Distribution of Water between Wheat Flour Components: A Dynamic Water Vapour Adsorption Study

• DOI: 10.1006/jcrs.2002.0470
• Publication Date: 2003-01-09T07:12:55Z
• Authors: A.D. Roman-Gutierrez; S. Guilbert; B. Cuq
• Keywords: Water activity

The water adsorption properties of hard and soft wheat flours and flour components (starch, damaged starch, gluten, soluble pentosans, and insoluble pentosans) were determined at 25 °C using a controlled atmosphere microbalance. At different levels of relative humidity (from 10% to 95%), changes in sample mass (i.e., water gain) were continuously measured versus time and described using exponential models (R2≥0·994). Water adsorption isotherms were constructed for wheat flours and flour components and described using Guggenheim-Anderson-de Boer models (R2≥0·997). It was not possible to distinguish between the selected hard and soft wheat flours by their isotherms. The water-soluble pentosans had the highest water adsorption capacity. The theoretical distribution of water between the flour components (calculated using the Guggenheim-Anderson-de Boer parameters) was starch, 88%; gluten, 10%; and pentosans, 2%.