The use of fast field cycling to evaluate the time domain relaxation of starches from tropical fruit seeds

Abstract

ABSTRACTA proton NMR relaxation study of the molecular dynamics in flour samples of ‘Eugenia uniflora’ (‘Pitanga’), ’Citrus reticulate’ (‘Tangerine’), ‘Prunus persica’ (‘Peach’), ‘Vitis vinifera’ (‘Grape’), and ‘Cucumis melo’ (‘Honeydew melon’) seeds is presented. The spin–lattice relaxation time was obtained over a broad frequency range from 100 kHz to 100 MHz using both conventional and fast field-cycling NMR techniques. This relaxometry study made possible a comparison between the molecular dynamics behaviour of starch from different fruit seeds and from potatoes. I was possible to conclude that the spin–lattice dispersion presents slightly differences for all samples, in particular at low frequencies. All relaxation dispersions could be well interpreted in terms of power-law relaxation models and domains with different power-law relaxation exponents. For the Peach seeds flour the relaxation dispersion at low frequencies was very similar to that observed for potato’s starch incorporated with 5% organoclay Viscogel B8 nanoparticles.