或偏碱条件能促进其持水性和膨胀性的增加,但在过酸或过碱条件下,其持水性和膨胀性均呈现下降趋势。     

Thickening of molten white chocolates during storage

When white chocolates are kept molten in storage tanks, problems can arise due to uncontrolled thickening and solidifying of the chocolate mass. The thickening of molten white chocolate was simulated on a laboratory scale using a rotational rheometer under static conditions, interrupted by short shear periods to measure the increasing viscosity. Several chocolates having different dairy components and fat contents were investigated for their tendency to thicken. In addition, sorption isotherms for white chocolates were obtained using Dynamic Vapour Sorption at different temperatures. The sorption isotherms showed the presence of amorphous lactose in all the chocolates that were manufactured from milk powders. Moisture that is released during the crystallisation of amorphous lactose causes stickiness and agglomeration of the neighbouring particles and starts the thickening process. This process is highly temperature-dependent. On elevating the temperature the lactose crystallisation occurs at lower relative humidities. In order to reduce the tendency of white chocolate to thicken, a high free fat level should be maintained, based on a high total fat content and on the use of high free fat milk powders, preferably roller-dried whole milk powders or the combination of skimmed milk powder and anhydrous milk fat.     

食品表面活性剂提升蛋白质粉溶解性的研究进展

蛋白质粉作为一种重要的食品营养与功能基料,在食品加工产业中应用场景广泛。然而在溶解过程中,由于界面效应所导致蛋白质粉结块、聚沉现象,使其溶解性降低,严重制约了食品蛋白质的应用及经济价值。食品表面活性剂可有效结合蛋白质粉,降低其溶解过程中发生的界面效应。因此,食品表面活性剂可更为广泛地应用于蛋白质粉溶解性能的提升。本文综述了食品表面活性剂的主要类型、与蛋白质结合的作用机制及对蛋白质粉溶解过程各阶段的影响,以期为食品表面活性剂在高溶解性蛋白质粉中的应用提供理论参考。     

The functionality of milk powder and its relationship to chocolate mass processing, in particular the effect of milk powder manufacturing and composition on the physical properties of chocolate masses

Summary The functionality of twelve different milk powders that are used for chocolate mass processing was investigated. In two types of spray‐dried and one type of roller‐dried powder, the milk fat and milk fat fractions were integrated. Depending on the production process, the amount of free fat available in the milk powders varied greatly. A good correlation was found between the free fat content of the milk powder and the viscosity of the chocolate mass when comparable particle sizes were used. This study reports on the development of spray‐dried milk powders, which when used in chocolate processing produced low viscosities, comparable with those obtained by using roller‐dried milk powder. Calorimetric analysis showed that the shape of the milk powder particles has no influence on the calorimetric qualities of chocolate masses. Only when milk fat was added in a free form, was a higher ‘mixing effect’ in the crystallization peak of cocoa butter and milk fat observed.     

锦橙皮渣膳食纤维微粉化及其功能特性分析

以锦橙果汁加工副产物锦橙皮渣为原料制备锦橙皮渣膳食纤维,通过普通粉碎和球磨法微细化处理,得到不同粒径大小的锦橙皮渣膳食纤维微粉和超微粉,测定其理化性质和重金属离子结合力,并利用激光粒度仪、红外光谱、X射线衍射、热分析、扫描电镜对不同锦橙皮渣膳食纤维粉进行粒径测定和结构观察,探究超微粉碎对锦橙皮渣膳食纤维理化性质、微观结构及重金属离子吸附能力的影响。结果表明,球磨微细化处理后膳食纤维的粒径减小;粉体的持水性、持油性、溶胀性、重金属离子结合力显著升高（P＜0.05）,色泽变浅。本实验为锦橙皮渣的综合利用以及作为一种潜在食品添加剂资源提供理论参考。     

In-line monitoring of durum wheat semolina wet agglomeration by near infrared spectroscopy for different water supply conditions and water addition levels

The aim of this work is (i) to study the ability of near infrared (NIR) spectroscopy to follow in-line the agglomeration process of durum wheat semolina using mechanical mixer according to two different water supply conditions (i.e. high versus low water flow rates) and to four different water addition levels, and (ii) to describe the associated structural changes of agglomerates. The results showed that analyses of spectral variations can be useful to discriminate different agglomeration processes, which are associated to different kinetic changes in terms of agglomerate size distribution and water content per size fraction. Principal component analysis (PCA) has been used to qualitatively describe physical and chemical variations occurring during the wet agglomeration mechanisms and to identify specific kinetics and characteristic times. Whatever the water supply condition, kinetic variations of principal components (PCs) on raw and second derivative NIR spectra are observed. Characteristic times have been identified on PC scores and an attempt to link these times to changes of agglomerates physical and chemical properties have been carried out, mainly based on the analysis of associated loading spectra.     

冬枣粉吸湿的色泽、热力学特性及糖物质基础分析

为充分了解枣粉吸湿过程中的水分吸附特性,本研究采用静态称量法,分别测量枣粉在温度20、30、40 ℃,水分活度0.112～0.946下的吸湿情况,探究超微粉碎前后枣粉吸湿色泽的变化、吸附等温线、热力学性质及糖物质基础。结果表明,枣粉吸湿后褐变现象严重,其吸附等温线是III型,Peleg模型最适合描述枣粉的吸附等温线（平均相对预测误差E＜5%）。净等量吸附热和微分熵随着枣粉平衡水分含量（干基,下同）的增加呈指数降低,且超微粉低于普通粉。普通粉和超微粉的绝对安全水分含量分别为0.237 5、0.223 5 g/g。普通粉和超微粉的水分吸附过程均满足熵-焓补偿理论,其吉布斯自由能分别是1 152.80、1 184.22 J/mol,该过程是一个焓驱动的非自发反应。单糖吸湿对照实验结果表明枣粉中吸湿的主要糖种类为果糖。本研究旨在为枣粉的加工工艺优化及贮藏条件的选择提供理论依据。     

Water Adsorption Isotherms and Storage Stability of Freeze-Dried Bovine Colostrum Powder

Moisture adsorption isotherms of freeze‐dried bovine colostrum powder were obtained using the gravimetric method at three temperatures (15, 25, and 35°C) in the water activity range of 0.11–0.86. The moisture adsorption isotherms of freeze‐dried bovine colostrum powder showed a sigmoid isotherm curve typical of the type II BET classification shape. The Guggenheim-Anderson-de Boer and Brunauer-Emmett-Teller models were recommended to fit experimental data well. The shelf life of freeze‐dried bovine colostrum powder packaged in aluminium-laminated polyethylene pouches was evaluated for 243 days, and the storage stability was investigated when stored at 25°C and 50% relative humidity. A slight increase in moisture content, a linear increase in color difference, and a slight decrease in IgG concentration were found within 60 days storage under the above-mentioned conditions.