Effect of surface composition on the flowability of industrial spray-dried dairy powders

The surface composition of four industrial spray-dried dairy powders (skim milk powder, whole milk powder, cream powder and whey protein concentrate) was estimated by electron spectroscopy for chemical analysis (ESCA), and its influence on powder flowability was studied. It was found that skim milk powder flows well compared to the other powders because the surface is made of lactose and protein with a small amount of fat, whereas the high surface fat composition inhibits the flow of whole milk, cream and whey protein powders. However, the poor flowability of the powders with high surface fat coverage was drastically improved by removal of fat present on the surface through a brief wash with petroleum ether. The results obtained indicate that, although there are several parameters including particle size, which influence the flowability of powders, the flowability of powders is strongly influenced by the surface composition of powders, particularly for fat-containing powders.     

Surface composition of dairy powders observed by X-ray photoelectron spectroscopy and effects on their rehydration properties

The surface composition of three dairy powders was investigated by X-ray photoelectron spectroscopy. These spray-dried casein powders were more or less enriched in hygroscopic material (lactose and/or minerals). The principal limitation of these high protein content powders is their poor rehydration ability. Consequently, information about surface composition is required in order to get a better understanding of rehydration behaviour (i.e. wetting time and time of rehydration). The obtained results indicate that the surface of the three powders was dominated by proteins. Lactose and minerals are marginal compounds at the surface whereas the surface coverage of fat was over represented. A correlation between the lactose surface content and the wetting time of the powders was found, but no relationship with the surface fat. Moreover, as the surface is partly depleted in minerals and lactose, it is concluded that these compounds are principally located in the bulk of the particle. Therefore this observation could be related with a wetting time of the powders only slightly affected by the addition of hygroscopic material whereas the time of rehydration was strongly improved; powder wetting being more affected by the surface composition whereas powder dispersion being more influenced by the powder bulk composition.     

Surface composition of spray-dried milk protein-stabilised emulsions in relation to pre-heat treatment of proteins

Several important technical properties of spray-dried food powders depend on particle-liquid interactions (e.g. wettability, dispersability) and particle-particle interactions (e.g. flowability). It can be assumed that the chemical composition of the surface layer of the particles to a large extent determine these properties. The present study has been aimed to investigate the relation between the surface composition of spray-dried milk protein-stabilised emulsions and pre-heat treatment of the proteins. Solutions of WPC were heat-treated at low (60-90 degrees C) and high (140 degrees C) temperature and the degree of denaturation was determined, prior to the preparation of emulsions with rapeseed oil. The surface composition of the dry powders were established by using ESCA (electron spectroscopy of chemical analysis). The emulsions were characterised by droplet size distribution before spray drying and after dissolution of the powders. Also free fat extractions and estimations of wettability (dissolution rates) were performed. The powder surface coverage of protein decreased with increasing degree of protein denaturation before the emulsification, whereas the emulsion droplet size increased both before spray drying and after reconstitution of powders. The free fat extraction as well as the dissolution rate, whereof the latter decreased with increasing surface fat coverage, correlated well with the fat coverage of the powder surface.     

Effects of milk protein type and pre-heating on physical stability of whipped and frozen emulsions

Various milk protein mixtures were used to manufacture complex emulsions differing by their total protein concentration (1, 2.25 and 3.5%) and by their weight proportion of casein (from 0 to 75%) or whey proteins (WP) (containing from 10 to 80% β-lactoglobulin). Beside those changes in protein concentration and composition, impact of milk protein heat treatment, which was applied before emulsification, was also investigated. The resulting structuration effects on the corresponding emulsions were determined through changes in the particle size distribution and in the amount of adsorbed protein at the fat globule surface. Furthermore, fat destabilisation under a whipping and freezing steps was underlined as functions of the processing parameters (protein concentration and composition, and application or not of an additional heat treatment), and it was discussed in terms of the resulting amount of displaced protein from the oil–water interface.     

