Dissolution and reconstitution of casein micelle containing dairy powders by high shear using ultrasonic and physical methods

The effect of shear on the solubilization of a range of dairy powders was investigated. The rate of solubilization of low solubility milk protein concentrate and micellar casein powders was examined during ultrasonication, high pressure homogenization and high-shear rotor–stator mixing and compared to low-shear overhead stirring. The high shear techniques were able to greatly accelerate the solubilization of these powders by physically breaking apart the powder agglomerates and accelerating the release of individual casein micelles into solution. This was achieved without affecting the structure of the solubilized proteins. The effect of high shear on the re-establishment of the mineral balance between the casein micelles and the serum was examined by monitoring the pH of the reconstituted skim milk powder after prior exposure to ultrasonication. Only minor differences in the re-equilibration of the pH were observed after sonication for up to 3 min, suggesting that the localized high shear forces exerted by sonication did not significantly affect the mass transfer of minerals from within the casein micelles.     

Effects of microfiltration combined with ultrasonication on shelf life and bioactive protein of skim milk

To extend the shelf life and retain bioactive proteins in milk, this study utilized microfiltration (MF) combined with ultrasonication to treat skim milk and investigated its efficiency in removing bacteria and retaining bioactive proteins compared with HTST pasteurization and microfiltration alone. Results showed that microfiltration combined with ultrasonication at 1296 J/mL could completely remove the bacteria in skim milk. Ultrasonication further extended the shelf life (4 °C) of microfiltered skim milk, which could reach at least 40 days when MF was combined with ˃1296 J/mL ultrasonication. In addition, ELISA showed that HTST pasteurization significantly decreased the levels of IgG by ~30%, IgA by ~ 50%, IgM by ~60%, and lactoferrin by ~40%, whereas the activity of the enzymes lactoperoxidase and xanthine oxidase were also decreased by ~ 20%. Compared with HTST, MF alone or combined with ultrasonication retained these bioactive proteins to a larger degree. On the other hand, proteomics indicated both damage to casein micelle and fat globule structures in milk when ultrasonication at >1296 J/mL was applied, as shown by increases in caseins and milk fat globular proteins. Simultaneously, this ultrasound intensity also decreased levels of bioactive proteins, such as complement factors. Taken together, this study provided new insights that may help to implement this novel combination of non-thermal technologies for the dairy industry aimed at improving milk quality and functionality.     

Inactivation of Enterobacter aerogenes in reconstituted skim milk by high- and low-frequency ultrasound

The inactivation of Enterobacter aerogenes in skim milk using low-frequency (20 kHz) and high-frequency (850 kHz) ultrasonication was investigated. It was found that low-frequency acoustic cavitation resulted in lethal damage to E. aerogenes. The bacteria were more sensitive to ultrasound in water than in reconstituted skim milk having different protein concentrations. However, high-frequency ultrasound was not able to inactivate E. aerogenes in milk even when powers as high as 50 W for 60 min were used. This study also showed that high-frequency ultrasonication had no influence on the viscosity and particle size of skim milk, whereas low-frequency ultrasonication resulted in the decrease in viscosity and particle size of milk. The decrease in particle size is believed to be due to the breakup of the fat globules, and possibly to the cleavage of the κ-casein present at the surface of the casein micelles. Whey proteins were also found to be slightly affected by low-frequency ultrasound, with the amounts of α-lactalbumin and β-lactoglobulin slightly decreasing.     

The role of the particle size reduction and morphological changes of solid substrate in the ultrasound-aided enzymatic hydrolysis of cellulose

The contribution of ultrasound-aided particle size reduction to the efficiency of the subsequent enzymatic hydrolysis and the accompanying morphological changes of bleached cotton and linen powders were investigated. The aqueous suspensions of cellulosic powders were pretreated either with an ultrasonic bath (US-B) or with a horn-type reactor (US-H). Results revealed that the impact of US-H was more pronounced than that of the US-B. Clearly, the linen particles were more sensitive to ultrasonication than cotton. The US-H modified the particle size distribution differently for the cotton and linen powders and reduced the mean size of particles from 49 to 40 µm and from 123 to 63 µm, respectively. A significant increase in the water retention and water sorption capacity was also measured. The smaller particles with increased accessibility were preferably digested in the enzyme treatment, resulting in a considerably higher concentration of reducing sugars and an enrichment of the residual particles with a larger average size (cotton: 47 µm; linen: 66 µm).     

