Facilitation of metastable ice Ⅰ - ice III phase transition of liquid foods at high-pressure sub-zero temperature by perturbation

Abstract

In this study, the distribution of ice Ⅰ - ice III phase transition positions and its influencing factors on various fruit juices and food model solutions under high pressure (HP) were investigated. In addition, the effect of perturbation on induction of phase change in metastable apple juice was also explored. The phase transition positions of fruit juice samples deviated far from the theoretical value (210 MPa/ -21 °C), with pressure in range of 268 ∼ 305 MPa and temperature between -31.09 °C and -37.21 °C, with the most extreme phase transition position of 305 MPa/ -37.21 °C for apple juice. The phase change position was affected by the type of solution but not by the concentration of solutions. The cooling media namely, sodium chloride (5%, 20%) and glucose solution (5%, 20%) were used as perturbation sources to stimulate the metastable apple juice by using instantaneous volume reduction during the ice Ⅰ - ice III phase transition. They successfully promoted the phase transition of apple juice, where 20% sodium chloride solution significantly (p < 0.05) reduced the phase change pressure of apple juice to 239 MPa. The perturbation effect was influenced by the type and concentration of the perturbation source, the composition of the cavity area and the softness of the sample container.

Keywords: Energy barrier; Food model solution; Fruit juice; High-pressure sub-zero temperature; Metastable state; Perturbation; Phase transition position.