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Application of chlorine dioxide as a flour whitening and gluten-strengthening agent

29 - Apr - 2026

Flour whitening and strengthening agents are commonly used improvers that whiten flour and strengthen its gluten. Potassium bromate was first used as a flour whitening agent in the United States in 1914, and has been used for over 90 years. However, with in-depth research into the properties of potassium bromate, it was discovered that it has carcinogenic effects , and therefore many countries have banned its use. Relevant departments in China have also paid close attention to this issue, with national standards specifying a maximum usage of 0.03 g/kg and requiring that it not be detected in the final food product. Therefore, the application of potassium bromate in flour whitening and strengthening has gradually lost its dominant position.

Benzoyl peroxide (BPO) has strong oxidizing properties, can bleach flour, is easy to weigh, and is convenient to use. The mechanism by which benzoyl peroxide whitens flour is as follows: it hydrolyzes under the action of air and enzymes, releasing reactive oxygen species, which oxidize and destroy the conjugated double bonds of pigments such as carotene and lutein in the flour, causing the unsaturated fat-soluble pigments in the flour to denature and lose their color. The disadvantage is that the benzoic acid produced after the hydrolysis of benzoyl peroxide releases reactive oxygen species remains in the flour, affecting the taste of flour products. The component ratio is: 10%–30% emulsifier, 15%–25% tripolyphosphate, 0%–5% calcium carbonate, 5%–25% stable solid chlorine dioxide, 0.2%–2% silicon dioxide, and 30%–60% starch (all percentages are by mass). Experiments show that after adding this additive to flour, the evaluation values such as formation time, stability time, tensile resistance, tensile strength ratio, and flour strength are significantly improved, with effects comparable to potassium bromate gluten strengthener. Furthermore, the whiteness of the produced flour is equivalent to that of flour treated with benzoyl peroxide. The finished steamed and baked products also show improvements in appearance, color, volume, specific volume, internal structure, palatability, and taste, especially in northern-style steamed buns. Moreover, this whitening and strengthening agent leaves no residue in food, is harmless to the human body, and is easy to use.

Using chlorine dioxide gas to treat flour can not only promote flour maturation and gluten development, but also bleach the flour. Moreover, no toxic residues harmful to the human body are produced after the reaction. It is a better chemical substitute for potassium bromate and benzoyl peroxide in flour improvement. However, chlorine dioxide gas is not easy to weigh and control, has a strong odor, which is extremely inconvenient for industrial applications. In addition, there is a lot of waste and loss during use, and the cost is high.

In summary, traditional flour whitening and strengthening agents, such as potassium bromate and benzoyl peroxide, all contain chemicals harmful to the human body and are not suitable for consumption. While chlorine dioxide gas has a good whitening and strengthening effect , its use is inconvenient and difficult to industrialize. Therefore, the market currently needs a new type of flour whitening and strengthening agent that is non-toxic, has significant effects, and is easy to use, to replace traditional products.

A novel flour whitening and strengthening agent is available, which mainly consists of stable solid chlorine dioxide, emulsifier, pH adjuster, and dispersant. It is formulated by compounding solid chlorine dioxide, calcium stearoyl lactylate (CSL)/sodium stearoyl lactylate (SSL), alkaline phosphate, calcium carbonate, and modified starch in a certain proportion to coordinate the effects of various components. The component proportions are: 10% to 30% emulsifier, 15% to 25% tripolyphosphate, 0% to 5% calcium carbonate, 5% to 25% stable solid chlorine dioxide, 0.2% to 2% silicon dioxide, and 30% to 60% starch (all percentages are by mass). Experiments show that after adding this additive to flour, the evaluation values such as formation time, stability time, tensile resistance, tensile strength ratio, and flour strength are significantly improved, with effects comparable to potassium bromate gluten strengthener. Furthermore, the whiteness of the produced flour is equivalent to that of flour treated with benzoyl peroxide. The finished steamed and baked products also show improvements in appearance, color, volume, specific volume, internal structure, palatability, and taste, especially in northern-style steamed buns. Moreover, this whitening and strengthening agent leaves no residue in food, is harmless to the human body, and is easy to use.