Rheology of κ/ι-hybrid carrageenan from Mastocarpus stellatus: Critical parameters for the gel formation.

The sol-gel diagrams of kappa/iota-hybrid carrageenan (KI) extracted from Mastocarpus stellatus powders with two different average particle sizes of the seaweed powders (117.0 µm and 77.5 µm) prior to the biopolymer extraction, are reported for the first time, together with rheological properties of obtained KI gels. Extraction yields for KI isolated from algae and average molecular weight of KI, determined by gel permeation chromatography, decreased with increasing the particle size of the powder. Rheological results indicated that tested samples exhibited stable and weak gel properties, except those prepared at 1.5% KI in 1.0 mol/L NaCl where stronger gels were found. Aqueous KI extracts with larger molecular weight led to stronger gels and also formed gels at lower biopolymer concentration in NaCl above 0.15 mol/L. All gels reached stability after 20 min of maturation. The data sets showed a strong temperature dependency. Gel setting temperatures significantly depended on the KI and NaCl content, whereas gel melting temperatures (68.0 ± 0.7 °C) were independent of both salt concentrations.

Physicochemical characterization of white, yellow and purple maize flours and rheological characterization of their doughs.

White, yellow and purple maize flours were obtained after dried kernels milling with two different sieves (200 and 500 µm). Hygroscopic characteristics, particle size distribution, colour and total starch and damaged starch (DS) of flours were determined. Maize flour doughs were obtained by mixing of flour and water in a laboratory kneader (Mixolab®) at constant dough consistency (1.10 ± 0.07 Nm). Dough properties like water absorption (WA), development and stability times were determined. Rheological characterization was carried out at 30 °C by means of oscillatory frequency sweep (1-100 rad s(-1)) at 0.1 % strain and creep (50 Pa, 60 s) - recovery (0 Pa, 180 s) tests using a controlled stress rheometer. No significant differences were observed among water desorption isotherms of maize varieties and Halsey model was satisfactorily employed. Under the same milling conditions, white maize flours showed higher average particles size than purple and yellow maize flours. A model to predict flours colour involving colour parameters of the particle size fractions is proposed. Flours obtained with smaller particle size showed higher DS content and WA. For tested doughs, the mechanical spectra showed that elastic component was dominant over the viscous one. Damping factor varied slightly with angular frequency. Moduli values depended on average particle size and WA of dough. Creep-recovery data were satisfactorily fit with Burgers model. Instantaneous creep compliance varied with the same trend than elastic modulus. Viscoelastic creep compliance increased linearly with WA of the tested doughs and, at constant average flour particle size, increased with increasing DS.

Starch transitions of different gluten free flour doughs determined by dynamic thermal mechanical analysis and differential scanning calorimetry.

Gluten-free flour doughs (three from different maize varieties and one from chestnut fruit) processed at the same consistency level (1.10 ± 0.07 N m) with different water absorption were used to determine the starch transitions by means of two different experimental techniques, differential scanning calorimetry (DSC) and dynamic thermal mechanical analysis (DMTA). The ranges of temperatures of gelatinization (G), amylopectin melting (M1), amylose-lipid complexes melting (M2) and amylose melting (M3) for all tested flour doughs were determined by both experimental techniques with acceptable agreement between them. The starch transitions in DMTA were determined by means of the elastic modulus (G, M1 and M2) or damping factor (G, M3) evolution with temperature. The temperatures and enthalpies of the transitions depended on water content, the nature and characteristics (mainly damaged starch) of the starch and the presence of other compounds (mainly lipid and sugars) in the flour doughs.

Analysis of moisture desorption isotherms of eggplant (Solanum melongena).

Sorption isotherms of eggplant were determined employing, as experimental technique, a static gravimetric method, using saturated salt solutions to achieve the equilibrium. The experiments were carried out at different temperatures (20, 35, 50 and 65 °C). The sorption isotherms can be classified, according to Brunauer's classification, as type II or III depending on temperature. Equilibrium moisture content data were correlated by two models usually applied to foodstuffs (Brunauer--Emmet--Teller (BET) and Halsey). BET model was employed to determine monolayer moisture content (0.121 kg/kg d.b.). Halsey model was selected by the goodness of fitting. Experimental data were analyzed by a thermodynamic approach to obtain some properties as net isosteric heat, equilibrium heat and differential and net integral entropy. The differential enthalpy and entropy decreased with increasing moisture content and satisfied the compensation theory. The net integral enthalpy and entropy showed maximum values (≈31 kJ/mol and ≈88 J/mol.K) at 0.093 (kg/kg d.b.) of moisture content.