Stability of Emulsions Using a New Natural Emulsifier: Sugar Beet Extract <Emphasis Type="Italic">(Beta vulgaris L.)</Emphasis>

This study describes the influence of environmental stresses on the stability of emulsions prepared by a natural sugar beet extract (Beta vulgaris L.). The emulsion stabilizing performance was compared to that of Quillaja extract, which is widely used within the food and beverage industry as natural surfactant. We investigated the influence of pH, ionic strength, heating and freeze-thawing on the mean particle size, ζ-potential and microstructure of oil-in-water emulsions (10% w/w oil, 0.75% w/w emulsifier). The emulsions stabilized by the anionic sugar beet extract were stable at pH 5–8 and against thermal treatments up to 60 °C. However, the prepared emulsions were unstable at acidic (pH 2–4) and basic pH conditions (pH 9), at high temperature (>60 °C), and at salt additions (> 0.1 M NaCl / CaCl₂). Moreover, they also phase separated upon freeze-thawing. Our results show that sugar beet extract is capable of stabilizing emulsions and may therefore be suitable as natural emulsifier for selected applications in the food and beverage industry.     

Comparing Carboxymethyl Cellulose and Starch as Thickeners in Oil/Water Emulsions. Implications on Rheological and Structural Properties

The study reported here aims to obtain information on how thickener type and concentration, and oil content influence rheology, particle size, particle charge and microstructure in o/w model emulsions. Emulsions were prepared at two oil concentrations (5 and 30 % wt/wt), each with three CMC concentrations (0.2, 0.3, and 0.4 % wt/wt), or three starch concentrations (2, 3, and 4 % wt/wt). For each oil concentration, a sample without any added thickener was prepared as reference. Both CMC and swollen starch granules showed a dominating effect on emulsion flow behavior, although the presence and concentration of fat droplets also played an important role. Viscoelasticity of CMC-based emulsions mainly depended of oil concentration whilst in starch-based emulsions the most influential ingredient was starch. A similar situation was detected in terms of particle size distribution; CMC effect was dependent on oil content and starch effect was mainly related to the volume occupied by swollen granules. Differences in microstructure and particle size distribution between CMC and starch emulsions were related to their rheological behavior. Apart from enabling the acquisition of food emulsions with different composition but with similar rheological behavior by adding different hydrocolloids, here we consider thickener effect on other properties in order to obtain food emulsions with adequate characteristics.     

Relating Food Emulsion Structure and Composition to the Way It Is Processed in the Gastrointestinal Tract and Physiological Responses: What Are the Opportunities?

The gastrointestinal tract is a complex and intricate machinery to process and absorb nutrients from food in a highly controlled and efficient way. One of the main purposes is to provide essential nutrients (proteins, fats, and carbohydrates) to the blood in a soluble form that can be further processed by the body. For this reason, the food is digested by various enzymes and brought into a state in which it can be absorbed by the small intestines. The proliferation of obesity in the Western world has motivated several research groups to study the digestion process, ultimately to control food intake by food design. This paper reviews the literature related to the digestion of food emulsions, describing in detail the organization and function of the various organs of the gastrointestinal tract, the way these organs cooperate and how this cooperation is regulated by physiological signals. The insight may help to cross the bridge toward designed food structuring from a food-engineering and physical–chemical perspective. Based on the physiological understanding of fat digestion, opportunities to affect the digestion of triglycerides by food structure and composition, stability under stomach conditions, and delayed digestion and absorption in the small intestine are identified.     

Consumer value‐based edible insect market segmentation [edible insect market segmentation]

Edible insect food products have been launched and in the market since 2011. Since then the number of companies that produce edible insect food product has increased greatly. However, the guidance of how these firms should effectively target which consumer market is unclear. The goal of this study is to provide information about the US consumer market that could potentially increase edible insect food product sales. This study uses consumer value as a segmenting axle and provides the cluster analysis results. From this analysis, academics and industry practitioners can have better insights about edible insect food product consumer profiles.     