High Substitution Synthesis of Carboxymethyl Chitosan for Properties Improvement of Carboxymethyl Chitosan Films Depending on Particle Sizes

This study investigated the effect of chitosan particle sizes on the properties of carboxymethyl chitosan (CMCh) powders and films. Chitosan powders with different particle sizes (75, 125, 250, 450 and 850 µm) were used to synthesize the CMCh powders. The yield, degree of substitution (DS), and water solubility of the CMCh powders were then determined. The CMCh films prepared with CMCh based on chitosan with different particle sizes were fabricated by a solution casting technique. The water solubility, mechanical properties, and water vapor transmission rate (WVTR) of the CMCh films were measured. As the chitosan particle size decreased, the yield, DS, and water solubility of the synthesized CMCh powders increased. The increase in water solubility was due to an increase in the polarity of the CMCh powder, from a higher conversion of chitosan into CMCh. In addition, the higher conversion of chitosan was also related to a higher surface area in the substitution reaction provided by chitosan powder with a smaller particle size. As the particle size of chitosan decreased, the tensile strength, elongation at break, and WVTR of the CMCh films increased. This study demonstrated that a greater improvement in water solubility of the CMCh powders and films can be achieved by using chitosan powder with a smaller size.     

Characterisation of spray-dried emulsions with mixed fat phases

Fat encapsulation in spray-dried protein-stabilised emulsions is known to depend on the choice of protein, the emulsion droplet size, and the melting point of the fat. However, the fat encapsulation may also depend on the fat crystal habit. Fats may crystallise in three different forms , β′ and β, of which the β-form is thermodynamically stable. The -form is obtained in rapidly cooled fats, and it can then transform into the β′-form during storage, and this crystal form is finally transformed into the β-form. In order to investigate the effect of different fat phases on the spray-dried emulsions, two solid fats were studied: fully hardened rapeseed oil (β-stable) and fully hardened palm oil (β′-stable). The solid fats were used on their own or in mixtures with rapeseed oil, in order to provide fat phases with different properties. The emulsion composition was chosen as to mimic the composition of whole milk, i.e. 40% lactose, 30% sodium caseinate and 30% fat on a dry weight basis. The dried powders were stored under dry conditions at 4 or 37 °C in order to investigate the changes in the fat crystals and surface composition of the powders with time. The surface composition was analysed using electron spectroscopy for chemical analysis. Evaluation of the data showed that surface coverage of fat varied depending on the composition of the fat phase. The ratio of lactose to protein remained constant, which implies that the fat was present as ‘islands’ on a surface composed of lactose and protein. The hardened palm oil crystallised initially in the - or β′-form (depending on the ratio of hardened fat to oil), and during storage, the crystal form gradually changed into the β′-form. In powders containing hardened rapeseed oil only the stable β-form was found, even in fresh samples. The surface coverage of fat was reduced after storage, whereas the ratio of lactose to protein at the surface remained unchanged. The emulsion droplet size in emulsions prepared at a low homogenisation pressure was considerably increased after spray-drying and reconstitution, whilst the emulsion droplet size was well preserved in emulsions prepared at high homogenisation pressure.     

Batch and semicontinuous emulsion copolymerization of vinyl acetat–butyl acrylate. I. Bulk,surface, and colloidal properties of copolymer latexes

Vinyl acetate (VAc)–butyl acrylate (BuA) comonomer mixtures with various composition were polymerized by batch and semicontinuous emulsion polymerization processes. PVAc and PBuA homopolymer latexes as well as the (VAc-BuA) copolymer latexes were characterized with respect to particle size, molecular weight, acid end groups on particle surfaces, and colloidal stability against electrolytes. The surface and colloidal properties of these latexes were also compared before and after aging and acid hydrolysis. The average particle size of batch latexes was independent of copolymer composition, whereas for semicontinuous latexes it decreased with increasing BuA content and was always lower than that of the corresponding batch latex. The molecular weight distribution (MWD) for batch latexes was narrower and much less dependent on composition than that of the semicontinuous latexes; bimodal MWD was found in most semicontinuous latexes with a substantial amount of low MW fraction. The total weak and strong acid end groups on particle surfaces for semicontinuous latexes is higher, and more dependent on composition, than the batch latexes. Acid-induced hydrolysis results in a drastic change in the type and concentration of the surface groups of the semicontinuous latex particles. Colloidal stability against electrolytes showed that both electrostatic (due to surface acid groups) and steric [due to surface poly(vinyl alcohol)] mechanisms are contributing. However, for semicontinuous latexes, increasing PVAc content above 50 mol % resulted in a proportional increase and ultimately dominant role of steric stabilization. The results were interpreted in terms of differences in reactivity ratios and water solubilities of the two monomers and their effects on the locus of initiation and growth in the two polymerization processes, as well as the monomer sequence within the polymer chain and degree of homogeniety of the copolymer composition within the particle.     

