Effect of sucrose on the thermomechanical behavior of concentrated wheat and waxy corn starch-water preparations

The rheological behavior of concentrated starch preparations from two different origins (wheat and waxy corn) was studied in the presence of sucrose by dynamic mechanical thermal analysis (DMTA). Moisture contents ranged from 30 to 60% (w/w wsb), and samples contained 0, 10, or 20 g of sucrose for 100 g of the starch-water mixture. The storage modulus (G') changes during heating depended strongly on water content (in the moisture range studied), and the importance of these variations was dependent upon the starch type. Sucrose addition resulted in a shift to higher temperatures of the increase in G' during heating. Differential scanning calorimetry (DSC) and electron-spin resonance (ESR) analyses were performed in parallel in order to relate the viscoelastic changes to water migrations and to structural disorganization of starch. Sucrose was found to increase the gelatinization temperature and enthalpy of both starches, implying a stabilization of the granular structure during heating. The sugar-water interactions do not appear to be the only way by which sucrose delays starch gelatinization. The obtained results suggest that sugar-starch interactions in the amorphous and/or the crystalline regions of the starch granules should be envisaged.     

alpha-Casein improves the gel properties of dried egg white

The effects of addition of alpha-casein (alpha-CN) to dried egg white (DEW) were investigated by measuring transparency, hardness, and water-holding capacity (WHC) of the heat-induced gels. A DEW concentration of 8% (w/w) was required for formation of a self-supporting gel following heating at 80 degrees C for 20 min at pH 7. Solutions of alpha-CN, even up to a protein concentration of 12% (w/w), did not gel under the same conditions. The addition of alpha-CN (0.5-4%) to 8% DEW caused the increase in gel hardness gels, as compared with DEW gels alone at a total amount of protein concentrations, and the mixed gels became transparent with the increase of added alpha-CN concentrations. The 10% mixed protein solutions of alpha-CN (3-6%) and DEW (4-7%) formed transparent gels, although each protein did not gel individually at their protein concentrations. Mixture with 2:8 mixing ratio of alpha-CN to DEW at a total protein concentration of 10% showed synergistic effects in improving DEW gel properties above pH 7 and below 25 mM NaCl. The improvements (hardness, transparency, and WHC) of DEW gel by alpha-CN seem to be caused mainly by the inhibition of alpha-CN against heat coagulation of DEW protein.     

莲子热风干燥过程对其淀粉热特性及凝胶化的影响

为解决莲子干燥过程中淀粉形态结构变化造成莲子结壳、硬化,不利于干燥以及复水难、易返生问题,该文利用差示扫描量热技术(differential scanning calorimetry,DSC)对新鲜莲子以及不同热风干燥(70、80、90℃)莲子的淀粉热特性与凝胶化过程进行了研究.研究发现,莲子淀粉在低水分环境(42.2%,以质量比计)时存在2个明显的吸热峰,高水分环境(71.1%,以质量比计)时存在1个明显的吸热峰;莲子在干燥过程中不断失水,并伴随着淀粉凝胶化.方差分析(analysis of variance,ANOVA)表明,高温干燥显著影响莲子淀粉的热特性,其淀粉凝胶化温度(峰起温度To、峰顶温度Tp以及峰止温度Te)部分显著升高.相同干燥条件下,莲子淀粉糊化焓ΔH受水分显著影响,但干燥温度、升温速率对其影响不显著(P>0.01).采用Kissinger、Crane方程获得了淀粉凝胶化动力学参数(活化能Ea、指前因子Z以及反应级数n).莲子淀粉的非等温凝胶化反应可近似为一级反应,高温干燥后其Ea值出现增加,并随着水分增加呈现降低趋势.研究结果可为确定莲子高品质干燥工艺以及干莲子、莲子淀粉后续加工过程提供技术支持.     