High-intensity Ultrasound as a Tool to Form Water in Oleogels Emulsions Structured by Lipids Oleogelators

This study aims to evaluate the structuration power and physical properties of oleogel emulsions formed by monoglycerides (MG), hardfat (HF), and lecithin (LE), with and without high-intensity ultrasound (HIU). Emulsion gels with and without HIU were prepared in mono-, bi- and ternary gelator blends (10% of the lipid phase) and with different water (W) proportions (W?=?1, 15, or 30%). All samples were analyzed according to their gel/emulsion formation, microstructure, melting behavior, rheology, texture, polymorphism, and oil binding capacity. In mono structured emulsions only MG was able to form structured emulsions that did not flow. Three synergic combinations of oleogels were found: MG:HF, HF:LE, and MG:HF:LE; nevertheless, the only synergic combination found in all water proportions was MG:HF. Sonicated MG:HF emulsions formed more organized and stable water droplets, and with 30 W even achieved similar physical properties as MG:HF oleogel (0 W). A soft structured emulsion was also found for sonicated LE and HF:LE with 30 W. Multicomponent emulsion gels formed by MG, HF, and LE are a good alternative for food applications because they can form different synergic combinations with good physical properties such as hardness (>?1 N), elastic modulus (>?1?×?10⁵ Pa), and oil binding capacity (>?99%), and these properties can be even improved by HIU.

     

Applied catastrophic phase inversion: a continuous non-centrifugal phase separation step in biphasic whole-cell biocatalysis

Biphasic whole-cell biotransformations are known to be efficient alternatives to common chemical synthesis routes, especially for the production of, e.g. apolar enantiopure organic compounds. They provide high stereoselectivity combined with high product concentrations owing to the presence of an organic phase serving as substrate reservoir and product sink. Industrial implementation suffers from the formation of stable Pickering emulsions caused by the presence of cells. State-of-the-art downstream processing includes inefficient strategies such as excessive centrifugation, use of de-emulsifiers or thermal stress. In contrast, using the catastrophic phase inversion (CPI) phenomenon (sudden switch of emulsion type caused by addition of dispersed phase), Pickering-type emulsions can be destabilized efficiently. Within this work a model system using bis(2-ethylhexyl) phthalate (BEHP) as organic phase in combination with E. coli, JM101 was successfully separated using a continuous mixer settler setup. Compared to the state-of-the-art centrifugal separations, this process allows complete phase separation with no detectable water content or cells in the organic phase with no utilities/additives required. Furthermore, the concentration of the product is not affected by the separation. It is therefore a simple applicable method that can be used for separation of stable Pickering-type emulsions based on the knowledge of the point of inversion.     

In Situ Enzymatic Synthesis of Polar Lipid Emulsifiers in the Preparation and Stabilisation of Aerated Food Emulsions

We report on the direct incorporation of a lipase derived from Rhizomucor miehei, into aeratable food emulsion formulations, with the objective of enzymatically generating polar lipid fractions during processing, and which are able to demonstrate equivalent functionality to chemically synthesised monoglycerides. Findings showed that the lipolysis of palm oil-in-water emulsions produced a combination of predominantly oleic monoglyceride and palmitic fatty acid fractions. The extent of hydrolysis was able to be controlled through concentration of enzyme, reaction time, and reaction temperature. Hydrolysis was terminated via inactivation of the enzyme through high heat treatment of emulsions. Emulsion properties, notably stability under shear, were seen to be highly dependent on the extent of lipolysis. When applied to model whipping and ice cream formulations, lipolytic generation of polar lipids was shown to promote both partial coalescence and fat globule adsorption to bubble surfaces, generating structures equivalent to those produced by use of commercial emulsifiers. Product properties, such as physical stability and material properties showed variation according to the extent of lipolysis. Our results demonstrated that enzymatic lipolysis of emulsions under controlled conditions could be optimised to deliver requisite droplet functionality for the structuring and stabilisation of aerated food emulsions. Findings are of significance, not only when considering the potential for replacement of chemically derived emulsifiers in such formulations, but also from the perspective that this approach can readily be incorporated into existing manufacturing process operations.     

