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Developing analytical methods to determine physicochemical properties, protein and amino acid composition of African staple foods

Dissertation (MSc (Biochemistry))--University of Pretoria, 2022.

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Other Authors: Motshwene, Precious G.
Format: Thesis
Language:English
Published: University of Pretoria 2022
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access_status_str Open Access
author2 Motshwene, Precious G.
author_browse Motshwene, Precious G.
author_facet Motshwene, Precious G.
collection Thesis
dc_rights_str_mv © 2022 University of Pretoria. All rights reserved. The copyright in this work vests in the University of Pretoria. No part of this work may be reproduced or transmitted in any form or by any means, without the prior written permission of the University of Pretoria.
description Dissertation (MSc (Biochemistry))--University of Pretoria, 2022.
format Thesis
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institution University of Pretoria (South Africa)
language English
last_indexed 2026-06-10T12:36:12.984Z
license_str Other — see source repository
provenance_str_mv Harvested via OAI-PMH from UPSpace — University of Pretoria Institutional Repository
publishDate 2022
publishDateRange 2022
publishDateSort 2022
publisher University of Pretoria
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source_str UPSpace — University of Pretoria Institutional Repository
spelling oai:repository.up.ac.za:2263/87220 Developing analytical methods to determine physicochemical properties, protein and amino acid composition of African staple foods Motshwene, Precious G. u15120092@tuks.co.za Prevoo-Franzsen, Désirée Chiloane, Vusimuzi Thabang UCTD Plant-derived staple foods Karl Fischer titration Dumas combustion method Physicochemical properties African staple foods Dissertation (MSc (Biochemistry))--University of Pretoria, 2022. Plant-derived staple foods are important sources of energy, nutrition and income in Sub-Saharan Africa as they are more accessible compared to animal sources of food. This study therefore sought to develop analytical methods to determine physicochemical properties (moisture and particle size distribution), protein and amino acid composition of five major African staple foods; namely, maize, sorghum, cassava, corn-soya and teff. Moisture was determined by Karl Fischer titration, and it was found that corn-soya, sorghum, maize, and teff had moisture levels below the recommended maximum limits. However, cassava revealed a high moisture content which would increase the risk of fungal contamination. Particle size distribution was investigated by laser diffraction which showed corn-soya and teff had coarse particles distributed within a similar size fraction. Maize, cassava and sorghum showed relatively fine particles distributed between multiple size fractions. The protein and amino acid composition was also determined to evaluate the nutritional content of staple foods, as well as to assign reference values for fit-for-purpose reference materials. To determine the amino acid composition, a 72-h hydrolysis method was developed and validated to quantify acid-stable amino acids. A separate hydrolysis protocol was optimised to quantify methionine and cysteine. The method included performic acid oxidation, followed by acid hydrolysis at 145 ⁰C for 4 h. Hydrolysates were analysed using UHPLC-UV and good recoveries between 87% and 117% were obtained. Despite several method optimisation attempts, a reproducible method could not be established for tryptophan analysis, and thus the residue was not quantified in this study. The protein content was quantified using the Dumas combustion method, and the results showed a content of 12.6 g/100 g in corn-soya, 11.3 g/100 g in sorghum, 9.53 g/100 g in teff, 8.88 g/100 g in maize, and 1.13 g/100 g in cassava. Amino acid analysis showed a sum of 12.6 g/100 g in corn-soya, 11.5 g/100 g in sorghum, 9.29 g/100 g in teff, 8.16 g/100 g in maize, and 0.660 g/100 g in cassava, which matched protein results obtained from the Dumas method. Corn-soya revealed the highest composition of essential amino acids, followed by sorghum and teff, respectively. The results for corn-soya are not surprising as the preparation is distributed by food aid initiatives to combat malnutrition. Sorghum and maize showed low concentrations of the limiting amino acids lysine and methionine. Cassava revealed poor concentrations of all amino acids, providing evidence the food source is unlikely to meet nutritional demands in regions where it serves as a primary source of nutrition. Biochemistry, Genetics and Microbiology (BGM) MSc (Biochemistry) Unrestricted 2022-09-19T14:14:43Z 2022-09-19T14:14:43Z 2022 2022 Dissertation * A2023 https://repository.up.ac.za/handle/2263/87220 DOI: 10.25403/UPresearchdata.21154936 https://doi.org/10.25403/UPresearchdata.21154936 en © 2022 University of Pretoria. All rights reserved. The copyright in this work vests in the University of Pretoria. No part of this work may be reproduced or transmitted in any form or by any means, without the prior written permission of the University of Pretoria. application/pdf University of Pretoria
spellingShingle UCTD
Plant-derived staple foods
Karl Fischer titration
Dumas combustion method
Physicochemical properties
African staple foods
Developing analytical methods to determine physicochemical properties, protein and amino acid composition of African staple foods
title Developing analytical methods to determine physicochemical properties, protein and amino acid composition of African staple foods
title_full Developing analytical methods to determine physicochemical properties, protein and amino acid composition of African staple foods
title_fullStr Developing analytical methods to determine physicochemical properties, protein and amino acid composition of African staple foods
title_full_unstemmed Developing analytical methods to determine physicochemical properties, protein and amino acid composition of African staple foods
title_short Developing analytical methods to determine physicochemical properties, protein and amino acid composition of African staple foods
title_sort developing analytical methods to determine physicochemical properties protein and amino acid composition of african staple foods
topic UCTD
Plant-derived staple foods
Karl Fischer titration
Dumas combustion method
Physicochemical properties
African staple foods
url https://repository.up.ac.za/handle/2263/87220
https://doi.org/10.25403/UPresearchdata.21154936