Benzoyl peroxide flour bleaching

Oxidizer Ammonium persulfate Benzoyl peroxide Flour color improver Oxidizer for use in bleaching oils and flours... 

Benzoyl peroxide [94-36-0], is a bleaching agent that is typically added at the flour mill at a level between 0.015 and 0.075%. This additive... 

If flour is allowed to age for about a month, its natural yellowish color will fade to white due to the effects of oxygen. This aging period can allow insects to spoil the flour, and is often eliminated by adding bleaching agents, such as benzoyl peroxide. 

Benzoyl peroxide is used as a bleaching agent in wheat flour, but its more familiar use is as a powerful acne medication that can lay claim to the following benefits ... 

Wheat flour typically becomes white by means of normal oxidation in air during a few weeks of storage. To speed up the process, manufacturers use benzoyl peroxide as a bleaching agent. Sulfur dioxide is a reducing bleaching agent that is used to preserve dried fruits. 

Benzoic acid is a by-product of benzoyl peroxide used in the bleaching of freshly milled wheat flour. A maximum benzoic acid concentration of 16 ppm was reported after 12 h of bleaching. The concentration decreased to 6 ppm after 3 months (Saiz et al., 2001). 

Benzoyl peroxide is used as an initiator for polymerization of acrylates (including dental cements and restoratives) and other polymers as a bleaching agent for flour, fats, oils, waxes and milk used in the preparation of certain cheeses in pharmaceuticals for the topical treatment of acne in rubber curing and as a finishing agent for some acetate yams (Anon., 1984 Lewis, 1993 Medical Economics Co., 1996 United States Food and Dmg Administration, 1997). 

Benzoyl peroxide is used as a source of free radicals in many organic syntheses and to initiate polymerizations of styrene, vinyl chloride, vinyl acetate, and acrylics to cure thermoset polyester resins and silicone rubbers in medicine for treating acne and for bleaching vegetable oil, cheese, flour, and fats. 

Benzoyl peroxide has also been used to bleach flour. Fisher (1989) reported two bakers with contact sensitivity to benzoyl peroxide, one of whom had a positive patch test to 1% benzoyl peroxide in petrolatum. 

Benzoyl peroxide Chemical compound used for the bleaching of flour. 

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