Particle Size Effects on the Diffuse Reflectance of a Sucrose-Caramel Admixture

Decreasing the particle size of homogeneous colorant (caramel) from 68 to 28 microns increased lightness as predicted by the Kubelka-Munk theory. The presence of diluent (sucrose) reversed particle size effects, i.e., reduced caramel particle size decreased mixture lightness. Decreasing the particle size of the diluent, however, substantially increased the diffuse reflectance of the admixture, lowering its color intensity. The degree of color masking was determined mainly by the particle size of sucrose and to a much lesser extent by that of caramel. The dilution ratio and particle size of both colorant and diluent could be used to control the color of many food systems.