Volatiles from microwave-treated, stored soybeans

Soybeans were microwaved to inactivate enzymes and prevent oil deterioration during storage. Microwave time was varied from 4 to 10 min, in 2-min increments, and the treated and control soybeans were stored for 8 weeks at 40°C. Damage was monitored by analysis of peroxide value and free fatty acid content of the extracted oil and by volatile analysis of the full-fat meal and extracted oil. Volatiles were measured by multiple headspace extraction, and the formation of hexanal was monitored in both oil and meal. During storage of the control beans, peroxide value increased from 0.41 to 1.20meq/kg, hexanal concentration changed from 29 to 94 ppb and free fatty acid content increased from 0.4 to 1.7%. Oils extracted from soybeans that were microwaved for 4 to 6 min had peroxide values of about 1 meq/kg and hexanal concentrations of 39-44 ppb after storage, indicating partial inactivation of lipoxygenase enzymes. However, soybeans that were microwaved for 8 min or more tended to oxidize during storage to a greater extent than the control soybeans, showing higher peroxide values and greater formation of hexanal in the samples. This suggests that soybeans microwave-treated in excess of 8 min are heat-damaged and susceptible to deterioration during storage. Free fatty acid content of the oils from all of the microwave-treated soybeans was about 0.4% initially, and did not increase with storage, indicating inactivation of hydrolytic enzymes.