Effect of moderate electric fields in the permeation properties of chitosan coatings

Valorization of Amaranth (Amaranthus cruentus) Grain Extracts for the Development of Alginate-Based Active Films

This research work investigates the development of alginate-based films incorporating phenolic compounds extracted from Amaranthus cruentus grain using different solvents. Alginate, glycerol, and amaranth grain phenolic compounds at various concentrations were used to produce the films. An experimental Central Composite Rotatable Design (CCRD) was used to evaluate the effect of these variables on different film’s properties, i.e., water vapor permeability, hydrophobicity, moisture content, solubility, thermal, mechanical, and optical properties. This study demonstrated that high phenolic compound content and antioxidant capacity were obtained from amaranth grain using ethanol as the extraction solvent. Alginate films incorporating amaranth phenolic compounds were successfully manufactured, and this study can be used to tailor the formulation of alginate films containing amaranth phenolic compounds, depending on their final food application. For example, less flexible but more resistant and water-soluble films can be produced by increasing the alginate concentration, which was confirmed by a Principal Component Analysis (PCA) and Partial Least Squares (PLS) analysis. This study showed that active alginate films with amaranth phenolic compounds can be tailored to be used as food packaging material with potential antioxidant activity.

Atomic force microscopy in food preservation research: New insights to overcome spoilage issues

A higher level of food safety is required due to the fast-growing human population along with the increased awareness of healthy lifestyles. Currently, a large percentage of food is spoiled during storage and processing due to enzymes and microbial activity, causing huge economic losses to both producers and consumers. Atomic force microscopy (AFM), as a powerful scanning probe microscopy, has been successfully and widely used in food preservation research. This technique allows a non-invasive examination of food products, providing high-resolution images of surface structure and individual polymers as well as the physical properties and adhesion of single molecules. In this paper, detailed applications of AFM in food preservation are reviewed. AFM has been used to provide comprehensive information in food preservation by evaluating the spoilage with its related structure modification. By utilizing AFM imaging and force measurement function, the main mechanisms involved in the loss of food quality and preservation technologies development can be further elucidated. It is also capable of exploring the activities of enzymes and microbes in influencing the quality of food products during storage. AFM provides comprehensive solutions to overcome spoilage issues with its versatile functions and high-throughput outcomes. Further research and development of this novel technique in order to solve integrated problems in food preservation are necessary.

Electric field-based technologies for valorization of bioresources

This review provides an overview of recent research on electrotechnologies applied to the valorization of bioresources. Following a comprehensive summary of the current status of the application of well-known electric-based processing technologies, such as pulsed electric fields (PEF) and high voltage electrical discharges (HVED), the application of moderate electric fields (MEF) as an extraction or valorization technology will be considered in detail. MEF, known by its improved energy efficiency and claimed electroporation effects (allowing enhanced extraction yields), may also originate high heating rates - ohmic heating (OH) effect - allowing thermal stabilization of waste stream for other added-value applications. MEF is a simple technology that mostly makes use of green solvents (mainly water) and that can be used on functionalization of compounds of biological origin broadening their application range. The substantial increase of MEF-based plants installed in industries worldwide suggests its straightforward application for waste recovery.

Mechanical and structural characterization of whey protein concentrate/montmorillonite/lycopene films

BACKGROUND

The production/characterization of nanocomposites based on whey protein concentrate (WPC) and montmorillonite (MMT) with lycopene as functional substance is presented and their potential use as alternative biomaterials in foodstuff applications is discussed. A full factorial design with varying levels of MMT (0 and 20 g kg^-1 ) and lycopene (0, 60 and 120 g kg^-1 ) was used. The mechanical properties (tensile and puncture tests), thermal stability, Fourier transform infrared vibrational spectra and film morphology of the resulting materials were evaluated.

RESULTS

Lycopene and MMT nanoparticles could be successfully included in WPC films using the casting/evaporation method. The films were flexible and homogeneous and a uniform dispersion of the components was achieved.

CONCLUSION

Inclusion of 20 g kg^-1 of MMT in the polymeric matrix improved both mechanical and thermal properties. Lycopene at the tested concentrations, besides its red coloring ability, did not promote any detectable interference in the structural or physical properties. These findings are important in devising applications and open a new perspective on the use of these materials in bioactive packaging processing. © 2017 Society of Chemical Industry.

