Application of High Intensity Ultrasound to Accelerate Crystallization of Anhydrous Milk Fat and Rapeseed Oil Blends

Recent Advances in Lipid Crystallization in the Food Industry

This review discusses fundamental concepts of fat crystallization and how various processing conditions such as crystallization temperature, cooling rate, and shear or agitation affect this process. Traditional methods used to process fats, such as the use of scraped surface heat exchangers, fractionation, and interesterification, are described. Parameters that affect fat crystallization in these systems, such as shear, crystallization temperature, type of fat, and type of process, are discussed. In addition, the use of minor components to induce or delay fat crystallization based on their chemical composition is presented. The use of novel technologies, such as high-intensity ultrasound, oleogelation, and high-pressure crystallization is also reviewed. In these cases, acoustic and high-pressure process parameters, the various types of oleogels, and the use of oleogelators of differing chemical compositions are discussed. The combination of all these techniques and future trends is also presented.

Crystallization of lipids and lipid emulsions treated by power ultrasound: A review

The actual food system with fat is always complex and fat crystal and fat crystal networks have important effects on the physical properties of food. Recently, power ultrasound (PU) had been widely recognized as an auxiliary technology of fat crystallization to modify food properties. This review expounded on the mechanism of ultrasonic crystallization, and summarized effects of various factors in the process of ultrasonic treatment on fat crystallization. Based on the above, combined with the application of ultrasound in emulsions, the ultrasonic fat crystallization effect in the emulsion system was judged and described. Research results indicated that PU could shorten the induction time of crystallization, accelerate the formation of crystal nuclei, and change the polymorphism of fat crystals. The product treated by PU formed smaller and more uniform crystals to produce a more viscoelastic fat crystal network. In emulsion systems, ultrasonic treatments showed the same effect, but the effect of ultrasonic crystallization on the emulsion stability was different due to fat crystals in different emulsion systems. Meanwhile, the importance of ultrasonic crystallization in lipid emulsions was emphasized, thus ultrasonic crystallization had great potential in emulsion systems.

Ultrasound-assisted gelation of β-carotene enriched oleogels based on candelilla wax-nut oils: Physical properties and in-vitro digestion analysis

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Candelilla wax mix with peanut, pine nut and walnut oils can form oleogels.

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Ultrasound increased G’, G’’, firmness and oil-binding capacity of oleogels.

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Ultrasound treatment improved the protection of β-carotene in oleogels.

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Ultrasound reduced the amount of β-carotene released during intestinal digestion.

This study investigated the effects of high-intensity ultrasound (HIU, 95 W, 10 s) on the physical properties, stability and in vitro digestion of β-carotene enriched oleogels. Candelilla wax (3 wt%) and nut oils (peanut, pine nut and walnut oil) with or without β-carotene were used to form oleogels. HIU improved the storage modules (G’) of peanut, pine nut and walnut oleogels without β-carotene from 11048.43 ± 728.85 Pa, 38111.67 ± 11663.98 Pa and 21921.13 ± 1011.55 Pa to 13502.40 ± 646.54 Pa, 75322.47 ± 9715.25 Pa and 48480.97 ± 4109.64 Pa, respectively. Moreover, HIU reduced oil loss of peanut, pine nut and walnut oleogels without β-carotene from 23.98 ± 2.58%, 17.14 ± 0.69% and 24.66 ± 1.57% to 17.60 ± 1.10%, 13.84 ± 0.74% and 18.72 ± 3.47%, respectively. X-ray diffraction patterns showed that HIU did not change the form of the crystal (β-polymorphic and β’-polymorphic) but increased the crystal intensity. Polarized light microscope images indicated that all oleogels showed more visible crystals after HIU. After 120 d of storage, HIU decreased the degradation of β-carotene for peanut oil and walnut oil samples (the contents of β-carotene in peanut and walnut oleogels without HIU after 120 d of storage were 897 ± 2 μg/g and 780 ± 1 μg/g, respectively, and those of sonicated samples were 1070 ± 4 μg/g and 932 ± 1 μg/g, respectively). Furthermore, HIU reduced the release of β-carotene in intestinal digestion. In conclusion, HIU could improve the functional properties of wax-nut oils oleogels and their β-carotene enriched oleogels.

Influence of sonication, temperature, and agitation, on the physical properties of a palm-based fat crystallized in a continuous system

High-intensity ultrasound (HIU) has been used in the past to change fat crystallization and physical properties of fat crystalline networks. The objective of this work was to evaluate how HIU placed on different positions in a scraped surface heat exchanger (SSHE) using different processing conditions affect the physical properties of an interesterified palm olein. The sample was crystallized at two temperatures (20 °C and 25 °C) and two agitation rates (344/208 rpm and 185/71 rpm, barrels/pin worker). HIU (12.7 mm-diameter tip, 50% amplitude, 5 s pulses) was placed at three different positions within the SSHE. After processing, samples were stored at 25 °C for 48 h and analyzed according to the crystal morphology, solid fat content (SFC), oil binding capacity (OBC), melting behavior, viscoelasticity, and hardness. Physical properties were affected by crystallization conditions, by sonication, and by HIU position. The greatest improvement obtained was at 20 °C using low agitation when HIU was placed at the beginning of the SSHE. These conditions result in a sample with 98.9% of OBC, 274 kPa of viscoelasticity and 31 N of hardness. These results show that HIU can be used as an additional processing tool to improve physical properties of a palm-based fat and that the best improvement was obtained as a combination of crystallization conditions and HIU position.

