An Efficient Processing Strategy to Improve the Flavor Profile of Egg Yolk: Ozone-Mediated Oxidation

This study investigated the effect of ozone treatment on egg yolk volatiles and fatty acids. The composition and content of volatile substances and the fatty acid content of the egg yolk were changed significantly after ozonation. With proper ozone treatment (30 min), the aldehyde content in the egg yolk increased from 78.08% to 94.63%, and the relative content of dibutyl amine decreased from 1.50% to 0.00%. There were no significant differences among the types of fatty acids in the egg yolks after being treated with ozone, but there were differences in their relative contents. The results of SDS-PAGE showed no significant difference in yolk protein composition and contents among the groups. SEM results showed that moderate ozone treatment (20 min and 30 min) led to a regular and dense network structure of egg yolk. These results provided a theoretical basis for expanding the application of ozone technology in the egg yolk processing industry.