Real-Time Determination of Structural Changes of Sodium Caseinate-Stabilized Emulsions Containing Pectin Using High Resolution Ultrasonic Spectroscopy

The interactions that lead to structure transitions in oil-in-water emulsions were investigated using high-resolution ultrasonic spectroscopy. High methoxyl pectin (HMP) was added to the emulsions at various concentrations and the dynamics of aggregation induced by changes in pH were observed. Two independent ultrasonic parameters, velocity and attenuation, were measured as a function of time or pH. At pH 6.8, both velocity and attenuation of sound changed as a function of HMP concentration. During acidification, caused by the addition of glucono-δ-lactone, there were small changes in the overall ultrasonic velocity, but it was possible to relate these changes to the structural changes in the emulsion. The values of ultrasonic attenuation decreased at high pH with increasing amount of HMP, indicating changes in the flocculation state of the oil droplets caused by depletion forces. During acidification at pH 5.4, emulsions containing HMP showed a steep increase in the ultrasonic attenuation, and this pH corresponds to the pH of association of HMP with the casein-covered oil droplets. The adsorption of HMP onto the interface causes a rearrangement of the oil droplets, and the emulsions containing sufficient amounts of HMP no longer gel at acid pH. This is well described by the ultrasonic attenuation changes in the various emulsions. This research demonstrated for the first time that ultrasonic spectroscopy can be employed for in situ monitoring and analysis of acid-induced destabilization of food emulsions.     

Dispersion and oxidative stability of O/W emulsions and oxidation of microencapsulated oil

Oil-in-water (O/W) emulsions are among the dispersion systems commonly used in food, and these emulsions are in thermodynamically unstable or metastable states. In this paper, various methods for preparing O/W emulsions are outlined. Since the commodity value of food is impaired by the destabilization of O/W emulsions, experimental and theoretical approaches to assess the stability of O/W emulsions are overviewed, and factors affecting the dispersion stability of emulsions are discussed based on the DLVO theory and the concept of the stability factor. The oxidation of lipids in O/W emulsions is unhealthy and gives rise to unpleasant odors. Factors affecting the autoxidation of lipids are discussed, and theoretical models are used to demonstrate that a reduction of the oil droplet size suppresses or retards autoxidation. Microencapsulated lipids or oils exhibit distinct features in the oxidation process. Models that explain these features are described. It is demonstrated that a reduction in the oil droplet size is also effective for suppressing or retarding the oxidation of microencapsulated oils.     

Sources and methods of manufacturing xanthan by fermentation of various carbon sources

Xanthan gum, an anionic polysaccharide with an exceptionally high molecular weight, is produced by the bacterium Xanthomonas sp. It is a versatile compound that has been utilized in various industries for decades. Xanthan gum was the second exopolysaccharide to be commercially produced, following dextran. In 1969, the US Food and Drug Administration (FDA) approved xanthan gum for use in the food and pharmaceutical industries. The food industry values xanthan gum for its exceptional rheological properties, which make it a popular thickening agent in many products. Meanwhile, the cosmetics industry capitalizes on xanthan gum's ability to form stable emulsions. The industrial production process of xanthan gum involves fermenting Xanthomonas in a medium that contains glucose, sucrose, starch, etc. as a substrate and other necessary nutrients to facilitate growth. This is achieved through batch fermentation under optimal conditions. However, the increasing costs of glucose in recent years have made the production of xanthan economically unviable. Therefore, many researchers have investigated alternative, cost-effective substrates for xanthan production, using various modified and unmodified raw materials. The objective of this analysis is to investigate how utilizing different raw materials can improve the cost-efficient production of xanthan gum.     

