Alejandro G. Marangoni Chimie organique

Un des scientifiques principaux mondiaux de la nourriture étudiant la structure des graisses et des pétroles

"La structure est l'expression finale de la complexité de la nature."

L'histoire

Marangoni\'s work at the University of Guelph has provided new insight into the chemical structure of fats and oils. While working to alter the "spreading point" of butter by randomly changing the positions of the fatty acids in butterfat, he created a product with surprising properties. The product retained the structure of butter, with the identical melting point, solids content and crystal structure, yet had a significantly different texture, remaining soft at refrigerator temperature. An explanation for this apparent anomaly lies in the micro- or nano-scale structure of butter and other oils and fats. Marangoni has made major advances in this new field in the last decade.

Marangoni suggested that fat crystal networks are "fractal" in nature, possessing a dimension which is neither 2-D nor 3-D, but somewhere in between. He has compared this to a sheet of paper which can be 2-D (flat) or 3-D (crumpled into a ball) and anywhere between these extremes. It is the way in which the liquid is mixed which determines the structure of the subsequent solid.

Marangoni\'s research has resulted in ways for food manufacturers to control the melting point of their products which contain milkfat, such as chocolate, confections, butter, margarine and spreads. Marangoni\'s patented process, the Butterfrac® process, is being marketed by his spin-off company, Fractec R&D, Inc.

Sources: Dr Marangoni\'s website; NSERC News Release, March 4, 2002. Photo: Dr Marangoni\'s website.

La personne

Date de naissance
17 janvier 1965
Lieu de naissance
Guayaquil, Equateur
Membres de famille
  • Épouse : Dianne Del Zotto
  • Fils : Isaac, né 1996
D'autres intérêts
1996 maîtres nationaux canadiens nageant le champion Champion 1998 provincial d'Ontario Downriver Whitewater Style libre kayaking, judo concurrentiel
Titre
Professeur d'associé
Bureau
Service des sciences de l'alimentation, université de Guelph
Situation
Working
diplomes
  • Licence internationale, université de Lester B. Pearson du Pacifique (UWC), Victoria, AVANT JÉSUS CHRIST, 1983
  • BSC (chimie agricole), McGill, 1986
  • PhD (sciences de l'alimentation), U de Guelph, 1989
Recompenses
  • Research Excellence Award, 1999 de ministre
  • Jeune récompense de recherches de scientifique (société américaine de chimistes du pétrole), 2000
  • Camaraderie de Steacie (NSERC), 2002
Dernier mis à jour
17 juin 2015
Popularité
34818

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