Surface chemistry of lanthanum chromite I. Multivariate data modelling of Brunauer-Emmett-Teller surface area by the use of particle size distribution data from photon-correlation spectroscopy measurements

Particle size distributions, measured by photon-correlation spectroscopy and Brunauer- Emmett-Teller (BET) surface areas, were determined for several lanthanum chromite powders with different dopants. Principal component analysis (PCA) was used to reveal similarities among the different powders with regard to the input variables particle size, BET surface area, and calcination temperature. Correlation among the variables was also easily revealed by PCA. Partial-least-squares multivariate-response modelling was used to calibrate the BET surface area from particle size data and calcination temperatures. A model explaining 93% of the variance in the data, with good predictive power, was developed. The model revealed that the content of smallest-sized particles and the calcination temperature were important parameters in the prediction of the BET surface area. Received: 17 June 1998 Accepted in revised form: 31 August 1998     

Kinetics of dissolution of powdered Pentelic marble in under-saturated solutions: the role of particle characteristics

In the present study, the effect of mesopore and particle size distributions on the kinetics of dissolution of powdered Pentelic marble was investigated. Powders obtained by grinding marble slabs in an agate mortar with a pestle (1-3.5 min) were found to be non-porous by nitrogen absorption measurements. These powders, upon dissolution under conditions of constant under-saturation, 25 degrees C, pH 8.25, showed that the kinetics in the absence of mesopores depended on the number of active sites on the exposed surface. Thus, powders consisting of smaller particles, having higher specific surface areas, yielded higher rates of dissolution. Powders, however, which were prepared by grinding marble slabs in a cylinder mill for time periods between 2.0 and 30.0 min, and which exhibited considerable mesoporosity, showed the opposite trend. The rates of dissolution measured for these powders in under-saturated solutions increased with increasing mean particle size and decreased with increasing specific surface area. This finding suggested that the presence of mesopores resulted in lower dissolution rates even though the exposed total surface area was larger. Furthermore, the larger the number of mesopores in a powder sample the slower the corresponding dissolution rates in under-saturated solutions.     

Polyacrylamide gel method: synthesis and property of BeO nanopowders

Effects of monomer (AM) concentration, monomer/crosslinker (AM/MBAM) ratio and salt concentration on the thermal behavior of precursor gel and the properties of BeO nanopowder synthesized by polyacrylamide gel method were investigated. The decomposition process of precursor gel was also studied. The decomposition process of precursor gel is that, first, the extraction of free and crystallized water, and then the thermal degradation of polymeric network under temperature higher than 600 °C, final, the decomposition of nanoscale beryllium sulfate to BeO nanopowder. As the monomer concentration increases, the calcination temperature of precursor gel decreases due to more compact network structure of gel and thus smaller size of salt in nanocaves in gel. The average particle size of nanopowder reduces correspondingly. The AM/MBAM ratio also has significant effect on the thermal behavior of precursor gel and the average particle size of product. When the ratio of AM to MBAM is 6, the calcination temperature of precursor gel is the lowest, the average particle size of powders is the smallest, because the network structures of gel is the tightest and thus the sizes of salts in precursor gels are the smallest. As the AM/MBAM ratio deviates from this value, the network structures of gel becomes looser and thus the size of salt in precursor gel becomes larger, so the calcination temperature increases and the average particle size of powders becomes larger certainly. For the same reason, both the calcination temperature and the average particle size of powders increases with increasing the salt concentration. The synthesis conditions have no effect on the particle size distribution of the final product due to the natural random distribution of porosity in gel.     

制备参数对ZrO2气凝胶超细粉织构和结构性质的影响 Ⅰ.水凝胶pH值

用超临界流体干燥（ＳＣＦＤ）法制备出大孔高比表面ＺｒＯ２气凝胶超细粉，详细考察了初始水凝胶ｐＨ值对ＺｒＯ２超细粉形貌、晶相组成、颗粒大小与分布、比表面积及孔结构等织构和结构性质的影响。在实验范围内，当水凝胶ｐＨ值为１０．３０时，所制得的ＺｒＯ２超细粉具有最大的比表面积和孔体积，最小的表观堆密度和平均粒径，颗粒分布均匀狭窄，颗粒间连接成三维网络构状态，较好地保持了凝胶原始织构。     