电化学法快速检测微生物的发展现状及趋势

自1898年Stewart提出利用电化学法检测微生物,电化学法已发展成为一种微生物快速检测的方法。根据检测的参数不同,电化学微生物检测法可以分为阻抗微生物法和介电常数法。阻抗法主要用于食品工业中微生物的快速检测(≤10⁷ cfu/mL),尤其用于易腐食品的微生物快速检测,以期实现在其发生明显腐败之前得到检测结果。而介电常数则用于生物发酵过程中的微生物数量的快速测定,可以实现在线监测微生物数量及生物发酵过程的实时控制。电化学法由于其检测迅速、可以实现自动化检测,在工业化生产中具有广阔的应用前景。     

Rheology and Stability of Beverage Emulsions in the Presence and Absence of Weighting Agents: A Review

Cloudiness or opacity (cloudy appearance) is an important property in citrus beverages, since it enhances their juice-like appearance and gives it a natural fruit juice appeal. This property is achievable through the addition of oil-in-water emulsions known as clouding agents. These emulsions are thermodynamically unstable and tend to break down during storage. Moreover, product and legal constraints put severe limits on materials that can be used to insure emulsion stability, particularly the introduction of weighting agents into the oil phase. Weighing agents (density-adjusting agents) are lipophilic compounds with specific gravity higher than that of water and have a restricted use because of the perceived health risk disadvantage, undesirable taste, and oxidative instability. The stability of beverage emulsions is a problem of serious concern faced by the flavor and beverage industry. This paper provides an overview of research carried out by the authors on basic factors affecting the physical stability of beverage cloud emulsions having a bearing on droplet size/distribution, rheological properties of emulsion and phases components, and the stability of emulsion in concentrated and diluted forms with or without addition of weighting agents. Delivery of Functionality in Complex Food Systems: Physically-Inspired Approaches From Nanoscale To Microscale University of Massachusetts, Amherst, October 8–10, 2007     

Influence of Nanoemulsion Addition on the Stability of Conventional Emulsions

Interest in using nanoemulsions as delivery systems for lipophilic food ingredients is growing due to their high optical clarity, good physical stability, and ability to increase bioavailability. Nanoemulsion-based delivery systems may need to be incorporated into food matrices that also contain conventional emulsions. The aim of this work was to evaluate the effect of adding nanoemulsions (d?<?200 nm) to conventional emulsions (d?>?200 nm) on the creaming stability and microstructure of the mixed systems. Droplet flocculation and rapid creaming was observed when the nanoemulsion concentration exceeded a particular level: the critical flocculation concentration (CFC) was 3.75 % and 0.25 % (v/v) for conventional emulsions with average droplet diameters of 350 and 250 nm, respectively. Confocal microscopy indicated that there was appreciable droplet flocculation, and the fraction of individual droplets with diameters?<?100 nm decreased after 14 days storage, which was probably due to Ostwald ripening and/or coalescence. The results of the present study might have important implications for the incorporation of nanoemulsion-based delivery systems into food products containing larger fat droplets, such as dressings, sauces, or beverages.     

Application of LCA in German industry

This article summarises the findings of a survey on the application of LCA in German industry. It elaborates on the objectives and the considered products of LCAs in different industrial branches. Positively answered questionnaires have primarily been received from the automobile industry, followed by the chemical and paper and print industries. In general, German industry has become more experienced with LCA and will continue to apply this instrument in the near future. The evaluation reveals that the prevailing objective is product and process optimisation, while the utilisation for procurement, for example, is not yet wide spread. Furthermore, LCA is used for information purposes, while the major target groups are customers and consumers. Companies, however, especially those in the automobile industry, do not always make these studies available to the public. It appears that food companies use LCAs in a more offensive fashion, while chemical industry applies these instruments for more defensive reasons. Few LCAs have been conducted by industrial associations. For them, they more often serve external purposes, i.e. information of interest groups is more important than product optimisation.     

