Hyun-Wook Choi

Physicochemical properties of granular and non-granular cationic starches prepared under ultra high pressure

Granular and non-granular cationic starches were prepared through the reaction of tapioca and corn starches with 2,3-epoxypropyl trimethyl ammonium chloride (ETMAC) using conventional and ultra high pressure (UHP)-assisted reactions. The cationic starches were characterized with respect to morphology, degree of substitution (DS), FT-IR, (13)C NMR, X-ray diffraction pattern, solubility and swelling power, pasting viscosity, and flocculating activity. Non-granular (relative to granular) cationic starches possessed higher DS values. While DS values of non-granular cationic starches were lower for UHP-assisted (relative to conventional) reaction, granular cationic starches did not differ for both reactions. For flocculation activity, granular cationic starches with lower solubility and higher swelling power were higher than non-granular counterparts with reversed patterns in solubility and swelling power, regardless of conventional and UHP-assisted reactions. Overall results suggested that flocculation activity of cationic starches may be directly associated with their swelling powers (relative to DS values).

Retrogradation kinetics of cross-linked and acetylated corn starches under high hydrostatic pressure

Retrogradation kinetics of conventionally and high hydrostatic pressure (HHP)-assisted chemically modified (cross-linked with sodium trimetaphosphate/sodium tripolyphosphate (STMP/STPP) and acetylated with acetic anhydride) corn starches were investigated. During storage at 4°C, the glass transition temperature (Tg′) and the ice melting enthalpy were measured using differential scanning calorimetry (DSC), and relative crystallinity was measured using an X-ray diffractometer (XRD). In both conventionally and HHP-assisted modified corn starches, the Tg′ value and relative crystallinity increased during first 7–10 days of storage, then stabilized, whereas the ice melting enthalpy decreased until 10 days of storage, then remained constant. HHP-assisted modified starch showed different retrogradation kinetics from conventionally modified starch. However, the retrogradation rates of both samples were lower than for native corn starch. Although the Tg′ value, the ice melting enthalpy, and relative crystallinity represent different physicochemical properties, all can be used as indicators for evaluation of starch retrogradation.

Characterization of cationic dextrin prepared by ultra high pressure (UHP)-assisted cationization reaction

Cationic dextrins were prepared through substitution reaction of dextrin with low and high addition levels of 2,3-epoxypropyltrimethylammonium chloride (ETMAC), respectively. Conventional cationization reactions were carried out for 5h under continued stirring. UHP-assisted cationization reactions were conducted at three pressurization levels of 100, 300 and 500 MPa for a pressure holding time of 30 min. Degree of substitution (DS) of UHP-assisted cationic dextrins ranged from 0.58 to 1.51, and in general, their DS values were enhanced with increasing pressure levels. FT-IR and (13)C NMR spectra indicated the presence of CN bond, which provided clear evidence about incorporation of cationic moieties onto dextrin molecules. In flocculation test, UHP-assisted cationic dextrin revealed higher flocculating activity. Overall results suggested that UHP-assisted cationization reaction could modulate reactivity and flocculating activity of dextrin by controlling pressure levels and reaction mixture compositions, and cationic dextrins likely possessed a higher potential to replace synthetic polymer-based flocculants.

Effect of Fermented Spinach as Sources of Pre-Converted Nitrite on Color Development of Cured Pork Loin

The effect of fermented spinach extracts on color development in cured meats was investigated in this study. The pH values of raw cured meats without addition of fermented spinach extract or nitrite (negative control) were higher (p<0.05) than those added with fermented spinach extract. The pH values of raw and cooked cured meats in treatment groups were decreased with increasing addition levels of fermented spinach extract. The lightness and yellowness values of raw cured meats formulated with fermented spinach extract were higher (p<0.05) than those of the control groups (both positive and negative controls). The redness values of cooked cured meats were increased with increasing fermented spinach extract levels, whereas the yellowness values of cooked cured meats were decreased with increasing levels of fermented spinach extract. The lowest volatile basic nitrogen (VBN) and thiobarbituric acid reactive substances (TBARS) values were observed in the positive control group with addition of nitrite. TBARS values of cured meats added with fermented spinach extract were decreased with increasing levels of fermented spinach extract and VBN values of curing meat with 30% fermented spinach extract was lower than the other treatments. Total viable bacterial counts in cured meats added with fermented spinach extract ranged from 0.34-1.01 Log CFU/g. E. coli and coliform bacteria were not observed in any of the cured meats treated with fermented spinach extracts or nitrite. Residual nitrite contents in treatment groups were increased with increasing levels of fermented spinach extract added. These results demonstrated that fermented spinach could be added to meat products to improve own curing characteristics.

