Functional properties of date powder under ultrasound, microwave and chemical hydrolysis: verifying its quality and safety with FTIR technique

In the current research, date powder of ‘Qasb’ cultivar was treated by alkaline hydrogen peroxide (AHP) and hydrochloric acid-ethanol (HAE), along with ultrasound and microwave irradiation. The results showed that HAE with microwave or ultrasound assistant, increased bulk density (15.22%), tapped density (17.8%), solubility, water-holding capacity (WHC) (43.75%) and emulsifying capacity (21.74%), while reducing oil-holding capacity (OHC) (22.67%), swelling capacity (SC) (73.73%) and emulsion stability (6.67%) of the date powders. Treatments of date powder with AHP increased solubility, WHC (28.5%), water retention capacity (WRC) (45.4%), SC (90.7%) and emulsifying capacity (8.7%), but reduced bulk density (4.1%), tapped density (15.4%), OHC (28.3%) and emulsion stability (8.34%). Fourier transform infrared spectroscopy, did not show any unusual or unidentifiable peaks in the range obtained from the analysis of the treated samples. Accordingly, using the HAE and AHP pretreatment, combined with ultrasound and microwave irradiation, did not have detrimental effects on the structure of main components of the date powder. Also, no undesirable chemicals were produced as a result. Graphical abstract