Edible lipid nanoparticles: Digestion,absorption, and potential toxicity

Food-grade nanoemulsions are being increasingly used in the food and beverage industry to encapsulate, protect, and deliver hydrophobic functional components, such as oil-soluble flavors, colors, preservatives, vitamins, and nutraceuticals. These nanoemulsions contain lipid nanoparticles (radius <100 nm) whose physicochemical characteristics (e.g., composition, dimensions, structure, charge, and physical state) can be controlled by selection of appropriate ingredients and fabrication techniques. Nanoemulsions have a number of potential advantages over conventional emulsions for applications within the food industry: higher stability to particle aggregation and gravitational separation; higher optical transparency; and, increased bioavailability of encapsulated components. On the other hand, there are also some risks associated with consumption of lipid nanoparticles that should be considered before they are widely utilized, such as their ability to alter the fate of bioactive components within the gastrointestinal tract and the potential toxicity of some of the components used in their fabrication (e.g., surfactants and organic solvents). This article provides an overview of the current status of the biological fate and potential toxicity of food-grade lipid nanoparticles suitable for utilization within the food and beverage industry.     

Implementation of quality by design toward processing of food products

Quality by design (QbD) is a systematic approach that begins with predefined objectives and emphasizes product and process understanding and process control. It is an approach based on principles of sound science and quality risk management. As the food processing industry continues to embrace the idea of in-line, online, and/or at-line sensors and real-time characterization for process monitoring and control, the existing gaps with regard to our ability to monitor multiple parameters/variables associated with the manufacturing process will be alleviated over time. Investments made for development of tools and approaches that facilitate high-throughput analytical and process development, process analytical technology, design of experiments, risk analysis, knowledge management, and enhancement of process/product understanding would pave way for operational and economic benefits later in the commercialization process and across other product pipelines. This article aims to achieve two major objectives. First, to review the progress that has been made in the recent years on the topic of QbD implementation in processing of food products and second, present a case study that illustrates benefits of such QbD implementation.     

Evaluation of Kluyveromyces marxianus FII 510700 grown on a lactose-based medium as a source of a natural bioemulsifier

Mannoprotein with emulsification properties was extracted from the cell walls of Kluyveromyces marxianus grown on a lactose-based medium by autoclaving cells in a citrate buffer at pH 7.The purified product was evaluated for chemical and physical stability to establish its potential use as a natural emulsifier in processed foods. The yield of purified bioemulsifier from this strain of K. marxianus was 4–7% of the original dry cell weight. The purified product, at a concentration of 12 g l^–1, formed emulsions that were stable for 3 months when subjected to a range of pH (3–11) and NaCl concentrations (2–50 g l^–1). The composition of this mannoprotein was 90% carbohydrate (mannan) and 4–6% protein. These values are similar to mannoprotein extracted from cells of Saccharomyces cerevisiae, which is the traditional source. Consequently K. marxianus cultivated on a low-cost lactose-based medium such as whey, a lactose-rich clean waste of the dairy industry, could be developed as a source of bioemulsifier for use in the food industry.     

Impact of Phytic Acid on the Physical and Oxidative Stability of Protein-Stabilized Oil-in-Water Emulsions

The effects of phytic acid on the physical and oxidative stability of flaxseed oil-in-water emulsions containing whey protein-coated lipid droplets were investigated. The surface potential, particle size, microstructure, appearance, and oxidation of these emulsions were monitored when they were stored at pH 3.5 and 7.0 for 25 days in the dark (37 °C). The phytic acid and protein-coated lipid droplets had similar charges (both negative) at pH 7.0, but had opposite charges (negative and positive) at pH 3.5. At pH 7.0, the addition of phytic acid had no impact on the physical stability of the emulsions but significantly improved their oxidative stability, which was attributed to its ability to sequester pro-oxidant transition metals (iron ions). At pH 3.5, extensive droplet aggregation and creaming occurred in the emulsions containing phytic acid, which was ascribed to charge neutralization and ion bridging. The oxidative stability of the acidified emulsions, however, still increased after addition of phytic acid, which was again attributed to its ability to chelate iron ions. Interestingly, the antioxidant activity of phytic acid decreased as its level was increased. Our results suggest that phytic acid may be used as a natural antioxidant to improve the oxidative stability of food emulsions containing polyunsaturated fatty acids, but its level must be carefully controlled.

