Physicochemical properties of flour recovered from broken rice noodles during production

Flour recovered from broken rice noodles was evaluated by microscopy, X‐ray diffractometry, differential scanning calorimetry, in vitro starch digestibility, pasting and gel texture analyses. Rice noodle making processes destroyed the granular and crystalline structures of rice flour (RF), but the process‐induced recrystallised amylopectin and amylose‐lipid complexes were observed. Higher level of resistant starch in broken rice noodle flour (BRNF) was due to the retrograded amylose, which formed during noodle making. The absence of pasting temperature and low pasting viscosity of BRNF were distinct from those of RF, whereas gel textures of both flours were similar. BRNF‐added rice noodles showed lower hardness, but the other cooking and texture qualities were close to the one without BRNF. Up to 17% of BRNF could be incorporated into composite rice noodle making. This study thus provided an approach to the management and utilisation of food processing wastes.     

Properties of Cassava Starch Modified by Amylomaltase from Corynebacterium glutamicum

Amylomaltase (α‐1,4‐glucanotransferase, AM; EC 2.4.1.25) from Corynebacterium glutamicum expressed in Escherichia coli was used to prepare the enzyme‐modified cassava starch for food application. About 5% to 15% (w/v) of cassava starch slurries were incubated with 1, 3, or 5 units of amylomaltase/g starch. Apparent amylose, amylopectin chain length distribution, thermal properties, freeze–thaw stability, thermo‐reversibility, and gel strength of the obtained modified starches were measured. The apparent amylose content and retrogradation enthalpy were lower, whereas the retrogradation temperatures, freeze–thaw stability, and thermo‐reversibility were higher than those of the native cassava starch. However, when amylomaltase content was increased to 20 units of amylomaltase/g starch and for 24 h, the modified starch showed an improvement in the thermo‐reversibility property. When used in panna cotta, the gel strength of the sample using the 20 units/24 h modified cassava starch was similar to that of using gelatin.     

Different Oils and Health Benefit Statements Affect Physicochemical Properties,Consumer Liking,Emotion, and Purchase Intent: A Case of Sponge Cake

Effects of different oils on physicochemical properties, consumer liking, emotion, and purchase intent of sponge cakes were evaluated. Three healthy oils (extra virgin coconut oil, EVCO; extra virgin olive oil, EVOO; rice bran oil, RBO) compared with butter (the control), were used at 20% (w/w, wheat flour basis) in sponge cake formulations. Five positive (calm, good, happy, pleased, satisfied) and 3 negative (guilty, unsafe, worried) emotion terms, selected from the EsSense Profile^® with slight modification using an online (N = 234) check‐all‐that‐apply questionnaire, were used for consumer testing. Consumers (N = 148) evaluated acceptability of 9 sensory attributes on a 9‐point hedonic scale, 8 emotion responses on a 5‐point rating scale, and purchase intent on a binomial scale. Overall liking, emotion, and purchase intent were evaluated before compared with after health benefit statement of oils had been given to consumers. Overall liking and positive emotion (except calm) scores of sponge cake made with EVCO were higher than those made with EVOO and RBO. Specific volume, expansion ratio, and moisture content of control, EVCO, and EVOO were not significantly different, but higher than RBO sponge cake. JAR results showed that sponge cake made with RBO had the least softness that was reflected by the highest hardness (6.61 to 9.69 compared with. 12.76N). Oil (EVCO/EVOO/RBO) health benefit statement provided to consumer significantly increased overall liking, positive emotion, and purchase intent scores while decreased negative emotion scores. Overall liking and pleased emotion were critical attributes influencing purchase intent (odds ratio = 2.06 to 3.75), whereas calm and happy became not critical after health benefit statement had been given.     

Chemical equilibrium constants of rare earth nitrates and tri-n-butyl phosphate complex formation

Mixed rare earth nitrates (REi(NO3)3) in the aqueous solution was mixed with tri-n-butyl phosphate (TBP, (n-C4H9O)3PO) dissolved in kerosene for the formation of their corresponding complexes (REi(NO3)3·ni(n-C4H9O)3PO) at 303 K. The effects of initial concentrations of both TBP and mixed rare earth nitrates on the equilibrium constants of their complex formations were investigated. The complexes were formed almost immediately after mixing. The simultaneous formations reached their chemical equilibria within a few minutes by shaking the mixture at 200 r/min. The chemical equilibrium constants of the complex formations were independent of the initial TBP concentrations. However, they were decreased by reducing the concentration of REi(NO3)3. All equilibrium constants of the simultaneous complex formations were less than 0.7, while the average molar ratio of TBP to REi(NO3)3 of the complexes varied between 1.0 and 1.6. The chemical equilibrium constant for the formation of La(NO3)3·(n-C4H9O)3PO was 0.09, while that of Dy(NO3)3·(n-C4H9O)3PO was 0.68. The ascending sequence of chemical equilibrium constants for the simultaneous formations was La, Ce, Pr, Nd, Eu, Y, Sm, Gd, and Dy.