荧光、紫外和红外光谱分析人乳和牛乳β-酪蛋白的功能和构象差异

β-酪蛋白是人乳酪蛋白的主要成分,但它在牛乳中的含量却很小。β-酪蛋白在两者中含量的差异,是人乳比牛乳更易消化的原因之一,研究人乳与牛乳β-酪蛋白结构和功能的差异,对研制出更适合婴儿肠道的,新型人乳模拟型婴儿配方奶粉具有指导性的意义。用紫外分光光度法研究人乳β-酪蛋白和牛乳β-酪蛋白的溶解性、巯基含量、乳化性等功能性质,用荧光光谱和红外光谱分析比较两种蛋白的结构特点。两种蛋白等电点十分接近(pH 4.0～5.0),在等电点附近时,人乳β-酪蛋白的溶解性(10.83%)低于牛乳β-酪蛋白(11.83%),而偏离等电点时人乳β-酪蛋白具有更高的溶解性,人乳β-酪蛋白的乳化活性指数(110~140 m2·g-1)高于牛乳β-酪蛋白(70～130 m2·g-1),两种蛋白的表面巯基(SH)相似[(18.47±0.08)和(18.67±0.17) μmol·g-1],而牛乳β-酪蛋白总巯基的含量[(47.46±0.23) μmol·g-1]大于人乳β-酪蛋白[(26.17±0.12) μmol·g-1],两种蛋白官能团相似,均含有β-折叠结构,人乳β-酪蛋白的氢键数量和内部的疏水性均小于牛乳β-酪蛋白。结果表明,人乳β-酪蛋白比牛乳β-酪蛋白具有更少的α-螺旋和β-折叠等二级结构,具有更疏松灵活的三级结构,同时也具有更高的分子的表面活性。     

Modifying the physicochemical properties,solubility and foaming capacity of milk proteins by ultrasound-assisted alkaline pH-shifting treatment

This study investigated the effects of different treatment of alkaline pH-shifting on milk protein concentrate (MPC), micellar casein concentrate (MCC) and whey protein isolate (WPI) assisted by the same ultrasound conditions, including changes in the physicochemical properties, solubility and foaming capacity. The solubility of milk proteins had a significant increase with gradual enhancement of ultrasound-assisted alkaline pH-shifting (p < 0.05), especially for MCC up to 99.50 %. Also, treatment made a significant decline in the particle size of MPC and MCC, as well as the turbidity of the proteins (p < 0.05). The foaming capacity of MPC, MCC, and WPI was all improved, especially at pH 11, and at this pH, the milk protein also showed the highest surface hydrophobicity. The best foaming capacity at pH 11 was the result of the combined effect of particle size, potential, protein conformation, solubility, and surface hydrophobicity. In conclusion, ultrasound-assisted pH-shifting treatment was found to be effective in improving the physicochemical properties and solubility and foaming capacity of milk proteins, especially MCC, with promising application prospect in food industry.     

Functionalised dairy streams: Tailoring protein functionality using sonication and heating

Ultrasound can be used to modify the functional interactions between casein and whey proteins in dairy systems. This study reports on ongoing developments in understanding the effect of ultrasound and heating on milk proteins in systems with modified casein-whey protein ratios (97:3, 80:20 and 50:50), prepared from milk protein concentrates that were fractionated by microfiltration, based on protein size. Heating of concentrated casein streams (9% w/w) at 80.0 °C for up to 9 min resulted in reduced gelation functionality and increased viscosity, even in the absence of added whey proteins. 20 kHz ultrasonication at 20.8 W calorimetric power for 1 min was able to break protein aggregates formed during heating, resulting in improved gelation and reduced viscosity. Interestingly, when heated whey protein was recombined with unheated casein the gelation properties were similar to unheated controls. In contrast, when heat treated casein streams were recombined with unheated whey protein, the gel forming functionality was reduced. This study therefore shows that using specific combinations of heat and/or ultrasound, fractionated dairy streams can be tailored for specific functional outcomes.     

