Structural Identification of Nano-Calcium Compounds
in Milk Powder by X-Ray Powder Diffraction
CHIA-FEN TSAI1, LI-YU HUANG1, SU-HSIANG TSENG1 AND CHING-HSIANG CHEN2 *
1. Food and Drug Administration, Department of Health, Executive Yuan, Taipei, Taiwan, R.O.C.
2. Center for General Education, Chang Gung University, Kwei-Shan, Tao-Yuan, Taiwan, R.O.C.
(Received: June 29, 2011; Accepted: November 29, 2011)
ABSTRACT
X-ray diffraction patterns of nano-calcium in milk samples obtained from market, to determine their crystal structures and average grain size. The results indicated that after processing, nano-calcium in milk powders not only prompt the transformation of crystal structure, but also partially generate oxide structures or even hydrated structures known as the hetero-phase. The methodology of using X-ray powder diffraction for the structural identification of nano-calcium compounds in milk powders has been successfully established in this study. This methodology can be applied to characterize the compounds and reveal the stability of the nano-scale additives in nano-food technology.
Key words: X-ray powder diffraction, nano-calcium, structural identification