Award details

Moisture transport in multiphase, multicomponent food biopolymer matrices (Edible Biofilms)

Reference	BBS/E/F/00041620
Principal Investigator / Supervisor	Dr Brian Hills
Co-Investigators / Co-Supervisors
Institution	Quadram Institute Bioscience
Department	Quadram Institute Bioscience Department
Funding type	Research
Value (£)	61,742
Status	Completed
Type	Institute Project
Start date	01/10/2003
End date	30/09/2006
Duration	36 months

Abstract

The redistribution of moisture in processed foods causes major changes in texture as well as in their physical and chemical stability. Indeed, undesirable mass transfer of moisture and oxygen is one of the main causes of the deterioration in food quality during storage, resulting in loss of texture, flavour, colour, aroma or nutritional value. Unfortunately our lack of understanding of the molecular and microstructural factors controlling moisture partitioning and redistribution in complex multicomponent, multiphase biopolymer systems is still at a primitive level so that rational solutions to prevent moisture redistribution are lacking. The same problem arises in the design of edible biopolymer/lipid barriers for extending food shelf-life by preventing moisture transport either between layers in multilayer food or at the food surface. Here again the rational formulation of suitable barriers is prevented by our lack of understanding of the molecular and microstructural factors determining moisture dynamics in multicomponent, multiphase films. This project therefore aims to undertake a fundamental study of factors affecting moisture dynamics in complex biopolymer systems. A range of advanced spectroscopic and imaging techniques will be used to monitor moisture dynamics on distance scales ranging from the molecular to macroscopic in representative biopolmer systems and these data will be used to formulate generic mathematical models. These models will be used to underpin the development of new edible film barriers.

Summary

unavailable

Committee	Closed Committee - Agri-food (AF)
Research Topics	X – not assigned to a current Research Topic
Research Priority	X – Research Priority information not available
Research Initiative	X - not in an Initiative
Funding Scheme	X – not Funded via a specific Funding Scheme

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