Lasers based on electrodynamically dispersed media

We demonstrate the possibility of creating a suspension of active-media particles in a discharge tube by using an electrodynamic dispersing system. An electric discharge in an electrodynamically dispersed system of 30-μm Cu particles was studied. The velocity of Cu (30 μm), Al (30 μm), and W (6-μm flakes) particles was measured at atmospheric pressure using a laser Doppler velocimeter. The velocities were found to be in the 0.1−5-m/s range. The electric field strength required to levitate Cu, Al, and W particles was studied as a function of buffer gas (air) pressure in the range from 2 × 10⁻² Torr to 1 atm. It is shown that powders can be suspended with the help of electrodynamic dispersing system at air pressure below 0.1 Torr or above 100 Torr.     

Green synthesis of nanocomposites consisting of silver and protease alpha chymotrypsin

The synergy of ultrasonication and the exposure to light radiation was found to be necessary in the formation of nanocomposites of silver and a protease alpha chymotrypsin. The reaction was carried out in aqueous medium and the process took just less than 35 min. Ultrasonication alone formed very negligible number of nanoparticles of <100 nm size whereas light alone produced enough number but the size of the particles was >100 nm.The effects of pH (in the range of 3–5, 9–10), ultrasonication time periods (0–30 min), ultrasonication intensity (33–83 W cm^?2), energy of light radiation (short UV, long UV and Fluorescent light) and time period of exposure (5–60 min) to different light radiations were studied.The formation of nanocomposites under these effects was followed by surface plasmon resonance (SPR) spectra, dynamic light scattering (DLS), transmission electron microscopy (TEM). Ag–chymotrypsin nanocomposites of sizes ranging from 13 to 72 nm were formed using the synergy of ultrasonication and exposure to short UV radiation. Results show that ultrasonication promoted nuclei formation, growth and reduction of polydispersity by Ostwald ripening.     

The influence of particle size on separation and dustiness in powder mixtures during nonelectrostatic and electrostatic coating

Common food powders and their mixtures, consisting of two powders with the same composition but different in particle size: fine (51–95 μm) and coarse (244–401 μm) NaCl, KCl, sucrose, rice starch, maltodextrin, whey protein, casein and soy protein, were coated on a target at 0 and −25 kV. Over half of the mixtures showed separation due to a difference in particle size. Separation was caused by the difference in individual transfer efficiency of the powders and interactions during coating. Both composition and differences in size were found to be important. Being in a mixture did not change the amount of dust formed.     

Particle Size Classification of Glass Particles Using Aerodynamic Jet Vectoring

An experimental demonstration of a new, non‐contact particle characterization technique called Aerodynamic Vectoring Particle Sorting (AVPS) is presented. AVPS uses secondary blowing and suction control flows–flows that are a fraction of the jet flow rate–to sharply change the direction of a planar, particle‐laden jet. As the jet is vectored, particles present in the flow experience a resultant drag force, dependent upon their size, that balances inertia. Since this balance determines the particle's trajectory, vectoring the flow leads to a separation of particles downstream. This simple, low‐pressure‐drop sorting technique classifies particles with less risk of damage or contamination than currently available sorting devices. Particles from 10–40 μm and 2.5 times the density of water have been sorted to an accuracy of 1.5 μm. Sorting of heavy particles such as these is accomplished at very low speeds, reducing the tendency of damage to the particles. Lighter particles are sorted at higher speeds. Particles from 5–40 μm and 0.6 times the density of water were sorted to an accuracy of 6.6 μm. AVPS is also shown to be capable of concentrating aerosols. Our measurements indicate that an air sample containing water‐like particles can be concentrated by a factor of 10 using AVPS.     

Ultrasonic de-agglomeration of barium titanate powder

BaTiO3 (BT) powder, with average particle size of 1.4 microm, was synthesized by solid-state reaction. A high-intensity ultrasound irradiation (ultrasonication) was used to de-agglomerate micro-sized powder to nano-sized one. The crystal structure, crystallite size, morphology, particle size, particle size distribution, and specific surface area of the BT powder de-agglomerated for different ultrasonication times (0, 10, 60, and 180 min) were determined. It was found that the particles size of the BT powder was influenced by ultrasonic treatment, while its tetragonal structure was maintained. Therefore, ultrasonic irradiation can be proposed as an environmental-friendly, economical, and effective tool for the de-agglomeration of barium titanate powders.     