Rheological Properties of Soft Wheat Flour Doughs: Effect of Salt and Triglycerides

The small deformation rheological properties of wheat flour doughs in relation to their structure and hydration were studied by dynamic mechanical thermal analysis, differential scanning calorimetry, and electron spin resonance. The effect of salt and triglycerides was also examined and compared with results we obtained previously on starch dispersions. Moisture content was adjusted to 48 or 60% (w/w, wb). Samples contained 0–16% NaCl (g/100 g of flour‐water) and 0–18% triolein or lard (g/100 g of flour‐water). The obtained results suggested that starch has an active role in determining the evolution of dough rheological characteristics during heating. The main factors controlling rheological behavior during thermal treatment are the volume fraction and deformability of starch granules. Gluten changes the viscoelasticity of the continuous phase and competes with starch for water. The addition of sodium chloride to flour dispersions shifted the structural disorganization and rigidity increased during heating to higher temperatures. At >7% NaCl, the reverse effect was observed. The mechanism controlling the effect of salt on dough rheological behavior was explained in terms of effect on water properties and on starch structure and hydration. Triglycerides had a lubricant effect (i.e., lowering G′ modulus) on the wheat flour dough system. These effects are of great importance for production and quality of bakery products.     

高压对玉米淀粉糊化度影响的研究

采用差热扫描量热法（ＤＳＣ）研究了不同压力及保压时间对玉米淀粉糊化度的影响。在７００ＭＰａ压力下，保压２ｍｉｎ即可使８６．８％玉米淀粉糊化，达到一般食品加工要求；保压５ｍｉｎ，可使玉米淀粉１００％糊化，这是高压食品加工的一大优点     

Effect of Small and Large Wheat Starch Granules on Thermomechanical Behavior of Starch

The physicochemical properties of small‐ and large‐granule wheat starches were investigated to reveal whether gelatinization properties and rheological behavior differ between size classes of wheat starch. All samples contained 60% water (w/w, wb). The starch granule size and shape were examined by scanning electron microscopy in the separated A‐ and B‐type granule populations and in the whole wheat starch granule population. Differential scanning calorimetry (DSC) and electron spin resonance (ESR) analyses were performed in parallel with rheological measurements using dynamic mechanical thermal analysis (DMTA) to relate the viscoelastic changes to modifications in dynamic properties of aqueous solutions and structural disorganization of starch. The small (B‐type) granules had slightly higher gelatinization temperature and lower gelatinization enthalpy than did the large (A‐type) granules. Also, B‐type granules had higher enthalpy for the amylose‐lipid complex transition. Moreover, our results suggested that small granules have higher affinity for water at room temperature. It seems that there is a less ordered arrangement of the polysaccharide chains in the smaller granules when compared with the larger ones. These differences in functional properties of small and large granules suggested that the granule size distribution is an important parameter in the baking process.     

Functional Characteristics of Extruded Blends of Whey Protein Concentrate and Corn Starch

The aim of this work was to study the effects of extrusion barrel temperature (70–180°C), feed moisture (18–30%), pH (3–8), different proportions of corn starch (75–95%), and whey protein concentrate (WPC, 80% protein concentration) (25–5%) on the preparation of functional blends. Expansion index (EI), bulk density (BD), compression force (CF), color, water absorption index (WAI), water solubility index (WSI), gel strength (GS), syneresis of the gel, and in vitro digestibility were evaluated. Barrel temperature and the proportion of WPC had significant effects on BD; at higher temperatures, BD was lower. Feed moisture and pH had significant effects on EI; with lower moisture and higher pH, the EI increased. An interaction of barrel temperature and feed moisture had an effect on WAI; at lower moisture content, the temperature effect was nonexistent, whereas at higher temperatures and feed moisture content, the WAI increased. The pH level had a significant effect on WSI, showing high WSI when lower pH levels were used. Color analysis showed that higher protein content and pH generated higher δE values; low feed moisture and low pH resulted in gel syneresis. Higher in vitro digestibility was obtained when a higher WPC proportion and pH were used. Extruded WPC-CS blends under alkaline and acidic conditions were affected by the preparation of diverse formulations that potentially can be used in foods to improve some functional and protein content.     

