INFLUENCE OF SOME HOMOIONIC CLAYS ON THE FORMATION OF MELANOIDINIC COMPOUNDS FROM GLUCOSE AND TRYPTOPHAN

The formation of melanoidin-type compounds (Maillard reaction), in the presence of homoionic clays (Ca- and Al-montmorillonite, Ca- and Al-k aolinite) and powdered quartz were investigated. The starting substanc es were D-glucose and L-tryptophan, and these systems were submitted t o wetting-drying cycles at 70-degrees-C. The clays resulted able to pr omote, to a different extent, the formation of dark coloured polymers, Al-montmorillonite being the most effective. The efficacy of quartz r esulted negligible.