Filler size effects on the conductivity of polymer nanocomposites: Semiconductive phthalocyanine nanoparticles in epoxy matrices

Three Cobalt(III) phthalocyanine (Phthalcon) powders with different particle sizes and chemical compositions, but almost equal XRD spectra and powder conductivity were synthesized and used as conductive fillers in crosslinked epoxy matrices. Two of these Phthalcons are new compounds. The relation between the conductivity of the composites and the type and amount of filler used was determined. The influence of particle size and chemical composition on this relation appeared to be minimal. These composites had a percolation threshold of 0.9 vol % and a maximum volume conductivity of 10^?7 S/cm. Detailed analysis showed that the particle networks have very similar fractal structures and that they are likely to be formed by diffusion limited cluster‐cluster aggregation during processing. Evidence is presented that these particle networks are formed at an early stage of crosslinking and that the charge transfer between particles in the networks is neither limited by the Phthalcon particle size, nor by the presence of polymer matrix between the particles. The maximum volume conductivity of these composites is likely to be limited by the amount of filler used, the crystal structure defects on the particle surface, and the fractality and the imperfection of the particle networks. The impact of these findings on the conductivity of other polymer nanocomposites is discussed. © 2008 Wiley Periodicals, Inc. J Polym Sci Part B: Polym Phys 46: 1079–1093, 2008     

Polymorphism in micro-, submicro-, and nanocrystalline NaNbO3

NaNbO(3) powders with various particle sizes (ranging from 30 nm to several microns) and well-controlled stoichiometry were obtained through microemulsion-mediated synthesis. The effect of particle size on the phase transformation of the prepared NaNbO(3) powders was studied using X-ray powder diffraction, Raman spectroscopy, and nuclear site group analysis based on these spectroscopic data. Coarsened particles exhibit an orthorhombic Pbcm (D(2h)(11), no. 57) structure corresponding to the bulk structure, as observed for single crystals or powders prepared by conventional solid-state reaction. The crystal symmetry of submicron powders was refined with the space group Pmc2(1) (C(2v)(2), no. 26). The reduced perovskite cell volumes of these submicron powders were most expanded compared to all the other structures. Fine particles with a diameter of less than 70 nm as measured from SEM observations showed an orthorhombic Pmma (D(2h)(5), no. 51) crystal symmetry. The perovskite formula cell of this structure was pseudocubic and was the most compact one. A possible mechanism of the phase transformation is suggested.     

Melting characteristics of fat present on the surface of industrial spray-dried dairy powders

The melting characteristics of the fat present on the surface (surface free-fat) of two industrial spray-dried dairy powders (cream powder and whole milk powder) were investigated in comparison with those of other milk fat fractions present in the powder, such as free-fat from the interior of the powder particle (inner free-fat) and encapsulated fat. The melting characteristics of the milk fat fractions were studied by fatty acid composition, melting profile and solid fat content profile. The results indicated that all milk fat fractions including surface free-fat contained various triglycerides with melting points ranging from -40 to +40 degrees C. However, some fractionation was observed among the different milk fat fractions. The free-fat fractions (surface free-fat and inner free-fat) had a greater proportion of high-melting triglyceride species than the encapsulated fat. Furthermore, the high-melting triglyceride species present in the free-fat fractions were slightly accumulated at the surface of powder. This phenomenon was observed in both cream powder and whole milk powder and its effect on wetting time was established. This indicates that manipulation of the surface fat content during drying operation may hold the key to functionality improvement.     

沉淀聚合法Poly(DVB-co-EGDMA-co-MAA)功能聚合物微球的制备及表征

采用二乙烯基苯-55(DVB-55)和乙二醇二甲基丙烯酸酯(EGDMA)作为混合交联剂,乙腈为溶剂,偶氮二异丁腈(AIBN)为引发剂,以甲基丙烯酸为功能单体采用沉淀聚合法合成了单分散或窄分散的、表面具有羧基的交联聚合物微球,所得微球的粒径变化范围为0.6～3.8μm.通过调节交联剂DVB-55和EGDMA的投料比,可以对微球的粒径、粒径分布、产率、热稳定性以及表面官能团含量进行有效控制.文中对混合交联剂DVB-55与EGDMA比例的改变对微球的粒径、粒径分布以及产率的影响机理给出了理论解释;对DVB和EGDMA的兼容性研究表明,制备的三元聚合物微球的核拥有比投料比稍多的DVB单元,而微球的外层则以在预聚混合物中占更大比例的交联剂为主.     

