Joana Maria Leite de Souza

Variabilidade físico-química da farinha de mandioca

The goal of this work was to evaluate the physicochemical variability of the cassava flour, sold in the city of Cruzeiro do Sul - in the state of AC (Brazil), by multivaried analysis. The following contents of eighteen different cassava flours were analyzed: moisture, ashes, lipids, protein, fiber, carbohydrates, acidity, and pH. Grouping multivaried analysis according to the Tocher method allowed the establishment of five groups of flours. The groups IV and V were considered high quality groups. The first one due to the lower ashes and higher protein contents; and the second due to the lower moisture and higher carbohydrates contents. The multivaried analysis techniques presented good responses to identify most heterogeneous flours. The physicochemical variability seen in the five different groups probably indicates different production processes.

Caracterização físico-quimica de farinhas oriundas de variedades de mandioca utilizadas no vale do Juruá, Acre

Some characteristics of the cassava depend on the variety used for the processing. The objectified of this study was to evaluate physicochemical characteristics of the cassava flour from varieties used in Acre. The treatments were composed by the varieties: T1 = Paxiubao, T2 = Im221, T3 = Caboquinha, T4 = Araca, T5 = Colonial, T6 = Branquinha, T7 = Panati and T8 = Mansa e Brava. Samples of flour of eight cassava varieties were collect in cassava mils in Cruzeiro do Sul. The samples were sent by airmail to Rio Branco, Acre, to be analyzed in the Food and Technology Laboratory at Embrapa-AC. The evaluated parameters were: water percentage, ashes, lipids, protein, fiber, carbohydrates, acidity, pH and water activity. All samples were taken according to the established patterns of the Brazilian Legislation for cassava flour, considering water percentage, ashes and carbohydrates. The analyzed flours presented low fibers levels and low acidity. The water activity of the analyzed flours was below the minimum limit necessary to allow microorganisms development. The varieties Araca, Colonial and Branquinha were adequate to cassava flour manufacturing, mainly because of the high protein and carbohydrates levels present in the produced flour.