Abstract

Publisher Summary This chapter describes the techniques used for the determination of droplet size distributions, namely, pulsed field gradient nuclear magnetic resonance spectroscopy (PFG-NMR). Emulsions are the colloidal dispersions of liquid droplets in another liquid phase, sometimes stabilized by surface active agents. There are several reasons why it is important for a food company to examine emulsions carefully. In systems containing both oil and water, the knowledge of the emulsion structure may be important with respect to palatability, oral melting behavior, texture, and general appearance. Thus, emulsions consist of a discontinuous phase, dispersed in a continuous phase. The PFG-NMR technique can be readily used for the determination of the water droplet size distribution in W/O emulsions or the oil droplet size distributions in O/W emulsions. Its important advantages are the noninvasive nature, the ease of sample preparation, and the fact that PFG-NMR measures the droplet size distribution of the bulk in contrast with microscopic methods, which estimate the size distribution of the surface. Both the proposed matrix method and the iterative curve fitting procedure can be successfully applied in a factory environment. The method can be implemented on a high- as well as on a low-resolution NMR spectrometer. The low-resolution NMR method can be adapted for the routine determinations of water droplet size distributions of spreads, such as margarines and halvarine. Because of the modest price and relative simplicity of the low-resolution NMR equipment, this method can be used in a factory environment.

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