Influence of the particle size on the rheological behaviour of chestnut flour doughs

The rheological properties of chestnut flour (CF) doughs with different particle size were studied using a controlled stress rheometer. The mixing curves and heating–cooling cycle responses were previously obtained from the Mixolab® apparatus. Shear measurements (0.1–10 s⁻¹), oscillation measurements (1–100 rad s⁻¹ at 0.1% strain), temperature sweep (30–100 °C) to achieve the gelatinization temperatures and creep-recovery tests (loading of 50 Pa for 60 s) were conducted in the rheometer. Mixolab® showed that CF samples with smaller particle size needed more water absorption to reach a consistency of 1.1 Nm. Shear viscosities of CF doughs exhibited a Newtonian plateau at low shear rate and shear thinning behaviour at higher shear rate. Apparent viscosity increased with increasing average particle size and steady-flow curves were fitted using Cross model. Oscillatory measurements of CF dough showed that the storage modulus, G′, was greater than loss modulus, G″, for all samples in the tested angular frequency range. CF samples with smaller particle size presented lower G′ and G″ values. Creep-recovery tests of these flours showed that elasticity was limited and unrecoverable proportion was very high. Gelatinization temperatures measured using Mixolab® and rheometer were practically coincident.     

Steady state flow behaviours of extruded blend of rice flour and soy protein concentrate

Rheological properties in terms of steady state flow behaviours of extruded dispersions (rice flour/soy protein concentrate blend), were investigated using dynamic rheometry. The effects of concentration (2%, 5%, 7%, 9% and 11%) and temperature (25–70 °C) on the rheological parameters (yield stress, flow behaviour index) of the non-expanded pellet blend (12.5% protein) were determined using common rheological models. Steady-shear viscosities in a range of shear rate from 0 to 500 s⁻¹ were observed as a function of concentration and temperature. From typical curves showing the dependence of shear stress on shear rate, it could be observed that all suspensions exhibited a non-Newtonian and pseudoplastic behaviour. The model that best fitted the experimental data at all temperatures and concentrations was the Herschel–Bulkley model.     

Rheological properties of ultraviolet-irradiated and thermally pasteurized Yankee pineapple juice

The rheological behaviour of Yankee pineapple juice was examined for the effect of ultraviolet (UV) irradiation (53.42 mJ/cm²) and compared with untreated juice and a thermally pasteurized (80 °C for 10 min) juice. A rheological test was performed on all types of juice in the temperature range 5 °C to 25 °C using a concentric cylinder rheometer at a shear rate range of 10–290 s⁻¹. The comparative analysis found that the best flow curves were described by the Bingham model with an initial shear stress. The entangled pulps in the juices prevented free flow at zero shear rate. There was no significant variation between the plastic viscosities of the untreated and UV-irradiated juice at all temperatures. The activation energy (E_a) of the untreated, UV-irradiated and thermally pasteurized juice was 6.80, 8.19 and 8.50 kJ/mol respectively.     

Shear and extensional viscosities of hard wheat flour dough using a capillary rheometer

The rheological behaviour of hard wheat flour dough was investigated for a high shear rate range (10-10⁴ s⁻¹) using a capillary rheometer. The shear viscosity obtained from capillary measurements demonstrated a shear thinning behaviour of dough and described by a power law model with a power law index n = 0.38, a consistency coefficient K = 1387 Pa sⁿ, and a coefficient of determination R² = 0.997. The extensional viscosity obtained from capillary measurements for a high extensional rate range (0.16-154 s⁻¹) showed a tension thinning behaviour and described by a power law model with a power law index m = 0.38, a consistency coefficient K_E = 353,000 Pa s^m, and a coefficient of determination R² = 0.977. Torsional measurements using a parallel plates rheometer for a shear rate range (10⁻³-20 s⁻¹) demonstrated the time or strain dependence of wheat flour dough, no steady state shear viscosity of dough, and the shear viscosity increased with time or strain to a maximum value and then decreased, suggesting a breakdown or rupture of the dough structure.     