Mechanical and water-holding properties and microstructures of soy protein isolate emulsion gels induced by CaCl2, glucono-δ-lactone (GDL), and transglutaminase: influence of thermal treatments before and/or after emulsification

The mechanical properties, water-holding capacities (WHC), and microstructures of emulsion gels, induced by glucono-δ-lactone (GDL), CaCl(2), and microbial transglutaminase (MTGase) from unheated and heated soy protein isolate (SPI)-stabilized emulsions (at protein concentration 5%, w/v; oil volume fraction, 20%, w/v), were investigated and compared. The influence of thermal pretreatments (at 90 °C for 5 min) before and/or after emulsification was evaluated. Considerable differences in mechanical, water-holding, and microstructural properties were observed among various emulsion gels. The thermal pretreatment after emulsification increased the strength of the emulsion gels induced by GDL and CaCl(2), whereas in the case of MTGase, thermal pretreatments before and/or after emulsification on the contrary greatly inhibited gel network formation. The application of the enzyme coagulant exhibited much higher potential to form SPI-stabilized emulsion gels with higher mechanical strength than that of the other two coagulants. The WHC of the emulsion gels seemed to be not directly related to their gel network strength. Confocal laser scanning microscope analyses indicated that the network microstructure of the formed emulsion gels, mainly composed of aggregated protein-stabilized oil droplets and protein aggregate clumps, varied with the type of applied coagulants and emulsions. The differences in microstructure were basically consistent with the differences in mechanical properties of the gels. These results could provide valuable information for the formation of cold-set soy protein-stabilized emulsion gels.     

Modeling Starch Gelatinization Kinetics of Milled Rice Flour

Milled long‐grain rice samples were evaluated by differential scanning calorimetry (DSC) to determine the kinetics of starch gelatinization. The experiments were conducted with milled rice flour with a 10.6% degree of milling. DSC thermograms were obtained from 35 to 110°C using heating rates between 1°C/min and 15°C/min. The rate constants were evaluated, and two activation energies were found for different temperature ranges. At <70.1°C gelatinization was not completed. It was assumed that at <70.1°C gelatinization would only affect the amorphous regions. During the subsequent phase the crystalline regions destabilized by the amorphous component begin to gelatinize. For moisture content of 70%, wet basis, and a heating rate of 12°C/min, the enthalpy of gelatinization reaches a constant value of 7.3 J/g.     

Effect of Moisture Content on Thermomechanical Behavior of Concentrated Wheat Starch-Water Preparations

The rheological behavior of wheat starch preparations at intermediate moisture contents (25–60%, w/w) was studied by dynamic mechanical thermal analysis (DMTA). Differential scanning calorimetry (DSC) and electron spin resonance (ESR) experiments were also performed in parallel. Upon heating wheat starch preparations from 25 to 85°C, DMTA showed first a slight decrease in storage modulus (G′) to 45–60°C, then an increase of the shear modulus (predominant effect of swelling) to 68–74°C, followed by a decrease (predominant effect of melting-softening) to 85°C. In this 25–85°C temperature range, the initial swelling and subsequent softening were less pronounced with decreasing moisture content. The 45% moisture content level appeared critical, since there was a radical change in the thermomechanical behavior below this concentration. DSC showed that gelatinization did not appear as a single endotherm but as two endotherms. Whatever the moisture content, the melting started within a quite narrow temperature range, while the end of melting shifted progressively to higher temperatures as moisture content was decreased. ESR showed first a slight decrease in the water-soluble probe (Tempol) mobility as temperature was increased to 47–50°C, followed by a pronounced decrease to 57–60°C. Then, a progressive increase in probe mobility was observed to 85°C. These changes in probe mobility suggest some modifications of the kinetic and thermodynamic properties of the aqueous phase associated with changes in the starch physical state. For the lowest moisture contents, the probe mobility was quite stable during heating.     