Recent advances in the application of ultrasound in dairy products: Effect on functional, physical, chemical, microbiological and sensory properties

Alternative methods for improving traditional food processing have increased in the last decades. Additionally, the development of novel dairy products is gaining importance due to an increased consumer demand for palatable, healthy, and minimally processed products. Ultrasonic processing or sonication is a promising alternative technology in the food industry as it has potential to improve the technological and functional properties of milk and dairy products. This review presents a detailed summary of the latest research on the impact of high-intensity ultrasound techniques in dairy processing. It explores the ways in which ultrasound has been employed to enhance milk properties and processes of interest to the dairy industry, such as homogenization, emulsification, yogurt and fermented beverages production, and food safety. Special emphasis has been given to ultrasonic effects on milk components; fermentation and spoilage by microorganisms; and the technological, functional, and sensory properties of dairy foods. Several current and potential applications of ultrasound as a processing technique in milk applications are also discussed in this review.

Impact of ultrasonic treatment process on pour point of vegetable oils based liquid insulation

This study presents an application of ultrasonic technology in the high voltage liquid insulation domain towards the reduction of pour point of vegetable oil samples for the utilization of vegetable oils as liquid insulation in cold climate areas on power transformers. Pour point reduction has been achieved by processing the vegetable oil samples by using ultrasonic treatment process with 100 W and 30 kHz ultrasonic waves for various exposure times of 15, 30, 45 and 60 min. Edible vegetable oils such as sunflower oil, palm oil, sesame oil and non edible vegetable oils such as honge oil, neem oil and punna oil are considered as two categories of vegetable oils for this experimental investigation. Ultrasonic treatment process results in the reduction of pour point of vegetable oils to meet out the standard value of pour point for liquid insulation as per IEEE Standard C57.147, 2018. A significant reduction in pour point temperature of vegetable oil samples have been obtained with an increased exposure time. The obtained variations in pour point after exposure with ultrasonic waves may be due to the possible changes in crystallization kinetics of fatty acids components of vegetable oil samples due to energy input of ultrasonic waves. The experimental results have given a way towards the positive encouragement and development with ultrasonic treatment for achieving low pour point vegetable oils as liquid insulation in power transformers for applications on cold climatic areas.

Assessment of rheological methods to study crystallization of palm oil fractions

This study provides an evaluation of the use of rheology to characterize soft, semi-hard, and hard fats in relation to determine the crystallization onset, crystallization behavior, as well as microstructure development using either a plate-plate or a starch pasting cell (SPC). The results from this study demonstrate that when applying rheology to study fat crystallization, the results must be interpreted with care. The application of a plate-plate geometry allowed for sensitive evaluation of the initial nucleation phase, which was not possible with an SPC. Both geometries could provide information on crystallization behavior in terms of one-step or two-step crystallization. However, in the late stage of the crystallization process, when the fat crystals form a strong network, the SPC could not describe differences in the rheology of the fat-crystal network, which was a possibility by the use of a plate-plate geometry. Thus, oscillatory rheology with a suitable geometry can be used to evaluate the entire crystallization process.

Effect of storage time on physical properties of sonocrystallized all-purpose shortening

The purpose of this study was to determine the effect of high-intensity ultrasound (HIU) on the physical properties of an all-purpose shortening and to evaluate how these properties changed during storage (48 hr; 4, 12, and 24 weeks) at 5 °C and 25 °C. Samples were crystallized at 30 °C for 60 min with and without the application of HIU (20 kHz; 3.2 mm-diameter tip, 168 µm amplitude, 10 s). After crystallization, physical properties, such as hardness, elasticity, melting behavior, and solid fat content (SFC), were measured. These properties were also measured during storage. The effect of HIU was significant in changing the SFC, hardness, G' and G'', melting enthalpy, and microstructure of the samples. After 60 min of crystallization, the sonicated samples had higher values of SFC, hardness, elasticity, and melting enthalpy than the ones obtained without sonication (P < 0.05). Changes in these physical properties were associated with the microstructure of the samples since sonication generated smaller, more uniformly sized crystals as well as increased the number of crystals. No differences were observed in the G' of the sonicated samples stored at 25 °C as a function of storage period. The G' of the nonsonicated samples increased until 12 weeks of storage and was maintained up to 24 weeks, suggesting that sonication speed up the formation of a stable crystalline network. Samples stored at 5 °C showed higher value in hardness, G' and G'', and SFC than the ones stored at 25 °C. PRACTICAL APPLICATION: High-intensity ultrasound (HIU) has been widely used as an additional tool to change the crystallization behavior in various lipids; however, the long-term storage effect of HIU has not been studied before. This research evaluates the effect of HIU on the physical properties of a palm-based shortening stored up to 24 weeks at two different temperatures (25 and 5 °C). The application of HIU may help increase the stability of lipid during storage.

Milk fat: opportunities, challenges and innovation

Milk fat is a high-value milk component that is processed mainly as butter, cheese, cream and whole milk powder. It is projected that approximately 35 million tonnes of milk fat will be produced globally by 2025. This surplus, enhances the need for diversification of milk fat products and the milk pool in general. Infant milk formula producers, for instance, have incorporated enzyme modified ("humanised") milk fat and fat globule phospholipids to better mimic human milk fat structures. Minor components like mono- and di-glycerides from milk fat are increasingly utilized as emulsifiers, replacing palm esters in premium-priced food products. This review examines the chemistry of milk fat and the technologies employed for its modification, fractionation and enrichment. Emerging processing technologies such as ultrasound, high pressure processing, supercritical fluid extraction and fractionation, can be employed to improve the nutritional and functional attributes of milk fat. The potential of recent developments in biological intervention, through dietary manipulation of milk fatty acid profiles in cattle also offers significant promise. Finally, this review provides evidence to help redress the imbalance in reported associations between milk fat consumption and human health, and elucidates the health benefits associated with consumption of milk fat and dairy products.