Shear rate and cooling modeling for the study of candelilla wax organogels’ rheological properties

The rheological properties evolution, during the organogelation by cooling of candelilla wax (CW) solution in safflower oil, was studied using computational fluid dynamics (CFD). A simulated storage modulus (G′) model agreed satisfactorily with experimental observations. The gelation of 3% CW solutions was done using static conditions during the whole process (90–5 °C), or by applying a shear rate (180, 300 and 600 s⁻¹) during cooling from 90 °C to 52 °C and then continuing the cooling under static conditions up to the final temperature (i.e. 5 °C). The proposed model predicts G′ evolution as a function of temperature, and considers the final torque (Γ_f) of the sheared stage as an inductor of molecular flow alignment. Predictions revealed that the final solid-like component (i.e. G′) increases as the shear rate increases up to a maximum for a shear rate of about 400 s⁻¹. Then, final G′ value diminishes gradually, probably due to the destruction of microstructures that generate the gelation. The model was validated by graphical methods and variance measures. The results demonstrate the potential of CFD to allow the development of a model linking process variables (i.e. cooling and shearing) and rheological properties. This model can be successfully applied for process control purposes and for the design of organogels with predefined properties.     

Rheology of commercial chestnut flour doughs incorporated with gelling agents

The rheological properties of chestnut flour (CF) doughs incorporated with agar, hydroxypropylmethyl cellulose (HPMC) and xanthan at different concentrations (0.5, 1.0, 1.5, 2.0%, flour basis) were determined at 30 °C using a controlled stress rheometer. The mixing behavior at the same temperature was achieved by the Mixolab^® apparatus. The tests conducted in the rheometer were shear (0.01–10 s⁻¹), oscillatory (1–100 rad s⁻¹ at 0.1% strain), creep-recovery (loading of 50 Pa for 60 s) and temperature sweep (30–100 °C) measurements. These rheological properties were significantly modified by the type and content of gelling agent added. The values of apparent viscosity in all tested shear rate range as well as the values of storage (G′) and loss (G″) moduli of CF doughs in the tested angular frequency decreased with increasing agar and HPMC concentration and increased with xanthan addition. Flow curves and storage and loss moduli of assayed doughs were satisfactorily fitted using Cross model and a potential model, respectively. The initial gelatinization temperature decreased with agar and increased with xanthan as well as the gelatinization temperatures range with HPMC addition was shorter. This pasting trend was also noticed using Mixolab^®. Creep-recovery data, successfully fitted using Burgers model, showed that elasticity of doughs improved significantly with HPMC and xanthan addition.     

Steady shear flow properties of wild sage (Salvia macrosiphon) seed gum as a function of concentration and temperature

The steady shear flow properties of dispersions of a new potential hydrocolloid, sage seed gum (SSG), were determined as a function of concentration (0.5–2% w/w), and temperature (20–50 °C). SSG dispersions exhibited strong shear-thinning behavior at all conditions tested, which was even more pronounced than commercial hydrocolloids like xanthan, guar gum and locust bean gum. Different time-independent rheological models were used to fit the experimental data, although the Herschel–Bulkley model (H–B) was found the best model to describe steady shear flow behavior of SSG. An increase in gum concentration led to a large increase in yield stress and consistency coefficient values, whereas there was no definite trend with an increase in temperature. On the other hand, the above-mentioned increases in concentration and temperature did not yield a clear evolution of the shear-thinning characteristics of SSG dispersions. An Arrhenius-type model was also used to describe the effect of temperature. The activation energy (E_a) appeared in the range of 3949–16384 J/mol, as concentration increased from 0.5 to 2%, at a shear rate of 100 s⁻¹. The yield stress values estimated by viscoplastic rheological models were much higher than the data determined by stress ramp method. Apparent viscosity of SSG surpassed many commercial hydrocolloids such as guar gum, locust bean gum, Tara gum, fenugreek gum and konjac gum at the same conditions, which suggest it as a very good stabilizer in food formulations.     

Rheological properties of corn oil emulsions stabilized by commercial micellar casein and high pressure homogenization

The rheological behavior of corn oil emulsions prepared by high pressure homogenization (HPH) was investigated. Coarse emulsions of corn oil (10-30 g oil/100 g emulsion) in casein dispersions containing 0.5-3.5 g micellar casein/100 g casein dispersion in an oil-free basis were homogenized at 0-300 MPa. Flow behavior under continuous increasing (0-150 s⁻¹) or decreasing (150-0 s⁻¹) shear rate was tested. Emulsions that showed macroscopic change in consistency were tested for viscoelasticity (G′). Homogenization of emulsions with low oil concentration (10 g/100 g) resulted in Newtonian behavior for all treatment pressures. The rheological behavior of emulsions with higher oil concentration (30 g/100 g) was dependent on casein concentration in the aqueous phase and varied from Newtonian to shear thinning. Homogenization pressures between 20 and 100 MPa induced the formation of a gel-like structure possibly through pressure-induced interactions between caseins surrounding adjacent droplets.     

