Revista Mexicana de Ciencias Pecuarias (Jan 2019)

Design of an electrochemical prototype to determine relative NaCl content and its application in fresh cheeses

  • Rubén Cázares-Gallegos,
  • Juan Antonio Vidales-Contreras,
  • Alejandro Isabel Luna-Maldonado,
  • Michael E. Hume,
  • Ramón Silva-Vázquez,
  • Armando Quintero-Ramos,
  • Gerardo Mendéz-Zamora

DOI
https://doi.org/10.22319/rmcp.v10i1.4540
Journal volume & issue
Vol. 10, no. 1
pp. 161 – 171

Abstract

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An electrochemical prototype (ECP) was developmed and evaluated to determine NaCl electrical variables [volt (V), ampere (A), resistance (R) and power (P)] and its use in fresh cheeses. The ECP circuit consisted of two electrodes, an aluminum (anode) and a copper (cathode). The experimental parameters established in the ECP were distance between electrodes and the presence of a resistor. Seven treatment solutions were examined at 0, 2, 4, 6, 8, 10 and 12 g of NaCl/100 mL of water. Cheeses evaluated were a commercial cheese (Control) and a commercial light cheese. Treatment influenced (P<0.05) the electrical variables in NaCl solutions and cheeses. Regression analysis showed that the best fit was a quadratic model for the ECP. Prototype results showed that at higher NaCl concentrations, voltage and resistance decreased, while amperage and power increased.

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