study of optical properties of nejayote from maize kernels by using

ECTP2014 - 20th European Conference on Thermophysical Properties
Poster P_172, 3 Sept. 15:30 – 19:00
STUDY OF OPTICAL PROPERTIES OF NEJAYOTE FROM MAIZE KERNELS BY USING
PHOTOACOUSTIC SPECTROSCOPY
Benjamin Gomez Uzeta1; Arturo Dominguez Pacheco1; Claudia Hernandez Aguilar1; Vinicius Cruz-SanMartín2; Alfredo
Cruz Orea3
1SEPI-ESIME-Zacatenco-Sistemas,
IPN, Mexico;
Mexico;
3Departamento de Física, CINVESTAV–IPN, Mexico.
2ESFM-IPN,
Among the photothermal techniques, the Photoacoustic Spectroscopy (PAS) has been used to study non-homogenous
biological samples as agricultural seeds [1, 2]. The by-product of maize generated at the nixtamalization process
(nejayote), for the production of Mexican tortilla, represents an environmental pollutant [3], however it could be used
as raw material if after this process preserves its natural pigments which can absorb the ultraviolet radiation [4,5]. The
aim of this study is to obtain, through the PAS technique, the optical absorption spectra, from 270 nm to 500 nm, of
nejayote and maize pericarp (Zea mays L.). Also a comparison between raw pericarp and nejayote samples BD-57 and
H-159, with steeping time after nixtamalization of 12 and 24 h respectively, was made by using a complete block design
at random with three duplicates. Through the optical absorption spectra it is possible to observe the optical behavior of
natural pigments of the samples (see Figure 1). Statistical results show that at UVB radiation range (270-300nm) the
optical absorption spectra of raw pericarp and nejayote samples do not have significant differences (P≤0.05) while in
the range from 310 to 500 nm, the statistical analysis show that there are significant differences. Therefore, this waste
material can be used as a natural absorber of UVB (280-315nm) radiation.
Figure 1: Optical absorption spectra of nejayote samples.
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[2] Domínguez, P.F.A.; Hernández, A.C.; Cruz, O.A., Int. J. thermophys 2013, 34, 979-985.
[3] Nogueira, T.H.; Herman, L.E.; García, A.M.A.; Monroy, R.J.A., Drying technology 2007, 22, 2170-2182.
[4] Falcone, F.M.L.; Rius, S.;Emiliani, J.; Pourcel, L.; Feller A.; Morohashi, K.; Casati, P.; Grotewold, The Plant Journal
2010,62,77-91.
[5] Casati, P.; Campi, M.; Morrow, D.J.; Fernández, J.; Walbot, V., Plant Signaling and Behavior 2011, 6, 1146-1153.