Rheological Properties of Starch Gels from Wheat Mutants with Reduced Amylose Content

Wheat lines with reduced amylose content were recently produced by single and double mutation from a low‐amylose line, Kanto 107. They are appropriate for clarifying the influence of amylose content on starch gel properties because of their similar genetic background. When measured using the concanavalin A method (ConA), the total amylose content of isolated starches from Kanto 107 and three mutants (K107Afpp4, Tanikei A6599‐4, K107Wx2) was 24.8, 18.5, 7.1, and 1.7%, respectively. Results of differential scanning calorimetry (DSC) showed that the difference in amylose content strongly affected gelatinization conclusion temperature and enthalpy. We prepared 30 and 40% starch gels and measured their dynamic shear viscoelasticity using a rheometer with parallel plate geometry. Compressive and creep‐recovery tests were conducted under uniaxial compression. The storage shear modulus correlated highly with the amylose content of starch in 30 and 40% starch gels. The creep‐recovery test showed a clear distinction in creep curves among starch samples. When the compressive force required for 50, 80, and 95% strains was compared, starch gels with lower amylose content showed lower compressive force at 50% strain. Waxy starch gel (K107Wx2) showed higher compressive force at strain >80% than other samples due to its sticky property.     

Morphological, structural, thermal, and rheological characteristics of starches separated from apples of different cultivars

The starches were separated from unripe apples of five cultivars (Criterion, Ruspippum, Red Spur, Skyline Supreme, and Granny Smith) and evaluated using scanning electron microscopy (SEM), gel permeation chromatography (GPC), X-ray diffraction, differential scanning calorimetry (DSC), and dynamic viscoelasticity. SEM showed the presence of round granules as well as granules that had been partially degraded, probably by amylases. The starch granules in different apple starches ranged between 4.1 and 12.0 mum. Debranching of starch with isoamylase and subsequent fractionation of debranched materials by GPC revealed the presence of an apparent amylose, an intermediate fraction (mixture of amylose and amylopectin), long side chains of amylopectin, and short side chains of amylopectin in the range of 28-35.2, 3.6-4.4, 20-21.3, and 39.9-47.1%, respectively. The swelling power of starches ranged between 14.4 and 21.3 g/g. X-ray diffraction of apple starches showed a mixture of A- and B-type patterns. All apple starches showed peak intensities lower than that observed for normal corn and potato starch, indicating the lower crystallinity. The transition temperatures (onset temperature, T(o); peak temperature, T(p); and conclusion temperature, T(c)) and enthalpy of gelatinization (deltaH(gel)) determined using DSC ranged between 54.7 and 56.2 degrees C, between 57.1 and 59.1 degrees C, between 60.2 and 63.5 degrees C, and between 3.3 and 4.2 J/g, respectively. The viscoelastic properties of starch from different cultivars measured during heating and cooling using a rheometer differed significantly. Red Spur and Criterion starches with larger granule size showed higher G' and G' ' values, whereas those containing smaller size and amylolytically degraded granules showed lower G' and G' '.     

Effect of polysaccharides on the gelatinization properties of cornstarch dispersions

Konjac glucomannan (KG, neutral), carboxymethylcellulose (CMC, negatively charged), and chitosan (positively charged) were added to cornstarch dispersions to study the effect of polysaccharide-starch interactions on starch gelatinization properties. Pasting and retrogradation properties were measured with a rheometer and DSC. Swelling properties of the starch granules were determined by solubility index, swelling power, and particle size distribution. Depending on the nature of the different polysaccharides, viscosities of cornstarch dispersions were affected differently. The particle size distributions were not influenced by the addition of any of the polysaccharides. Swelling results showed that the KG and CMC molecules interacted with the released or partly released amylose in the cornstarch dispersions. This was correlated with the short-term retrogradation of the starch pastes being retarded by the additions of KG and CMC. However, the chitosan molecules appeared not to associate with the amylose, so the retrogradation of the chitosan-cornstarch dispersions was not retarded.     

Differential scanning calorimetry study of glass transition in frozen starch gels