Time-independent and time-dependent rheological characterization of vegetable-based infant purees

Flow behavior of vegetable-based infant purees was analyzed at different temperatures (5–65 °C) giving particular attention to their time-dependent properties in a shear rate range (5–200 s⁻¹). Power law model parameters describing flow behavior of samples depended on kind of infant puree, its water content and measurement temperature. Arrhenius model was used to explain temperature effect on apparent viscosity at 50 s⁻¹. Infant purees exhibited thixotropic behavior for all temperatures tested. For the same temperature, differences in hysteresis loop magnitudes were observed among purees, being more noticeable at lower temperatures. Two models were used to describe the time-dependent behavior, namely Weltman model, and second-order structural kinetic model. For all infant purees, the initial shear stress and the extent of thixotropy increased and decreased significantly with increases in shear rate and temperature. The breakdown rate of puree associations also accelerated at higher shear rates, but no trend was observed with temperature.     

Viscoelastic properties of wheat gliadin and glutenin suspensions

Linear and non-linear rheological properties of wheat gliadin and glutenin suspensions were investigated at various concentrations. Linear dynamic viscoelastic properties for both gliadin and glutenin were strongly dependent on concentration. For gliadins, the storage moduli (G′), loss moduli (G″), and phase shifts dramatically changed within a narrow concentration range, indicating that gliadin suspension properties changed from viscous to viscoelastic. Glutenins exhibited viscoelastic solid behaviour at all measured concentrations. The non-linear shear viscoelastic properties of gliadin and glutenin also depended on concentration. Viscosities of gliadins displayed shear-thinning behaviour; viscosities for glutenins showed shear-thickening behaviour at low shear rates, and shear-thinning behaviour at higher shear rates. Our results indicate that gliadin’s structure in suspension changes over a small concentration range, and suggest that gliadin is important in adjusting and controlling gluten’s viscoelastic behaviour, and not only as a diluent of gluten’s functional properties.     

Rheological properties of gluten-free bread formulations

In this study, the rheological properties of rice bread dough containing different gums with or without emulsifiers were determined. In addition, the quality of rice breads (volume, firmness and sensory analysis) was evaluated. Different gums (xanthan gum, guar gum, locust bean gum (LBG), hydroxyl propyl methyl cellulose (HPMC), pectin, xanthan–guar, and xanthan–LBG blend) and emulsifiers (Purawave^™ and DATEM) were used to find the best formulation for gluten-free breads. Rice dough and wheat dough containing no gum and emulsifier were used as control formulations. The rice dough containing different gums with or without emulsifiers at 25 °C showed shear-thinning behavior with a flow behavior index (n) ranging from 0.33–0.68 (except pectin containing samples) and consistency index (K) ranging from 2.75–61.7 Pa sⁿ. The highest elastic (G′) and loss (G″) module were obtained for rice dough samples containing xanthan gum, xanthan–guar and xanthan–LBG blend with DATEM. When Purawave^™ was used as an emulsifier, dough samples had relatively smaller consistency index and viscoelastic moduli values compared to DATEM. The viscoelastic parameters of rice dough were found to be related to bread firmness. Addition of DATEM improved bread quality in terms of specific volume and sensory values.     

Rheological characterisation of cake batters generated by planetary mixing: Comparison between untreated and heat-treated wheat flours

The rheological behaviour of high ratio cake batters prepared with untreated and heat-treated wheat flours was analysed at different stages of the manufacturing process, namely slurry, (on aeration) foams and (with fat addition) aerated emulsions, featuring air volume fractions up to 0.50. Both steady shear and viscoelastic behaviours were studied. All materials exhibited shear-thinning behaviour at 20 °C over the shear rate range studied (0.07-10 s⁻¹). The generalised Cox-Merz rule could be applied to all samples. Materials prepared with heat-treated flours exhibited greater stability, as indicated by slurry thixotropy and cohesive energy, and the change in apparent viscosity and air content of foams and aerated emulsions on extended mixing. Foams and aerated emulsions showed significant elastic behaviour with G′∼G″. The temperature dependency of aerated emulsions was studied by oscillatory shear testing from 20 to 100 °C and indicated three regimes in temperature dependence: below 40 °C G′and G″ were insensitive to temperature; between 40 and 70 °C the complex viscosity exhibited Arrhenius-type behaviour, while above 70 °C G′ and G″ increased as expected for gelatinisation and foam setting. The weak gel model for foods was used to analyse the latter data sets and confirmed that the gel network generated in aerated emulsions prepared with heat-treated flours was significantly stronger than those made with unheated flours. The differences between flour types were also observed in tests on un- and heat-treated flours obtained from a second and third harvest. The impact of these quantifiable differences in rheology on performance during baking is discussed.     

