SynopsisThe intrinsic pK values, as well as the free fractions of sodium and calcium counterions, were determined on salt-free solutions of amidated pectinates and amidated pectates. The apparent pK values were non dependent of the degree of amidation but only to the effective charge density of the pectic polymers and an unique value of 2.9 & 0.1 was found for the intrinsic pK value. The results obtained by conductimetry and with (sodium and calcium) specific electrodes showed a blockwise distribution of amide and acid groups in amidated pectates and a blockwise distribution of amide groups and a rather statistical distribution of acid groups in amidated pectinate.
Polystyrene packaging material taint was sensorily evaluated in cocoa powder for drinks and chocolate flakes using short-cut signal detection measures on differences between control and test samples and on recognition of styrene. No differences were observed in cocoa powder for drinks and plain chocolate flakes treated with 0.5 dm2 polystyrene of 1 mm thickness. However, differences were detected in milk chocolate flakes and plain chocolate flakes, which were in contact with a larger area or thicker polystyrene packaging material. The latter results were confirmed by the styrene recognition test, so polystyrene is a potential source of off-flavour for chocolate products. The amount of residual styrene in the polystyrene used was about 320 ppm, while the amounts of styrene ranged from 7 to 132 ppb in cocoa drinks and from 414 to 1447 ppb in chocolate flakes.
Different types of polystyrene packaging material were tested for styrene monomer migration into corn oil using three sampling methods: immersion sampling, vapour phase sampling and utilization of sampling cells. For high-impact-grade polystyrene, immersion sampling resulted in the highest level of migrated styrene monomer. Vapour phase sampling was of considerable interest, because migration was only slightly lower than with immersion sampling. Sampling cells gave the lowest levels of styrene monomer in oil. However, when clear crystal polystyrene was tested, little difference was found between the three sampling methods.
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