Sol-Gel Synthesis of Sub-Micron Titanium-Doped Chromia Powders for Gas Sensing

Cr_{1 – x} Ti _x O_3+x/2, with x = 0.05,0.1 and 0.2, powders have been synthesised by an emulsion gelation route starting from aqueous chloride solutions. Gel particles were produced by de-anionisation of a water-in-oil emulsion using an immiscible organic amine solution. After calcination to produce the oxide, the powders were characterised in terms of particle size distribution, crystallinity, surface composition, particle shape, surface area, anion contamination and doping uniformity. By optimising the processing variables it has been possible to produce un-agglomerated, spherical, uniformly doped powders with a narrow particle size distribution. The mean particle size can be controlled within the range 0.3 to 3 microns and the particles are porous and nano-crystalline. The powders have been used to fabricate thick film sensor structures and show good response to combustible gases in air.     

以催化裂化废催化剂粉合成超细 Y 型分子筛

 针对催化裂化 (FCC) 废催化剂细粉带来的环境污染和未开发利用的现状, 以此为原料合成了小晶粒 Y 型分子筛, 并采用 X 射线衍射、扫描电镜、29Si和27Al 固体核磁共振和激光粒度分析等技术对样品进行了表征. 结果表明, 以 FCC 废催化剂细粉为原料可以合成粒径为 200 nm 左右的 Y 型分子筛, 且制备过程中原料的活化方法和导向剂对所得样品结构影响很大. 对原料采用碱熔活化, 并在合成体系中加入导向剂, 所得 Y 型分子筛的相对结晶度提高, 比表面积增大, 粒度减小.     

Obtaining Metallic Bismuth in Condensed Media Composed of Formates

Microcrystalline metallic bismuth powders of varied morphology were obtained by reduction of bismuth precursors, basic bismuth formate and bismuth(III) formate in benzyl alcohol, hydrazine hydrate, and sodium borohydride. The methods of X-ray diffraction analysis, scanning electron microscopy, thermogravimetry, and differential scanning calorimetry were used to examine the phase composition and the morphology of the resulting metallic bismuth powders. A dispersion analysis of bismuth samples was made by the method of small-angle scattering of light for a proximate monitoring of the particle size in powders of different fractions. The specific surface area of the metallic bismuth sample was determined by the thermal desorption of argon.     

Structural changes of casein micelles in a calcium gradient film

Calcium gradients are prepared by sequentially filling a micropipette with casein solutions of varying calcium concentration and spreading them on glass slides. The casein film is formed by a solution casting process, which results in a macroscopically rough surface. Microbeam grazing incidence small-angle X-ray scattering (microGISAXS) is used to investigate the lateral size distribution of three main components in casein films: casein micelles, casein mini-micelles, and micellar calcium phosphate. At length scales within the beam size the film surface is flat and detection of size distribution in a macroscopic casein gradient becomes accessible. The model used to analyze the data is based on a set of three log-normal distributed particle sizes. Increasing calcium concentration causes a decrease in casein micelle diameter while the size of casein mini-micelles increases and micellar calcium phosphate particles remain unchanged.     

Wetting Properties of Barium Sodium Niobate Filled Polystyrene Nanocomposite

Nano crystalline powders of Barium Sodium Niobate (BNN) with the composition (Ba₃ Na₄Nb₁₀ O₃₀) have been prepared by conventional ceramic technique. XRD and SEM studies revealed that its particle size is in the nanometer range. Composites were prepared by mixing powders of BNN with polystyrene at different volume fractions of the material. Melt mixing technique was carried out in brabender plasticoder at a rotor speed of 60 rpm for composite preparation. Surface energy characteristics of the composites are measured using contact angle measurements of the composites with water and methlene iodide. The solid surface free energy is calculated from harmonic mean equations. The results are quantitatively analyzed with Girifalco-Good empirical model and provide unique insight into its properties. Various wettability parameters such as total solid surface free energy, work of adhesion, interfacial free energy and spreading coefficient are analyzed. The different parameters are calculated from the harmonic mean equation. The work of adhesion and interfacial free energy, spreading coefficient, and Girifalco-Good's interaction parameter had changed with composition. The surface properties can be controlled for a given polymer-surface pair by controlling the chemical structure, composition etc.