Rheological properties of blueberry puree for processing applications

Rheological properties of purées made from small fruits like blueberries are important for application in handling and thermal processing where their physical and/or chemical attributes can be altered. Flow of purées made from highbush blueberry (Vaccinium corymbosum L.) was investigated in the 10-1000 s⁻¹ shear rate range with the objective of determining the influence of temperature and solids content on the rheological properties. The rheological behavior was well described by the three-parameter Sisko model. The activation energy of flow (E_a) calculated with respect to apparent viscosity at 100 s⁻¹ increased from 11.4 to 17.1 kJ/mol for purée with 10% and 25% total soluble solids, respectively. When evaluated in terms of consistency coefficient, the activation energy varied between 10.7 and 21.7 kJ/mol within the same range of solid contents. For the conditions investigated, a mathematical model that is suitable for describing the influence of temperature and dissolved solids on the apparent viscosity of blueberry purée was obtained. The rheological behavior of 10-20 Brix blueberry purée was well predicted (R²=0.99). Further investigation is needed to improve the model to cover a wider Brix range.     

Steady shear flow behavior of gum extracted from Ocimum basilicum L. seed: Effect of concentration and temperature

Steady shear flow behavior of basil seed gum (BSG) was investigated between 0.5% and 2% (wt/wt) concentration and temperatures of 5-85 °C. BSG showed shear thinning behavior at all concentrations and temperatures. The Herschel-Bulkley model was employed to characterize flow behavior of BSG solutions at 0.1-1000 s⁻¹ shear rate. The pseudoplasticity of BSG increased markedly with concentration. Flow behavior of 1% BSG indicated a higher viscosity of this gum at low shear rates compared to xanthan, konjac and guar gum at similar concentration. The activation energy of BSG quantified using an Arrhenius equation increased from 4.9 × 10³ to 8.0 × 10³ J mol⁻¹ as concentration changed from 0.5% to 2% wt/wt. This indicated a heat-resistant nature of BSG. Increasing the apparent viscosity of BSG as temperature increase from 60 °C showed a sol-gel behavior of BSG based on dynamic oscillatory measurements. The static yield stress was obvious between shear rates 0.001-0.1 s⁻¹ (9.98 Pa for 1% BSG at 20 °C). The existence of the yield stress, high viscosity at low shear rates and pseudoplastic behavior of BSG make it a good stabilizer in some food formulations such as mayonnaise and salad dressing.     

Effect of sodium chloride,sucrose and chestnut starch on rheological properties of chestnut flour doughs

The influence of the addition of NaCl (0.6, 1.2, 1.8%, w/w), sucrose (0.6, 1.8, 3.4, 5.0%, w/w), chestnut starch (5.0, 10.0, 15.0%, w/w) and NaCl–sucrose mixtures (0.6–0.6, 1.8–1.8%, w/w) on the rheological properties of chestnut flour (CF) doughs were studied using a controlled-stress rheometer. Mixing and complete tests were achieved by the Mixolab^® apparatus. Shear (0.01–10 s⁻¹), oscillation (1–100 rad s⁻¹), temperature sweep (30–100 °C) and creep-recovery (loading of 50 Pa) measurements were performed. Steady-flow curves exhibited a Newtonian plateau at <0.1 s⁻¹ that was shifted to lower shear rates with the additives. Apparent viscosities were satisfactorily fitted using Cross model. Moduli values of storage and loss decreased, at constant angular frequency, with increasing additives. Gelatinization temperatures were slightly modified. Creep-recovery data, fitted using Burgers model, showed that the elasticity was low (23.0%) and doughs with chestnut starch presented the highest recoverable proportion (45.6%).     

