NFOK14021U Food Enzymes and Applications
MSc Programme in Food Science and Technology
MSc Programme in Food Innovation and Health
Enzymes are increasingly applied in both food and non-food
industries. Advantages obtained by the use of enzymes are the mild
reaction conditions, lower risk of toxic by-products, and their
great specificity. In food manufacture, enzymes are often applied
as processing aids to improve the yield, texture, taste or other
quality aspects. The course will be of benefit for students within
food technology, biotechnology and related areas.
The main objective of the course is to provide a sound background
for the application of enzymes for processing and improvement of
foods with focus on the major food groups (dairy, meat and cereal
foods and drinks). In addition, the possible advantages and
disadvantages of enzymes endogenous in the foods will be
emphasised. Major features of enzymes and properties behind their
specificity and enzyme assays will be treated theoretically as well
as by practical training.
The course will treat the most important food enzymes such as
oxidoreductases and hydrolases (proteases, lipases, pectinases,
amylases, etc.) with respect to structural and functional
properties, catalysis, reaction kinetics and enzyme-substrate
specificity.
Focus will be on enzyme applications for processing and improvement
of foods within the fields of Food Chemistry, Plant Food Science,
Dairy Technology and Meat Technology, specifically on the influence
of enzymes on chemical and physical changes in foods with respect
to preservation of quality and processing of foods.
This comprises two aspects, i.e. 1) enzymes present in foods (milk,
meat, fruits and cereals) with major influence on their processing
quality, and 2) major exogenous enzymes used in the processsing of
these foods into high quality foods and drinks.
After completion of the course the student should be able to:
Knowledge
- List the enzyme classes and describe the general effect of
enzymes and their regulation
- Describe the mechanism behind the specificity of enzymes
- Describe the major enzymes present in selected foods (milk, meat,
wheat and barley) and their influence on the quality of the final
products
- describe the mostly used enzymes in the production of selected
dairy foods, meat products, bread, beer and food ingredients
(glucose syrup, lipids and protein hydrolysates), as well as their
function in those products
- provide examples of assays suitable for measurement of various
types of enzyme activity and explain the underlying principles
Skills
- Explain the background for the pH and temperature optimum of
enzymes and the nature of co-factors
- Perform laboratory work and handle selected techniques and
methods applied in characterisation and use of enzymes
- Design practical work with enzymes, e.g. including use of enzyme
assays, and evaluate results obtained
- Apply relevant literature and communicate experiments performed,
and results and conclusions obtained within the enzymatic
biochemical area in the form of a paper
Competences
- Cooperate with fellow students about the design, performance and
reporting of lab experiments with enzymes and discussion and
presentation of obtained results
- Perform and evaluate simple analyses comprising enzymatically
catalysed reactions
Compendium with selected book chapters and articles
and supplementary material (indicated in Absalon)
This is a hands-on course with experimental exercises on applications of food enzymes practised in small projects. The student will be introduced to several classic enzyme assays and become familiar with quantification of enzyme activity and determination of substrate conversion. The practical exercises will be supported by lectures to provide the necessary theoretical background for the students to carry out the experimental work. Some theoretical exercises and problems will also be touched upon.
- Category
- Hours
- Exam
- 50
- Excursions
- 6
- Lectures
- 20
- Practical exercises
- 8
- Preparation
- 64
- Project work
- 50
- Theory exercises
- 8
- Total
- 206
As
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- Credit
- 7,5 ECTS
- Type of assessment
- Written assignment, during courseTwo reports from practicals will be evaluated separately (for each student) and each counts 15% in the final grade.
A final paper is made based on the project performed; this counts 70% in the final grade. - Exam registration requirements
Presence at 80% of the lectures, and 90% in practical exercises and other activities
Approval of all reports from practicals
Oral presentation of project and discussion with other groups- Aid
- All aids allowed
- Marking scale
- 7-point grading scale
- Censorship form
- No external censorship
More than one internal examiner
- Re-exam
The reexamination will normally consist of submitting the final individual paper (again).
The criteria for participation in the reexamination are the same as those or ordinairy examination. It is not possible to participate in the reexamination if the practicals and the lab project have not been performed. In this case the student will need to sign in for the course again.
Criteria for exam assesment
Evaluation of reports is based on inclusion of relevant
curriculum and thourough description of materials and
methods as well as suitable presentation and discussion
of results.
Evaluation of the final paper is based on the following criteria:
- The project has been planned, conducted and results
evaluated with a great deal of independence and overview.
- The experimental part is based on considerations
concerning equipment, method and quality assurance with respect to
type of results obtained and validity of them.
- Results have been treated statistically and evaluated with
inclusion of existing knowledge and literature
- All parts of the project are communicated in English in a
comprehensive manner with inclusion of relevant details and
according to the guidelines provided (relevant literature
is included in the Introduction, Results and discussion
sections for comparison and discussion of results
obtained; the
Materials and methods section is written as usually for
papers; Results have been presentented clearly and without
repetitions and unnecessary details).
Course information
- Language
- English
- Course code
- NFOK14021U
- Credit
- 7,5 ECTS
- Level
- Full Degree Master
- Duration
- 1 block
- Placement
- Block 4
- Schedule
- A
- Course capacity
- 30
- Continuing and further education
- Study board
- Study Board of Food, Human Nutrition and Sports
Contracting department
- Department of Food Science
Course responsibles
- Jeanette Otte (jo@food.ku.dk)