断层扫描成像法研究荧光标记酥油微胶囊微结构

用异硫氰酸荧光素作为荧光探针,在碱性条件下标记酪蛋白,根据标记前后吸收光谱、荧光光谱的变化情况对异硫氰酸荧光素和酪蛋白相互作用进行了初步探讨.用 SephadexG-50 层析柱分离出荧光标记物,以荧光标记酪蛋白作乳化剂,采用喷雾干燥法制备荧光标记酥油微胶囊,用激光扫描共聚焦湿微镜在488 nm 的 Ar+ 激光光源激发下断层扫描酥油微胶囊微结构.结果表明,酪蛋白是在油水界面膜和微胶囊表面聚结.制备出的酥油微胶囊有单核和多核两种形式,微胶囊为园球形,表面光滑,无裂缝,无凹陷,微胶囊壁表面完整,壁结构较为致密,其颗粒尺寸为有明显差异的大小颗粒组成,而且小颗粒附着在大颗粒上,形成了部分附聚粉,有助于微胶囊溶解,是一种较为理想的微胶囊制品.     

A Pulsed Field Gradient NMR Technique for the Determination of the Structure of Suspensions of Non-Brownian Particles with Application to Packings of Spheres

The internal structure of systems of particles in a liquid is studied with a novel NMR technique based on the measurement of the squared modulus of the magnetization in presence of a pulsed field gradient. The formalism is analogous to the one used in classical scattering techniques (light, X-rays, neutrons); it allows similar information to be obtained about the structure (in particular, the structure factorS(q)). The main improvement is that the range of particles sizes is 10 μm to 1 mm, as compared with the range of the scattering techniques (<5 μm). The NMR technique was validated by studying packings of spherical particles of mean diameter 240 μm created by sedimentation. The profile of the experimental squared modulus of the magnetization versus the wave vector provides results for the mean size of particles and the compacity. The main feature is that it depends on the pair distribution function, and the present results are in good agreement with a model based on the Percus–Yevick approximation. This technique is then particularly adapted to systems such as non-Brownian suspensions, fluidized beds, porous media, and sediments.     

Dynamic Particle Size Analysis with Light Scattering Technique

The commercial forward light scattering equipment, Malvern analyser was used to determine the size distribution of two crystalline powders in the micron range dispersed in aqueous suspensions. The powders used represent two different forms of a micro-porous crystalline adsorbent, silicalite [1]. Previous work by the authors [2], has established the partially absorbing nature of the silicalite crystals at visible wavelengths of the incident light. The theoretical analysis indicates that it is possible to obtain quite accurate size distributions in the (1–10 μm) size range providing measured values of the relative refractive index and the coefficient of absorptivity of the particles are used in the calculations. The present work illustrates the consistency with which the light scattering equipment can respond to changes in the measured size distributions as a function of a number of process parameters such as the solids loading in suspension, the period of agitation, and the intensity of agitation.     

Study of continuous flow ultrasonication to improve total phenolic content and antioxidant activity in sorghum flour and its comparison with batch ultrasonication

Ultrasonic technology was applied to release the phenolics bound with starch and protein matrix in order to enhance total phenolic content (TPC) and antioxidant activity (AA) of the sorghum flour. Both the continuous flow and batch ultrasonication were implied with independent variables such as flour to water ratio (FWR), ultrasonication intensity (UI), and ultrasonication time (UT) with an additional variable as flow rate (FR) in continuous flow ultrasonication. All the process variables showed a significant effect on the corresponding ultrasonication process. The optimal conditions for the continuous flow ultrasonication were a FWR of 10% w/v, an UI of 20 W/cm², an UT of 130 s, and 15 ml/s FR which produced a maximum values of 70.9 mg GAE/100 g dry matter (d.m.) for TPC and 143.9 µmol TE/100 g d.m. for AA. Regarding the batch ultrasonication, the maximum values were 65.6 mg GAE/100 g d.m. and 141.0 µmol TE/100 g d.m. for TPC and AA, respectively at optimum conditions of 10% w/v FWR, 30 W/cm² UI, and 200 s UT. When comparing with the batch ultrasonication, the continuous flow process saved 35% time and 33% of energy consumption to obtain comparatively higher TPC and AA of the sorghum flour. Ultrasonication improved free phenolic acid content by releasing bound phenolics in the sorghum flour. Impact of various process parameters on specific energy was analyzed during both the processes, and influence of energy on TPC and AA of the sorghum flour was also observed for the batch and continuous flow ultrasonication.     