The effects of initial water content, maximum heating temperature, amylopectin crystallinity type, and annealing on the glass transition of starch gels were studied by differential scanning calorimetry (DSC). The glass transition temperatures of the frozen gels measured as the onset (T(g,onset)) or midpoint temperature (T(g,midpoint)), heat capacity change during the glass transition (deltaC(p)), unfrozen water of starch gels, and additional unfrozen water (AUW) arising from gelatinization were reported. The results show that T(g,onset) and T(g,midpoint) of the partially gelatinized gels are independent of the initial water content, while both of the T(g) values of the fully gelatinized gel increase as the initial water content increases. These observations might result from the difference in the level of structural disruption associated with different heating conditions, resulting in different gel structures as well as different concentrations of the sub-T(g) unfrozen matrix. The amylopectin crystallinity type does not greatly affect T(g,onset) and T(g,midpoint) of the gels. Annealing at a temperature near T(g,onset) increases both T(g,onset) and T(g,midpoint) of the gels, possibly due to an increase in the extent of the freeze concentration as evidenced by a decrease in AUW. Annealing results in an increase in the deltaC(p) value of the gels, presumably due to structural relaxation. A devitrification exotherm may be related to AUW. The annealing process decreases AUW, thus also decreasing the size of the exotherm.     

Thermal Modifications of Starch During High‐Temperature Drying of Pasta

Changes in starch at the molecular level during high‐temperature (HT) drying of pasta were studied with differential scanning calorimetry (DSC). Pasta was manufactured from durum wheat semolina into the shape of spaghetti on a pilot‐plant installation. The HT phase (100°C) was applied at relatively high (27 g/100 g, wb), intermediate (20 g/100 g), and low (15 g/100 g) product moisture, respectively. Spaghetti dried at 55°C served as reference samples. The changes in the thermal properties of starch during drying were dependent on the drying conditions. The gelatinization enthalpy of pasta dried at 55°C was reduced by 30% during drying, which indicates a partial melting of the starch crystallites. With the beginning of the HT phase, the gelatinization enthalpy increased to final values that were close to or higher than those of freshly extruded pasta. In general, HT drying of pasta induced a broadening of the gelatinization range. Starch crystallinity remained unchanged during extrusion and drying at HT. Based on a state diagram of starch and on DSC measurements of pasta during drying, it is hypothesized that HT drying favors molecular rearrangements of starch polymers at the double helical level.     

Effect of Lime on Gelatinization of Corn Flour and Starch

Analysis of swelling power, water retention capacity, and degree of gelatinization of corn flour cooked in water with and without lime indicated, over a concentration range of 0–1% (w/v), that at low concentrations, lime increases swelling and digestibility of starch granules. Measurement of starch solubility revealed an increase in the amount of starch dissolved by lime cooking. Swelling, retention, and gelatinization exhibited maxima at or near 0.2% (w/v) lime, and then decreased as lime concentration increased. Hot-stage polarized light microscopy and differential scanning calorimetry of isolated starch revealed increasing gelatinization temperatures with increasing lime concentrations. It is hypothesized that the high pH of the system causes starch hydroxyl groups to ionize, thereby creating binding sites for Ca⁺⁺/CaOH⁺ and producing Ca-starch crosslinks. It is also suggested that, at low lime levels (<0.4%, w/v), granule crystalline regions are disrupted and the granule matrix is stretched by exchange of protons for calcium ions; when the lime level surpasses 0.4% (w/v), the granule shell becomes stabilized by Ca⁺⁺-starch interactions, producing stronger, more rigid granules.     

Properties of Starches from Near‐Isogenic Wheat Lines with Different Wx Protein Deficiencies

To determine the effect of amylose content on the starch properties, the amylose content, pasting properties, swelling power, enzymatic digestibility, and thermal properties of partial and perfect waxy types along with their wild‐type parent were analyzed. As expected, amylose content decreases differently in response to the loss of each Wx gene, showing the least response to Wx‐A1a. Most of the characteristics, except the thermal properties of the amylose‐lipid complex in differential scanning calorimetry (DSC), differed significantly among the tested types. Furthermore, the breakdown, setback, and pasting temperatures from the Rapid Visco Analyser (RVA) and the enzymatic digestibility, swelling power, peak temperature, and enthalpy of starch gelatinization from DSC showed a correlation with the amylose content. The relationships between the peak viscosity from the RVA and the onset temperature of starch gelatinization determined by DSC with amylose content of the tested materials were not clear. Waxy starch, which has no amylose, showed a contrasting behavior in starch gelatinization compared with nonwaxy starches. Among the nonwaxy starches, lower setback, lower pasting temperature, higher enzyme digestibility, higher peak temperature, higher enthalpy of starch gelatinization, and higher swelling were generally associated with low amylose starches.     

