Magdalena Kristiawan

Integration of Basic Knowledge Models for the Simulation of Cereal Foods Processing and Properties

Cereal processing (breadmaking, extrusion, pasting, etc.) covers a range of mechanisms that, despite their diversity, can be often reduced to a succession of two core phenomena: (1) the transition from a divided solid medium (the flour) to a continuous one through hydration, mechanical, biochemical, and thermal actions and (2) the expansion of a continuous matrix toward a porous structure as a result of the growth of bubble nuclei either by yeast fermentation or by water vaporization after a sudden pressure drop. Modeling them is critical for the domain, but can be quite challenging to address with mechanistic approaches relying on partial differential equations. In this chapter we present alternative approaches through basic knowledge models (BKM) that integrate scientific and expert knowledge, and possess operational interest for domain specialists. Using these BKMs, simulations of two cereal foods processes, extrusion and breadmaking, are provided by focusing on the two core phenomena. To support the use by non-specialists, these BKMs are implemented as computer tools, a Knowledge-Based System developed for the modeling of the flour mixing operation or Ludovic®, a simulation software for twin screw extrusion. They can be applied to a wide domain of compositions, provided that the data on product rheological properties are available. Finally, it is stated that the use of such systems can help food engineers to design cereal food products and predict their texture properties.

Phenomenological model of maize starches expansion by extrusion

During extrusion of starchy products, the molten material is forced through a die so that the sudden abrupt pressure drop causes part of the water to vaporize giving an expanded, cellular structure. The objective of this work was to elaborate a phenomenological model of expansion and couple it with Ludovic® mechanistic model of twin screw extrusion process. From experimental results that cover a wide range of thermomechanical conditions, a concept map of influence relationships between input and output variables was built. It took into account the phenomena of bubbles nucleation, growth, coalescence, shrinkage and setting, in a viscoelastic medium. The input variables were the moisture content MC , melt temperature T, specific mechanical energy SME , shear viscosity η at the die exit, computed by Ludovic®, and the melt storage moduli E’(at T > T g ). The outputs of the model were the macrostructure (volumetric expansion index VEI, anisotropy) and cellular structure (fineness F) of solid foams. Then a general model was established: VEI = α (η/η 0) n in which α and n depend on T, MC , SME and E’ and the link between anisotropy and fineness was established.

Multi-scale structural changes of starch and proteins during pea flour extrusion

Dehulled yellow pea flour (48.2% starch, 23.4% proteins, d.b.), was processed by a twin-screw extruder at various moisture contents MC (18-35% w.b.), product temperature T (115-165 °C), and specific mechanical energy SME (50-1200 kJ/kg). Structural changes of extruded pea flour were determined at different scales by measurements of density (expansion), crystallinity (X-ray diffraction), gelatinisation enthalpy (DSC), starch solubility in water and protein solubility in SDS and DTE (SE-HPLC). Foam density dropped from 820 to 85 kg/m3 with increase in SME and T (R2 ≥ 0.78). DSC and XRD results showed that starch was amorphous whatever extrusion conditions. Its solubility in water augmented up to 50%. Increasing temperature from 115 to 165 °C decreased proteins soluble in SDS from 95 to 35% (R2 = 0.83) of total proteins, whereas the proteins soluble in DTE increased from 5 to 45% (R2 = 0.75) of total proteins. These trends could be described by sigmoid models, which allowed determining onset temperatures for changes of protein solubility in the interval [125, 146 °C], whatever moisture content. The SME impact on protein solubility followed similar trends. These results suggest the creation of protein network by SS bonds, implicating larger SDS-insoluble protein aggregates, as a result of increasing T and SME, accompanied by creation of covalent bonds other than SS ones. CSLM images suggested that extruded pea flour had a composite morphology that changed from dispersed small protein aggregates to a bi-continuous matrix of large protein aggregates and amorphous starch. This morphology would govern the expansion of pea flour by extrusion.