Rheological behaviour of low-methoxyl pectin gels over an extended frequency window

The rheological behaviour of biopolymer gels is commonly investigated by means of small amplitude oscillatory measurements. This consolidated approach was used in the present paper to characterize the influence of ionic strength and temperature on the gelation of commercial low-methoxyl pectin (LMP) (DE = 22.5%). The main results showed that the sol/gel transition is very sensitive to the ionic strength of the medium, while the viscoelastic properties of the gel structure, developed over 8 h cure test, were retained up to 60 °C. The soft material under study displays the typical rheological behaviour of a solid-like material, in good agreement with results previously reported in the literature. It is known that the best time or frequency window useful to explore in dynamic mode the viscolelastic behaviour of complex materials such as a gel would range over several decades of frequency. The possibility to extend the frequency domain of the dynamic tests in the region of the lower frequencies (10⁻⁵–10² rad s⁻¹) was therefore investigated by matching information coming from dynamic and transient rheological tests and converting data from time domain into frequency domain throughout the discrete retardation spectrum of the material, as described by Kaschta [Kaschta, J., & Schwarzl, F. R. (1994). Calculation of discrete retardation spectra from creep data - I. Method. Rheologica Acta, 33, 517-529.].     

Analytical applications of 2,6-diacetylpyridine bis-4-phenyl-3-thiosemicarbazone and determination of Cu(II) in food samples

New synthesized reagent 2,6-diacetylpyridine bis-4-phenyl-3-thiosemicarbazone (2,6-DAPBPTSC) is proposed as a sensitive and selective analytical reagent for the spectrophotometric determination of copper(II) at pH 3.0 to form a yellowish orange colored 1:1 chelate complex. The maximum absorbance was measured at 370 nm. This method obeys Beer’s law in the concentration range 0.63–6.30 g ml⁻¹ and the correlation coefficient of Cu(II)–2,6-DAPBPTSC complex is 0.942, which indicates an adequate linearity between the two variables with good molar absorptivity and Sandell’s sensitivity, 0.847 × 10⁴ l mol⁻¹ cm⁻¹ and 0.0075 g cm⁻², respectively. The instability constant of complex calculated from Asmus′ method is 1.415 × 10⁻⁴ at room temperature. The precision and accuracy of the method is checked with calculation of relative standard deviation (n = 5), 0.777% and the detection limit value is 0.0056 g ml⁻¹. The interfering effect of various cations and anions has also been studied. The method was successfully applied for the determination of Cu(II) in food samples. The performance of present method was evaluated in terms of Student ‘t’ test and Variance ‘f’ test, which is indicates the significance of present method is an inter comparison of the experimental values, using atomic absorption spectrometer (AAS).     

Miniature handheld NIR sensor for the on-site non-destructive assessment of post-harvest quality and refrigerated storage behavior in plums

This study evaluated the feasibility of using a handheld micro-electro-mechanical system (MEMS) spectrometer working in the 1600–2400 nm range for the measurement of quality-related parameters (soluble solid content, firmness, variety and post-harvest storage duration under refrigeration) in intact plums. Spectroscopic measurements were also made for each fruit using a diode-array Vis–NIR spectrophotometer (400–1700 nm) for purposes of comparison. A total of 264 plums (Prunus salicina L.) cv. ‘Black Diamond’, ‘Golden Globe’, ‘Golden Japan’, ‘Fortune’, ‘Friar’ and ‘Santa Rosa’, received and stored at 0 °C and 95% RH for 9 days, were used to build calibration models using different spectral signal pre-treatments and the modified partial least squares regression method. The two NIR instruments evaluated provided good precision, although the diode-array instrument yielded slightly greater precision for soluble solid content; statistic values were r² = 0.73 and the standard error of cross validation (SECV) = 1.11% for calibration, and r² = 0.68 and the standard error of prediction (SEP) = 1.22% for validation. Firmness measurements were less precise in both instruments, though again slightly better in the diode-array instrument: r² = 0.64 and SECV = 1.77 N for calibration; and r² = 0.61 and SEP = 2.30 N for validation, respectively. The performance of the two instruments for classifying plums by variety and by refrigerated post-harvest storage duration (0, 6 and 9 days) was evaluated using partial least square-discriminant analysis. A total of 96.5 % of samples were correctly assigned to their variety, while 94.5 % of plums were correctly assigned to their refrigerated storage day. In general, promising results were obtained with both instruments, with similar levels of accuracy for the measurements for soluble solid content, variety and refrigerated storage duration; the prediction model developed using the diode-array spectrophotometer provided better results for firmness.