Toward a better determination of dairy powders surface composition through XPS matrices development

• Matrices were used on milk powders to transform surface atomic composition (C, O, N) in surface component composition (lactose, proteins, lipids).
• Two new matrices based on the surface bond composition were for the first time tested on milk powders.
• The atomic based experimental matrix was the most reliable and gave results very close to the bulk composition of mixtures.

The surface composition of dairy powders prepared by mixing various amounts of micellar casein (MC), whey proteins isolate (WPI), lactose, and anhydrous milk fat (AMF) was investigated by XPS measurements. The use of matrices are generally accepted to transform surface atomic composition (i.e., C, O, N contents) into surface component composition (i.e., lactose, proteins, lipids). These atomic-based matrices were revisited and two new matrices based on the surface bond composition were developed. Surface compositions obtained from atomic and bond-based matrices were compared. A successful matrix allowing good correlations between XPS predicted and theoretical surface composition for powders free from fat was identified. Nevertheless, samples containing milk fat were found to present a possible segregation of components owing to the AMF overrepresentation on the surface. Supplementary analyses (FTIR, SEM) were carried out in order to investigate the homogeneity of the mixtures.

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