     

Physical properties of emulsion-based hydroxypropyl methylcellulose films: Effect of their microstructure

The initial characteristics of emulsions and the rearrangement of the oil droplets in the film matrix during film drying, which defines its microstructure, has an important role in the physical properties of the emulsion-based films. The objective of this work was to study the effect of the microstructure (two droplet size distributions) and stability (with or without surfactant) of HPMC oil-in-water emulsions over physical properties of HPMC emulsion-based edible films. HPMC was used to prepare sunflower oil-in-water emulsions containing 0.3 or 1.0% (w/w) of oil with or without SDS, as surfactant, using an ultrasonic homogenizer. Microstructure, rheological properties and stability of emulsions (creaming) were measured. In addition, microstructure, coalescence of oil droplets, surface free energy, optical and mechanical properties and water vapor transfer of HPMC films were evaluated. Image analysis did not show differences among droplet size distributions of emulsions prepared at different oil contents; however, by using SDS the droplet size distributions were shifted to lower values. Volume mean diameters were 3.79 and 3.77μm for emulsions containing 0.3 and 1.0% without surfactant, respectively, and 2.72 and 2.71μm for emulsions with SDS. Emulsions formulated with 1.0% of oil presented higher stability, with almost no change during 5 and 3 days of storage, for emulsions with and without SDS, respectively. Internal and surface microstructure of emulsion-based films was influenced by the degree of coalescence and creaming of the oil droplets. No effect of microstructure over the surface free energy of films was found. The incorporation of oil impaired the optical properties of films due to light scattering of light. Addition of oil and SDS decreased the stress at break of the emulsion-based films. The replace of HPMC by oil and SDS produce a lower "amount" of network structure in the films, leading to a weakening of their structure. The oil content and SDS addition had an effect over the microstructure and physical properties of HPMC-based emulsions which lead to different microstructures during film formation. The way that oil droplets were structured into the film had an enormous influence over the physical properties of HPMC films.     

Impact of Electrostatic Interactions on Lecithin-Stabilized Model O/W Emulsions

Natural emulsifiers, particularly those extracted from plants, are highly wanted by food industry to meet consumers demand for clean label food and beverage products. The potential utilization of soy lecithin as an emulsifier in model coffee creamer was investigated in this study. The model oil-in-water (O/W) emulsions consisted of 10 wt% medium chain triglyceride were stabilized using either 1% or 5% soy lecithin (pH 7.0). The O/W emulsions were of whitish milky color (L*?=?88–92) and were able to whiten black coffee solutions (L* from 5.5 for black coffee to 44–56 for white coffees). Model O/W emulsions with smaller mean droplet diameters (0.11 to 1.09 μm), higher surface potentials (ζ?=??62 to ?72 mV), and better stabilities in hot coffee were fabricated using higher lecithin levels because there was more emulsifier to coat the oil droplet surfaces. Alteration of the electrostatic interactions in the model O/W emulsions (5% lecithin) by pH adjustment or calcium addition led to droplet aggregation under certain conditions, which was attributed to charge reduction by protonation of lecithin head groups and electrostatic screening by counter-ion accumulation and ion-binding. In particular, phase separation of the model creamer occurred at pH value around 4.5 when the system was acidified at a slow rate. Overall, this study suggests that lecithin-stabilized O/W emulsions may become unstable in coffee solutions with high acidity or calcium levels. The information obtained from this study provides insights on the use of plant-based emulsifiers in commercial food and beverage systems.