HUMECTANTS

PARUL CHOUDHARY L -2017A-41BT(FT)

SOURAV KUMAR L -2017A-42BT(FT)
DAMANDEEP SINGH L -2017A-43BT(FT)
NEHA SHARMA L -2017A-54BT(FT)
 Humectants
◦ A humectant is a hygroscopic substance used to keep things moist;
it is the opposite of a desiccant because it is wet. It is often a
molecule with several hydrophilic groups, most often hydroxyl groups;
however, amines and carboxyl groups, sometimes esterified, can be
encountered as well.
◦ Humectant can also be defined as a food additive, used to reduce the
loss of moi sture and increase it’s retentivity.
 Need of a humectant as food
additive
◦Reduction in water activity
◦Rate of degradation of food decreases
◦Food treatment
◦Retention of moisture by food
◦Control viscosity and texture
◦Bulking of food
◦Control of crystallization
◦Improvement or retention of softness
Mode of action of a humectant
Humectants act by the binding action. They bind with
the free water making it unavailable for any other
reaction. This lowers the water activity of the food
substance. Decreased water activity increases the
stability of food and hence its shelf life. For this purpose it
is preferred as a food additive.
 Uses of humectants
◦Foods and beverages
◦Bakery and confectionery products
◦Functional and nutritive food
◦Meat and meat products
◦Pharmaceuticals
◦Animal feed
 Prominently used humectants are
salt and sugar
Some of the major humectants are
as follows:
 Sorbitol (E420)
◦Solubility in water: 2350 g/L
◦Chemical formula: C6H14O6
◦Melting point: 94–96 °C (201–205 °F; 367–369 K)
◦It is an excellent humectant
◦It can also act as a sweetening(60% as sweet
as sucrose with less calories) and texturizing
agent.
 Glycerol (E422)
◦ Formula: C3H8O3
◦ Density: 1.26 g/cm³
◦ Colourless, odourless, sweet tasting liquid
◦ Non toxic
◦ Along with a humectant it can also act as a sweetner
and in pharmaceutical formulations.
 Propylene glycol (E1520)
◦Formula: C3H8O2
◦Density: 1.04 g/cm³
◦Miscible with broad range of solvents like water,
acetone and chloroform.
◦Used as a humectant as well as a preservative in
foods and for tobacco products.
 Polydextrose(E1200)
◦Oligosaccharide
◦It is a synthetic polymer of glucose
◦Also used as thickener and stablizer
◦Used in low calorie food products
 Other humectants
◦Aloe Vera gel
◦Maltitol
◦Glyceryl Triacetate
◦Sodium hexametaphosphate
◦Honey
 Bibliography
Book name Author name
◦Foods-facts and ◦Manay, N. Shakuntala
principles
◦Wikipedia ◦https://en.m.wikipedi
a.org/wiki/Humectant
THANKYOU !