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Microencapsulation is essential to preserve biological activity of ascorbic acid (AA) and pea protein has not been used as a carrier in such processes. This work aimed to produce microparticles by a spray-drying process using pea protein (PPC) as wall material of AA and evaluate the retention of the core by HPLC, overall morphology SEM, size distribution by light scattering and release kinetics. Carboxymethylcellulose (CMC) and blends with maltodextrin (M) were produced for comparative analyses. The yields were compatible with the applied technology and the retention was above 84% for all materials. The PPC microparticles presented irregular and rough surfaces, CMC produced a regular and smooth surface and agglomeration was more intense in microparticles with M. Mean particle diameters were all below 8 microm. The microparticle release rates were lower than those with free AA, being best correlated to the Higuchi kinetic model. These results support the utilization of PPC for microencapsulation of AA.

Alpha-tocopherol is a radical chain breaking antioxidant that can protect the integrity of tissues and play an important role in life process. Microparticles containing alpha-tocopherol were produced by spray drying technique using pea protein (PP), carboxymethylcellulose(CMC) and mixtures of these materials with maltodextrin (PP-M and CMC-M) as wall materials. The microparticles produced were characterised as regards the core retention (high performance liquid chromatography), the morphology (scanning electron microscopy) and size distribution (laser diffraction). The retention of alpha-tocopherol within all microparticles was above 77%. They showed a spherical shape and roughness at varied degrees. Their mean particles size remained below 7 microm, and the smallest sizes were found in PP and CMC-M microparticles. The results obtained in this work show that the pea protein use for alpha-tocopherol microencapsulation is a promising system for further application in food.

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a b s t r a c tThe objective of this work was to evaluate the concentration of grape juice by reverse osmosis (RO). Preliminarily, a factorial design was carried out in which the independent variables were transmembrane pressure (40, 50 and 60 bar) and temperature (20, 30 and 40°C) of the process, and the dependent variables were pH, content of soluble solids, acidity, concentration of phenolic compounds and those of monomeric and total anthocyanins, colour index, colour density, and permeate flux. None of the experiments resulted in significant changes in the juice characteristics. The best process conditions, 60 bar transmembrane pressure and 40°C, was selected based on the resulting high permeate flux value. Subsequently, a new trial was performed in order to determine whether increasing the temperature from 40 to 50°C would result in any changes in the juice characteristics. The transmembrane pressure was kept at 60 bar, which was also the maximum value that could be applied by the equipment. Under these conditions, an increase in permeate flux was achieved with no significant difference in the physical or chemical parameters of the product compared to the best condition corresponding to the factorial design. The physical and chemical properties of the concentrated juice increased in proportion to the volumetric concentration factor, indicating the technical feasibility of reverse osmosis for pre-concentrating grape juice.

In the present work, the surface characteristics of a wild-type strain of Yarrowia lipolytica (IMUFRJ50682) were investigated. Six different methods to characterize cell surfaces -adhesion to polystyrene; hydrophobic interaction chromatography (HIC); microbial adhesion to solvents (MATS) test; zeta potential; microbial adhesion to hydrocarbons (MATH) test; and contact angle measurement (CAM) -were employed to explain the cell surface behaviour of Y. lipolytica (IMUFRJ50682). This Y. lipolytica strain presents significant differences at the cell surface compared with another Y. lipolytica strain (W29) previously reported in the literature. The main difference is related to the higher cell adhesion to non-polar solvents. The proteins present on the cell wall of Y. lipolytica IMUFRJ50682 seem to play an important role in these particular surface characteristics because of the consistent reduction of this yeast hydrophobic character after the action of pronase on its cell wall.