Recovery of brines from cheesemaking using High-Pressure Homogenization treatments

Effect of enzymatic hydrolysis with Alcalase or Protamex on technological and antioxidant properties of whey protein hydrolysates

The aim of this study was to evaluate the effect of the enzymatic hydrolysis, performed using Alcalase and Protamex enzymes, on the technological functionalities and the antioxidant capacity of whey protein hydrolysates (WPHs) to identify the conditions allowing to obtain target functionality/ies. Samples were characterized for hydrolysis degree (DH), molecular weight distribution, structural properties, and food-related functionalities. Free sulfhydryl groups and surface hydrophobicity significantly decreased with the increase in DH, regardless of the used enzyme. The foaming and antioxidant properties of Alcalase WPHs were higher as compared to those of WPI, reaching the maximum value at DH = 18-20 %, while higher DH resulted in impaired functionality. Gelling properties were guaranteed when WPI was hydrolysed by Protamex at DH < 15 % while foaming and antioxidant abilities were fostered at 15 < DH < 21 %. These results were well correlated with MW distribution and were rationalized into a road map which represents a useful tool in the selection of proper hydrolysis conditions (time, DH, enzyme type) to obtain WPHs with tailored functionalities. Research outcomes highlighted the possibility to drive protein hydrolysis to optimize the desired functionality/ies.

Potential Applications of High Pressure Homogenization in Winemaking: A Review

High pressure homogenization (HPH) is an emerging technology with several possible applications in the food sector, such as nanoemulsion preparation, microbial and enzymatic inactivation, cell disruption for the extraction of intracellular components, as well as modification of food biopolymer structures to steer their functionalities. All these effects are attributable to the intense mechanical stresses, such as cavitation and shear forces, suffered by the product during the passage through the homogenization valve. The exploitation of the disruptive forces delivered during HPH was also recently proposed for winemaking applications. In this review, after a general description of HPH and its main applications in food processing, the survey is extended to the use of this technology for the production of wine and fermented beverages, particularly focusing on the effects of HPH on the inactivation of wine microorganisms and the induction of yeast autolysis. Further enological applications of HPH technology, such as its use for the production of inactive dry yeast preparations, are also discussed.