Open AccessStudy of the Electro-Activation Process of Calcium Lactate, Calcium Ascorbate Solutions, and Their Equimolar Mixture: Assessment of Their Physicochemical Properties
Author(s) -
Pierre Emerson Cayemitte,
Natela Gerliani,
Philippe Raymond,
Mohammed Aïder
Publication year - 2021
Publication title -
acs omega
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
SCImago Journal Rank - 0.779
H-Index - 40
ISSN - 2470-1343
DOI - 10.1021/acsomega.1c00345
Subject(s) - chemistry , titratable acid , calcium , inductively coupled plasma , analytical chemistry (journal) , context (archaeology) , differential scanning calorimetry , high performance liquid chromatography , inorganic chemistry , nuclear chemistry , chromatography , biochemistry , organic chemistry , plasma , paleontology , physics , quantum mechanics , biology , thermodynamics
The aim of this study was to prepare electro-activated solutions (EAS) from calcium lactate, calcium ascorbate, and an equimolar mixture of these two salts to obtain their corresponding acids and to study their physicochemical characteristics, in particular, pH, titratable acidity, p K a , and antioxidant activity. Indeed, the solutions were electro-activated in a reactor comprising three compartments (anodic, central, and cathodic) separated by anionic and cationic exchange membranes, respectively. The electric current intensities used were set at 250, 500, and 750 mA for a maximum period of 30 min. In general, the EAS obtained at 750 mA for 30 min showed the lowest pH (2.16, 2.08, 1.94) and p K a (3.13, 3.07, 2.90) values and the highest titratable acidity (0.107, 0.102, 0.109 mol/L) for calcium lactate, the mixture, and calcium ascorbate, respectively. In addition, the obtained results have demonstrated that the pH, titratable acidity, and p K a of the EAS varied proportionally and significantly ( p < 0.001) with the duration of the experiment and the intensity of the electric current applied. To evaluate the migration of calcium (Ca 2+ ) between the central and the cathodic compartments of the reactor, the concentration of Ca 2+ was determined especially in the cathodic section by inductively coupled plasma optical emission spectroscopy (ICP-OES). The results showed that the migration of Ca 2+ varied proportionally with the electric current intensity. In this context, analysis by Fourier transform infrared (FTIR) spectroscopy, high-performance liquid chromatography (HPLC), and differential scanning calorimetry (DSC) have confirmed the production of lactic acid and ascorbic acid compared to standards. In addition, analysis by the 2,2-diphenyl-1-picrylhydrazyl (DPPH) free-radical scavenging technique confirmed high antioxidant activities of >90 and >83% for calcium ascorbate and the mixture, respectively, in comparison to the standard ascorbic acid (85%). Overall, this research has clearly demonstrated the eventual potential of electro-activation to produce highly reactive organic acids from their conjugated salts. These EAS can become excellent antimicrobial and sporicidal agents in the food processing industry.