Influence of fractal surface dimension on the dissolution process of sparingly soluble CaCO<Subscript>3</Subscript> microparticles

The dissolution process of sparingly soluble CaCO₃ microparticles and how the fractal surface dimension of the particles changes during dissolution is analyzed. The particles and the dissolution process are studied using scanning electron microscopy, X-ray diffraction, nitrogen adsorption, laser diffraction and conductance measurements. Ball milling of the particles is shown to maintain the particle crystallinity, and to introduce an increased fractal surface dimension in the 1–10 μm size range. Dissolution is found to increase the surface dimension of initially smooth particles and to maintain the fractal surface roughness of milled particles. The dissolution process increases the relative number of small particles (50 nm–1 μm) whereas the larger ones decrease in size. The solubility of the milled fractal particles was ∼1.8 times higher than that for the initially smooth ones. The presented findings show that developing methods for increasing the fractal surface roughness of particles should be of interest for improving the solubility of poorly soluble drug candidates.     

Comparison of the Size Distribution of Boron Powders as Measured by Malvern Diffractometer and Coulter Counter

Aspects of measuring the particle size distribution and median diameters of fine boron powders have been investigated. It has been demonstrated that high concentrations, typically 20 w/o, of wetting agent are necessary in a predispersion stage, especially if the material has a wide range of particle size. Measurements were made with both Coulter counting and a light scattering technique from which it has been demonstrated that for particles of median diameter in the range 10–30 μm, the latter oversizes with respect to the former by as much as 30%.     

Dynamics of radiation scattering by particles of condensed phase in quasicontinuous laser irradiation of metals

Radiation scattering by particles of condensed phase in an ablation plasma plume has been experimentally studied during quasicontinuous laser irradiation (λ = 1.06 μm, q = 0.1–9 MW/cm², τ ∼ 1.5 msec) of duraluminum D16T, aluminum A99, and bismuth. The particle size distribution and the nature of their dispersal during irradiation was studied in scattered light (λ = 0.69 μm) from individual particles that could be visually observed on photographs. It was found that under the pressure developed in the plume, large particles ejected from the irradiated zone can move backward and return to the target (D16T). The plume (Bi) becomes brighter due to ablation of particles in the path of the laser beam. The directional scattering coefficients for scattering from the local zone on the axis of the plume, measured during the laser pulse, were used to study the relationship between the dynamics of entry of condensed phase into the plume, shielding of the target by the particles, and brightening of the plume under the action of the incident laser radiation. __________ Translated from Zhurnal Prikladnoi Spektroskopii, Vol. 73, No. 2, pp. 210–219, March–April, 2006.     

Phase evolution in gel-precipitated LaAlO3 ceramics

Lanthanum aluminate ceramic powders could be prepared by a combined gel precipitation process from metal chlorides using ammonia. A slight modification in the conventional gel precipitation technique was carried out by introducing a step of ultrasonication followed by centrifugal washing of the gel. The dried gels produced pure phase lanthanum aluminate powders on calcination at 1100 °C for the combined gel-precipitated powders, and at 600 °C for the washed gel. The phase evolution was studied and it was found that the delay in obtaining monophasic LaAlO₃ in the combined gel-precipitated powder owed to the crystallization of an impure phase LaOCl. This phase was not detected in the washed gel (WG) powders. TEM micrographs showed a uniform morphology for the calcined WG powders, which were in contrast to the irregular particles in the gel-precipitated (GP) powders. The uniform morphology was assigned to the ultrasonic effects during washing of the gel.