Abstract The goal of the present work was to evaluate the impact of the particle size (D90) of microfluidized pea hull fibre suspensions on the physical microstructure, composition and functional properties (i.e. water retention capacity and rheological behaviour). To that end, fibre suspensions with D90 of 120, 100, 80 and 60 μm were produced. Among them, the suspensions of 100 and 80 μm were produced employing two different processing conditions to evaluate the impact of processing on the microstructure and functionality. Suspensions with smaller particles (D90 ≤ 80 μm) presented a thermal stable, pseudoplastic, thixotropic and viscoelastic behaviour varying their elastic modulus in the linear viscoelastic region from 19 to 89 Pa for suspensions with D90 of 80 and 60 μm. By decreasing the D90, it was observed a continuous defibrillation of aggregates of cellulosic macrofibrils, into macrofibrils and microfibrils. Consequently, the number of particles and their interactions by electrostatic and friction forces increased. Alcohol insoluble substances, released from the hemicellulosic and pectic networks, were only detected for the suspensions with D90 = 60 μm. In this case, particles presented inter-fibrillar voids that may increase their flexibility and functionality. For a given particle size distribution, the processing conditions had negligible effect on the functionality. In summary, functionality of microfluidized fibre suspensions may be tuned by controlling the release of alcohol insoluble substances and the defibrillation of the cellulosic network, process conditions then can follow energetic or economic criteria.

中文翻译：

---

微流化对豌豆壳纤维微观结构和功能特性的影响

摘要 本工作的目的是评估微流化豌豆壳纤维悬浮液的粒径 (D90) 对物理微观结构、组成和功能特性（即保水能力和流变行为）的影响。为此，生产了 D90 为 120、100、80 和 60 μm 的纤维悬浮液。其中，采用两种不同的加工条件生产 100 和 80 μm 的悬浮液，以评估加工对微观结构和功能的影响。对于 D90 为 80 和 60 μm 的悬浮液，具有较小颗粒 (D90 ≤ 80 μm) 的悬浮液呈现出热稳定、假塑性、触变和粘弹性行为，其线性粘弹性区域的弹性模量从 19 到 89 Pa。通过降低 D90，观察到纤维素巨纤的聚集体连续去纤颤，形成巨纤和微纤。因此，粒子的数量及其通过静电和摩擦力的相互作用增加。从半纤维素和果胶网络释放的酒精不溶性物质仅在 D90 = 60 μm 的悬浮液中检测到。在这种情况下，颗粒呈现出纤维间空隙，这可能会增加它们的灵活性和功能性。对于给定的粒度分布，加工条件对功能的影响可以忽略不计。总之，微流化纤维悬浮液的功能可以通过控制醇不溶性物质的释放和纤维素网络的去纤颤来调节，然后工艺条件可以遵循能量或经济标准。