This paper presents research on the effect of enzymatic cross‐linking of milk proteins on the properties of yoghurt. Whole milk was incubated with transglutaminase (TG) prior to fermentation (2 h, 40°C, E/S ratio 1/2000). Enzyme action was stopped by heating (1 min, 80°C). Skim‐milk was treated by simultaneous use of TG and thermophilic yoghurt starter culture without inactivation of the enzyme. A TG treatment of milk prior to fermentation led to prolonged fermentation, while the concomitant use of TG and culture had no influence on fermentation time. Post acidification of yoghurt during storage was lower for products from enzyme‐treated milk. This applies both for products cross‐linked prior to fermentation with enzyme inactivation, and for simultaneous use of culture and TG without inactivation of the enzyme. Scanning electron microscopic studies revealed that a TG treatment of milk led to reduced mesh sizes of the protein network, and a more regular distribution of the proteins in the yoghurt gel. As a result, yoghurt products from enzyme‐treated milk showed increased gel strength and less syneresis, especially when the enzyme was not inactivated. Sensory studies revealed that odour and consistency properties of products from TG‐treated milk were assessed as less ‘yoghurt specific’. On the other hand, products from enzyme‐treated milk were described as being more creamy, indicating that a TG treatment may simulate fat in fermented milk products.
Monomers for radical photopolymerization based on vinyl esters (VEs) have recently been identified as suitable alternatives to (meth)acrylates on account of their low irritancy and cytotoxicity. The drawback of most VEs with abstractable hydrogens is their relatively low reactivity compared with (meth)acrylates. Within this article, we proved by photo-differential scanning calorimetry measurements and real-time Fourier transform infrared spectroscopy that the thiol-ene concept is able to improve the photoreactivity of these VEs to a large extent to a level between those of acrylates and methacrylates.Other VEs have now a reactivity of at least the level of similar acrylates. Mechanical properties as determined by Dynamic Mechanical Analysis and Charpy impact tests showed significant toughening of these materials. Furthermore, we were able to confirm low toxicity of all components by osteoblast cell culture experiments.
Would it not be nice to have an organic solvent nanofiltration membrane made from renewable resources that can be manufactured as simply as producing paper? Here the production of nanofiltration membranes made from nanocellulose by applying a papermaking process is demonstrated. Manufacture of the nanopapers was enabled by inducing flocculation of nanofibrils upon addition of trivalent ions.
Mycelium, the vegetative growth of filamentous fungi, has attracted increasing commercial and academic interest in recent years due to its ability to upcycle agricultural and industrial wastes into low-cost, sustainable composite materials. However, mycelium composites typically exhibit foam-like mechanical properties, primarily originating from their weak organic filler constituents. Fungal growth can be alternatively utilised as a low-cost method for ondemand generation of natural nanofibrils, such as chitin and chitosan, which can be grown and isolated from liquid wastes and by-products in the form of fungal micro-filaments. This study characterised polymer extracts and nanopapers produced from a common mushroom reference and various species of fungal mycelium grown on the sugarcane by-product molasses. Polymer yields of ~10-26% were achieved, which is comparable to those of crustacean-derived chitin, and the nanopapers produced exhibited much higher tensile strengths than existing mycelium materials, with values of up to ~25 MPa (mycelium) and ~98 MPa (mushroom), in addition to useful hydrophobic surface properties resulting from the presence of organic lipid residues in the nanopapers. HCl or H 2 O 2 treatments were used to remove these impurities facilitating tuning of mechanical, thermal and surface properties of the nanopapers produced. This potentially enables their use in a wide range of applications including coatings, membranes, packaging and paper.
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