Research on Preparation and Properties of Edible Composite Protein Films

Edible films based on whey protein isolate and sodium caseinate were prepared by uniform design method. Glycerol has been incorporated into the edible films as a plasticizer. For all types of films, the influences of components and forming temperature on film properties, such as mechanical properties, water solubility, optical properties, gas and water vapor permeability were investigated. The results suggested that glycerol was the most important factor influencing all the properties of edible composite protein films. However, both increases of sodium caseinate concentration and glycerol content contributed to decrease the barrier properties of gas and water vapor. Among the films studied, group D (prepared with 5% whey protein isolate, 2% sodium caseinate, 50% glycerol at the temperature of 50 °C) showed moderate mechanical properties, optical properties, water solubility and maximum barrier properties of gas and water vapor, with tensile strength=5.85MPa, elongation=101.20%, transparency=91.4%, gas permeability rate=49.92cm3m-2d-10.1MPa-1and water vapor permeability of 0.128×10-11g m-1s-1Pa-1, 0.260×10-11g m-1s-1Pa-1, 0.513×10-11g m-1s-1Pa-1, 1.252×10-11g m-1s-1Pa-1at the RH gradient of 10-40%, 10-50%, 10-60%, 10-70%, respectively.

Effect of chitosan-based coatings on the shelf life of salmon (Salmo salar)

This study aimed at determining the effect of chitosan coating on shelf life extension of salmon ( Salmo salar ) fillets. The success of edible coatings depends highly on their effective wetting capacity of the surfaces on which they are applied. In this context in a first stage the surface properties of salmon fillets and the wetting capacity of the coatings on fish were evaluated. In terms of wettability there were no significant differences (p > 0.05) between the solutions presenting higher values (solutions 1-4); therefore, solution 1 with a spreading coefficient (Ws) of -4.73 mN m(-1), was chosen to be subsequently analyzed and applied on fish fillets. For shelf life analyses the fillets were coated and stored at 0 °C for 18 days. The control and coated fish samples were analyzed periodically for total aerobic plate count (TPC), pH, total volatile base nitrogen (TVB-N), trimethylamine (TMA), thiobarbituric acid (TBA), and ATP breakdown products (K value). The results showed that fish samples coated with chitosan presented a significant reduction (p < 0.05) for pH and K value after 6 days and for TVB, TMA, and TBA values after 9 days of storage, when compared to control samples. In terms of microbial growth, a slower increase in TPC was observed for the coated fish, indicating that chitosan-based coatings were effective in extending for an additional 3 days the shelf life of the salmon. These results demonstrate that chitosan-based coatings may be an alternative for extending the shelf life of salmon fillets during storage at 0 °C.

Effects of electric fields on protein unfolding and aggregation: influence on edible films formation

Electric fields application is receiving increased attention because of its uniform heating of liquids. The mechanisms of unfolding and aggregation of whey proteins during ohmic heating may influence properties of edible films made thereof. The aim of this work was to evaluate the effects of ohmic heating on physical and structural properties of whey protein edible films and compare them with those obtained by conventional heating. The results showed that ohmic heating determined less aggregation and lower concentration of free sulphydryls in film-forming solutions. Ohmic films were thinner, less permeable to water vapor and presented nearly the same mechanical properties of conventional films. Ohmic heating induced protein conformational changes by increasing the contents of β-sheet structures in the film network. This work emphasized the effects of ohmic heating in unfolding and aggregation mechanisms of whey proteins during heat denaturation, which determined the production of protein edible films with distinctive properties.

Effect of the complex of zincII and ceriumIV with chitosan on the preservation quality and degradation of organophosphorus pesticides in Chinese jujube (Zizyphus jujuba Mill. cv. Dongzao)

The effects of a novel complex of zinc(II) and cerium(IV) with chitosan film-forming material on the preservation quality of Chinese jujube fruits (Zizyphus jujuba Mill. cv. Dongzao) and degradation of organophosphorus pesticides in the fruits during the room temperature storage were investigated. The results showed that after 18 days of storage, the weight loss, respiratory intensity, and polyphenol oxidase (PPO) activity of fruits treated with the complex were 11.72, 31.51, and 7.07% lower than the control. Furthermore, total soluble solids, ascorbic acid, and polyphenol contents were 15.45, 14.55, and 13.93% higher than the control. The degradation rates of chlorpyrifos and parathion were increased to 97.31 and 92.70% for the complex treatment, which were 30.18 and 17.02% higher than the control, respectively. Therefore, the complex can be applied for preserving Chinese jujube fruits to expand their shelf life and decrease residues of organophosphorus pesticides on the fruits.