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Impact of advanced oxidative process (AOP) decontamination on the techno-functional properties of flaxseed during storage

Year: 2026
Type: article
Abstract: Flaxseed, an important oilseed crop with various food and beverage applications, has gained attention for its potential health benefits, attributed to its composition rich in omega-3 fatty acids, lignans, and dietary fibre. However, the increasing use of raw flaxseed, particularly in applications such as salad and yogurt toppings, smoothies, trail mixes, etc., raises concerns about microbial contamination acquired during production, harvesting, and storage. Advanced oxidative process (AOP) offers a promising non-thermal decontamination approach with minimal impact on the quality of agricultural commodities while improving microbial safety. The objective of the study was to quantify the changes in techno-functional properties of flaxseed before and after AOP decontamination as well as during storage. Flaxseed was treated using an AOP system (Clean Flow Healthcare mini) combining ozone (5-9 ppm), UV-C light (8-12 mW/cm2), and 3% hydrogen peroxide (H2O2). Ozone (O3) and UV-C were applied for 30 or 40 s of exposure time, while H2O2 was delivered at low (20 mL/min) or high (30 mL/min) flow rates, producing four treatments (T1-30, T1-40, T2-30, and T2-40). Untreated flaxseed served as the control. The treated and control samples were stored at 20 °C and 75% relative humidity for four months and analyzed for water holding capacity (WHC), oil holding capacity (OHC), emulsion capacity (EC), emulsion stability (ES), least gelation concentration (LGC), and protein solubility (PS). WHC was significantly (p < 0.05) affected by treatment, storage time, and their interaction, but remained within 3.32-3.71 g water/g dry flaxseed. OHC was significantly (p < 0.05) affected by treatment and storage time, with no interaction, and ranged from 1.86 to 1.95 g oil/g dry flaxseed. EC ranged from 41.3 to 44.5%, with significant (p < 0.05) treatment and treatment × storage effects. ES remained approximately 49.7-52.0%, with slightly lower values observed for T2-30, and T2-40. Also, LGC was significantly (p < 0.05) affected by treatment and storage time at all pH levels, while PS was affected by storage time, especially at pH 7.0. Overall, AOP caused statistically significant (p < 0.05) but minor changes in flaxseed techno-functionality during storage, supporting its potential as a non-thermal decontamination strategy.
Language: English
Subfield: Biotechnology
Open Access status: green
OpenAlex ID: W7213479140
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