Effects of Edible Seaweed on Physicochemical and Sensory Characteristics of Reduced-salt Frankfurters

The effects of sea tangle, sea mustard, hijiki, and glasswort were investigated based on the proximate composition, salinity, cooking loss, emulsion stability, pH, color, texture profile analysis, apparent viscosity, and sensory characteristics of reduced-salt (NaCl) meat batter and frankfurters. The moisture content, salinity, lightness of the meat batter and frankfurter, hardness, gumminess, and chewiness of the reduced-salt frankfurters with sea weeds were lower than the control without seaweed (p<0.05). The protein content, springiness, and cohesiveness of the reduced-salt frankfurters were not significantly different among the treatments (p>0.05). The moisture content, salinity, cooking loss, lightness, redness, hardness, gumminess, and chewiness of treatments with sea tangle and with sea mustard were lower than the control (p<0.05). Among the sensory traits, color was highest in the control (p<0.05). The flavor was also highest in the control. The treatments with sea tangle and with sea mustard samples had high tenderness, juiciness, and overall acceptability scores similar to the control (p<0.05). The results of this study show that the combination of low-salt and seaweed in the formulation successfully improved reduced-salt frankfurters, improving sensory characteristics to levels similar to the regular salt control (1.5%).

Optimization of ultra high pressure extraction (UHPE) condition for puffed ginseng using response surface methodology

Response surface methodology (RSM) was used to determine the optimum ultra high pressure extraction (UHPE) conditions for two independent variables, pressure and time. Extraction yield and crude saponin content increased with both pressure and time. Treatment time, in particular, greatly affected extraction yield and crude saponin content. The optimum conditions for maximizing either extraction yield or crude saponin content were determined to be 446.46 MPa for 14.84 min and 450 MPa for 15 min, respectively. The extraction yield and crude saponin content obtained using conditions optimized for each individual parameter were 22.67±1.23% and 16.59±0.76 mg/g, respectively. On the other hand, extraction performed according to conditions optimized for both extraction yield and crude saponin content produced 23.47±1.04% and 16.59±0.76 mg/g, respectively. Moreover, UHPE was one of the most effective extraction methods compared to other extraction methods (heat reflux, ultrasound-assisted and microwave-assisted extractions).

Effects of millimeter wave treatment on the germination rate and antioxidant potentials and gamma-aminobutyric acid of the germinated brown rice

Many studies have been conducted to promote germination in brown rice in order to improve its nutritional value in terms of enzymes, protein quality, and micronutrient content. The purpose of this study was to investigate the effect of millimeter wave on germination. Millimeter wave is a form of electromagnetic radiation with frequency between 30 and 300 GHz, and is also called ‘biomicrowave’. Millimeter wave significantly stimulated germination. Total polyphenol content and DPPH radical scavenging activity also increased, especially at high frequency and prolonged dose. However, γ-aminobutyric acid content was diminished.

Effect of millimeter waves on the microbiological and physicochemical properties of Korean rice wine Makgeolli

Millimeter waves are electric waves between 30 and 300 GHz. They are known to affect microbial growth. Here, the effects of millimeter waves on the microbiological and physicochemical properties of Makgeolli irradiated during fermentation were investigated. Millimeter waves at 60 and 70 GHz were used, and the fermentation was carried out at 30°C. The numbers of both lactic acid bacteria and yeasts have changed with similar pattern each then during the fermentation, but the effect of milimeter wave treatment was not critical as growth patterns were independent of both irradiation period and wave frequency. Furthermore, pH and total acidity did not change during fermentation. Although irradiation drastically increased sugar production during the initial stage of fermentation, the change was not frequency dependent. At the end of fermentation, the alcohol content in irradiated Makgeolli was definitely higher than that in un-irradiated Makgeolli, and the difference was frequency dependent.

Rheological properties of rice flour treated with mild solutions of citric acid

Effects of milling methods and organic acids treatments on rheological properties of rice flour were investigated. The average particle-size of wet-milled rice flour was lower and showed lower pasting temperature, peak viscosity, and storage modulus values than those of dry-milled rice flour. Wet-milled rice flour treated with citric acid showed significantly low viscosity and viscoelastic properties, as the concentration of citric acid increased, whereas wet-milled rice flour treated with acetic acid was not significantly affected by the acetic acid concentration. Rheological property of baekseolgi (Korean rice cake) made with wet-milled citric-acid-treated rice flour showed a similar trend in viscoelasticity, wherein citric acid treatment lowered the hardness of the rice. However, cohesiveness increased with increasing citric acid concentration. Overall, milling method affected the particle size, which influenced the viscosity and heat stability, whereas citric acid treatment affected the rheological properties of rice flour. These results are expected to contribute to the development of an appropriate method for rice flour application.