molecules-logo

Journal Browser

Journal Browser

Chemical Transformations and Analysis in Food: Nutrition, Flavor Compounds, and Microbiological Research

A special issue of Molecules (ISSN 1420-3049). This special issue belongs to the section "Food Chemistry".

Deadline for manuscript submissions: 30 June 2026 | Viewed by 708

Special Issue Editors

Yunnan Key Laboratory for Food Advanced Manufacturing, Faculty of Food Science and Engineering, Kunming University of Science and Technology, Kunming 650500, China
Interests: food fermentation; fermentation technology; food microbiology; flavor compounds; flavor formation; flavor improvement
Special Issues, Collections and Topics in MDPI journals

E-Mail Website
Guest Editor
Yunnan Key Laboratory for Food Advanced Manufacturing, Faculty of Food Science and Engineering, Kunming University of Science and Technology, Kunming 650500, China
Interests: animal-derived food processing and manufacturing; salt reduction in foods; food taste and aroma; food colloidal delivery; flavor stabilization; biodegradable films

E-Mail Website
Guest Editor
Yunnan Key Laboratory for Food Advanced Manufacturing, Faculty of Food Science and Engineering, Kunming University of Science and Technology, Kunming 650500, China
Interests: food flavor chemistry; molecular sensory science; Maillard reaction intermediates; food additives; meat product quality control; microwave processing; food physical properties

Special Issue Information

Dear Colleagues,

The flavor, nutrition, and safety of food are inextricably linked to its intrinsic chemical composition and transformative processes. These changes originate from the raw materials themselves and occur during processing, storage, and microbial fermentation, profoundly impacting the final quality of food products. In-depth research into the chemical transformations between food components, the evolution of nutrients, the formation mechanisms of flavor compounds, and the role of microorganisms is crucial for advancements in food science. The objective of this Special Issue is to compile original research articles and reviews focusing on novel methods for the chemical analysis of food nutrition and flavor, the kinetics and mechanisms of chemical transformations, the contribution of microbial metabolism to food quality, and the application of relevant analytical techniques in food research and development. Understanding these dynamics requires a multidisciplinary approach at the intersection of chemistry, microbiology, and sensory science. Particular emphasis will be given to research that integrates these perspectives to achieve a holistic understanding of food quality evolution. Such cross-disciplinary insights are essential for developing novel strategies to enhance food nutrition, flavor, and safety in a sustainable manner.

Dr. Zhijia Liu
Dr. Xuejiao Wang
Dr. Xingwei Wang
Guest Editors

Manuscript Submission Information

Manuscripts should be submitted online at www.mdpi.com by registering and logging in to this website. Once you are registered, click here to go to the submission form. Manuscripts can be submitted until the deadline. All submissions that pass pre-check are peer-reviewed. Accepted papers will be published continuously in the journal (as soon as accepted) and will be listed together on the special issue website. Research articles, review articles as well as short communications are invited. For planned papers, a title and short abstract (about 250 words) can be sent to the Editorial Office for assessment.

Submitted manuscripts should not have been published previously, nor be under consideration for publication elsewhere (except conference proceedings papers). All manuscripts are thoroughly refereed through a single-blind peer-review process. A guide for authors and other relevant information for submission of manuscripts is available on the Instructions for Authors page. Molecules is an international peer-reviewed open access semimonthly journal published by MDPI.

Please visit the Instructions for Authors page before submitting a manuscript. The Article Processing Charge (APC) for publication in this open access journal is 2700 CHF (Swiss Francs). Submitted papers should be well formatted and use good English. Authors may use MDPI's English editing service prior to publication or during author revisions.

Keywords

  • flavor compounds
  • fermented food
  • flavor formation
  • flavor compound production/synthesis

Benefits of Publishing in a Special Issue

  • Ease of navigation: Grouping papers by topic helps scholars navigate broad scope journals more efficiently.
  • Greater discoverability: Special Issues support the reach and impact of scientific research. Articles in Special Issues are more discoverable and cited more frequently.
  • Expansion of research network: Special Issues facilitate connections among authors, fostering scientific collaborations.
  • External promotion: Articles in Special Issues are often promoted through the journal's social media, increasing their visibility.
  • Reprint: MDPI Books provides the opportunity to republish successful Special Issues in book format, both online and in print.

Further information on MDPI's Special Issue policies can be found here.

Published Papers (1 paper)

Order results
Result details
Select all
Export citation of selected articles as:

Research

19 pages, 2663 KB  
Article
Enhancing Antioxidant and Flavor of Xuanwei Ham Bone Hydrolysates via Ultrasound and Microwave Pretreatment: A Backpropagation Artificial Neural Network Model Prediction
by Xin Chen, Xianchao Feng, Xingwei Wang, Nianwen Zhang, Yuxia Jin, Jianxin Cao, Xuejiao Wang and Chaofan Guo
Molecules 2026, 31(1), 188; https://doi.org/10.3390/molecules31010188 - 4 Jan 2026
Viewed by 520
Abstract
This study aimed to produce the hydrolysates of Xuanwei ham bone using enzymatic hydrolysis assisted by microwave and ultrasound pretreatment. A back propagation artificial neural network (BP-ANN) model was utilized to predict the optimal conditions, which involved 15 W/g bone for 15 min [...] Read more.
This study aimed to produce the hydrolysates of Xuanwei ham bone using enzymatic hydrolysis assisted by microwave and ultrasound pretreatment. A back propagation artificial neural network (BP-ANN) model was utilized to predict the optimal conditions, which involved 15 W/g bone for 15 min of ultrasound pretreatment and 5 W/g bone for 30 min of microwave pretreatment, achieving the highest degree of hydrolysis (DH). The model predicted a DH of 27.69, closely aligning with the experimentally measured actual DH of 28.33. DPPH radical scavenging and TBARS demonstrated that hydrolysates prepared by ultrasound combined microwave pretreatment (UMH) exhibited the highest antioxidant activity and significantly inhibited lipid oxidation. GC-MS analysis revealed that the UMH showed removal of bitter volatile flavor compounds, such as o-Cresol and m-Cresol, the retention of aromatic volatile compounds, such as 2-pentylfuran, formation of new aromatic volatile compounds such as 3-methylbutanal, and the reduction in certain aldehyde and ketone compounds. Pearson correlation analysis elucidated that the reduction in aldehyde and ketone compounds was positively linked to the enhanced antioxidant capacity of UMH. The results obtained hold substantial significance for enhancing the added value of Xuanwei ham within the food industry. Full article
Show Figures

Graphical abstract

Back to TopTop