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Kinetic Approach to Nixtamalization of Corn Pericarp

March 2001 Volume 78 Number 2
Pages 107 — 110
Ricardo Martínez , 1 – 3 Silvia Mendoza , 1 Edilso Reguera , 1 Pedro Ortiz , 1 and José de la Luz Martínez 1

Centro de Investigación en Ciencia Aplicada y Tecnología Avanzada del Instituto Politécnico Nacional. Legaria 694 Col. Irrigación. México DF C.P. 11500 México. Permanent address: University of La Habana, IMRE-Chemistry Faculty, Zapatae/ Mazón y G, Habana 10400 Cuba. Corresponding author. E-mail: ricardo@fq.uh.cu Fax: (707) 220-0710. Phone: (537) 782369 ext. 31.


Go to Article:
http://dx.doi.org/10.1094/CCHEM.2001.78.2.107
Accepted October 18, 2000.
ABSTRACT

The nixtamalization of the pericarp isolated from grains of corn was studied with 2, 5, 10, 20 and 40% Ca(OH)2 based upon the mass of the pericarp. For 2 and 5% Ca(OH)2 a small loss of the mass of the pericarp takes place quickly which is accompanied by an abrupt fall of the concentration of the OH- ions. A suitable kinetic model for the decrease of the mass of the pericarp is a two phases exponential equation. The second phase is the slowest and it depends on the quantity of Ca(OH)2 employed.


© 2001 American Association of Cereal Chemists, Inc.