Irish moss (Chondrus crispus) from Canada's east coast was used to study possible improvements in the production and storage of gelose. The optimum pH for the extraction of gelose from Irish moss was between 6 and 7. Fine leaf particles, which prevent rapid filtration, were readily removed by supercentrifuging. Comparison of drum drying and drying from the frozen state showed that the former caused a marked lowering of viscosity but had little effect on suspending power or jelly strength. The logarithm of the viscosity determined by means of a MacMichael viscosimeter was related directly to the concentration; therefore, viscosity measurements can be corrected for the moisture content of the samples. The effect of storage temperature on deterioration was greater than the effect of relative humidity. Samples stored at 0° and 40° F. for 12 weeks showed no significant changes in viscosity or suspending power, whereas those stored at 80° and 120° F. deteriorated very rapidly. Material was vacuum ice-dried to 2% moisture without damage but the quality decreased when the extracts were stored at high temperatures.
EFFECT OF PACKAGING MATERIALS AND STORAGE TEMPERATURE ON QUALITY OF SOME LOCAL FRUIT JUICES