Amylose and Amylopectin Interact in Retrogradation of Dispersed High-Amylose Starches

Retrogradation of three high-amylose starches (HAS: ae du, ae V, and ae VII) and common corn starch (CCS) was examined by dynamic oscillatory rheometry (7.5% [w/w] starch in 20% [v/v] dimethyl sulfoxide [DMSO]), differential scanning calorimetry (DSC; 30% [w/w] starch in water), and turbidity (0.5% [w/w] starch in 20% [v/v] DMSO). Nongranular lipid-free starch and starch fractions (amylose [AM], amylopectin [AP], and intermediate material [IM]) were studied. Gels were prepared by dispersing starches or fractions in 90% DMSO and diluting with water, followed by storage for seven days at 4°C. For AM from each starch, the elastic modulus (G′) was similar when heated from 6 to 70°C. The G′ of HAS AP gels at 6°C was higher than for CCS AP gels. For nongranular CCS and ae du gels, G′ dropped dramatically (≈100×) when heated from 6 to 70°C, less (≈10×) for ae V gels, and least (≈5×) for ae VII gels. By DSC, each AM endotherm had a peak temperature of ≈140°C, whereas all AP endotherms were complete before 120°C. Endotherms >120°C were not observed for any nongranular starch despite the high AM content of some starches. After cooling starch suspensions from room temperature to 5°C and subsequent rewarming to room temperature, each AM and the ae VII nongranular starch remained highly turbid. Each AP and the remaining nongranular starches lost turbidity during rewarming. Our work suggests that branched molecules of CCS and HAS influence gel properties of nongranular starches by inhibiting or altering AM-AM interactions.     

Influence of amylopectin structure and amylose content on the gelling properties of five cultivars of cassava starches

Five cassava genotypes were investigated to identify the fine amylopectin structures and granule chemical compositions, which differentiated the starches into high (T(o) = 63.7 degrees C on average) and low (57.3 degrees C on average) gelatinization temperatures. The amylose contents (15.9-22.4%) and granular dimensions (12.9-17.2 microm) significantly differed among the starches. Diverse amylopectin structural elements resulted in significant swelling power, viscoelastic properties, and gel firmness. Debranched starches revealed a trimodal amylopectin distribution of three fractions: FIII (DP 12), FII (DP 24.31), and FI (DP 63) and FIII (DP 12), FII (DP 24.69), and FI (DP 67) for the low and high gelatinization starch groups, respectively. The higher proportion of FI long chain entanglement with amylose chain lengths to form longer helical structures was confirmed in the high gelatinization starch group, which developed "true" gels with better shear resistance, frequency independence, and higher gel firmness. Significant amounts of resistant starch fractions revealed the potential for application of these genotype starches in diverse foods.     

Retrogradation of du wx and su2 wx Maize Starches After Different Gelatinization Heat Treatments

Retrogradation of du wx and su2 wx starches after different gelatinization heat treatments was studied by differential scanning calorimetry. Suspensions of 30% (w/w) starch were initially heated to final temperatures of 55–180°C. Gelatinized starch was cooled and stored at 4°C. Starch retrogradation in the storage period was influenced by initial heat treatments. Retrogradation of du wx starch was rapid: when initially heated to 80–105°C, retrogradation enthalpy was ≈10 J/g after one day at 4°C. The retrogradation enthalpy was ≈15 J/g after 22 days of storage, and reached a maximum of 16.2 J/g after 40 days of storage. For du wx starch, application of the Avrami equation to increases in retrogradation enthalpy suggests retrogradation kinetics vary with initial heating temperature. Furthermore, starch retrogradation may not fit simple Avrami theory for initial heating ≤140°C. Retrogradation of su2 wx starch was slow. After 30 days of storage at 4°C, the maximum retrogradation enthalpy for all initial heating temperatures tested was 7.0 J/g, for the initial heating to 80°C. This work indicates that gelatinization heat treatment in these starches is an important factor in amylopectin retrogradation, and that the effect of initial heat treatment varies according to the genotype.