Basic Theory of Ice Crystallization Based on Water Molecular Structure and Ice Structure

Abstract

Freezing storage is the most common method of food preservation and the formation of ice crystals during freezing has an important impact on food quality. The water molecular structure, mechanism of ice crystal formation, and ice crystal structure are elaborated in the present review. Meanwhile the methods of ice crystal characterization are outlined. It is concluded that the distribution of the water molecule cluster structure during the crystallization process directly affects the formed ice crystals' structure, but the intrinsic relationship needs to be further investigated. The morphology and distribution of ice crystals can be observed by experimental methods while simulation methods provide the possibility to study the molecular structure changes in water and ice crystals. It is hoped that this review will provide more information about ice crystallization and promote the control of ice crystals in frozen foods.

Keywords: frozen food; ice crystallization; ice crystallization characterization; water and ice crystal structure.

Figure 5

Hydrogen-bonded networks of the various polymorphs of ice. Reprinted with permission from Ref. [36]. Copyright 8 February 2019, copyright Salzmann, Christoph G.

Figure 6

Different methods for characterizing ice crystals: (A) light microscopy (frozen section) Reprinted/adapted with permission from Ref. [42] Copyright 6 October 2018, copyright Qinxiu Sun, Fangda Sun, Xiufang Xia, Honghua Xu, Baohua Kong. (B) scanning electron microscopy Reprinted with permission from Ref [28]. Copyright 1 July 2019, copyright Qinxiu Sun, Xinxin Zhao, Chao Zhang, Xiufang Xia, Fangda Sun, Baohua Kong. (C) light microscopy (paraffin sections) Reprinted with permission from Ref [44]. Copyright 16 April 2022, Zuomiao Yang, Shucheng Liu, Qinxiu Sun, Ouyang Zheng, Shuai Wei, Qiuyu Xia, Hongwu Ji, Chujin Deng, Jiming Hao, Jie Xu. (D) transmission electron microscopy. Reprinted with permission from Ref [46]. Copyright 1 April 2021, copyright Qinxiu Sun, Baohua Kong, Shucheng Liu, Ouyang Zheng, Chao Zhang. (E) cryo-electron microscopy. Reprinted with permission from Ref [47]. Copyright 1 October 2022, copyright James D. Gillis, William V. Holt, Linda M. Penfold, Kathryn J. Woad, James K. Graham, Julie A. Watts, David S. Gardner, Lisa Yon. (F) environmental scanning electron microscopy. Reprinted with permission from Ref [48]. Copyright 30 July 2020, copyright Ľubica Vetráková, Vilém Neděla, Jiří Runštuk, Eva Tihlaříková, Dominik Heger, Evgenyi Shalaev. (G) magnetic resonance imaging (¹H spin-density images of the nucleation and recalescence of a 20% w/w sucrose droplet freezing in still air at −25 °C. The time between frames was 0.5 s). Reprinted with permission from Ref [49]. Copyright 1 May 2004, copyright J.P. Hindmarsh, C. Buckley, A.B. Russell, X.D. Chen, L.F. Gladden, D.I. Wilson, M.L. Johns. and (H) X-ray imaging. Reprinted with permission from Ref [50]. Copyright 1 December 2022, copyright Amira Zennoune, Pierre Latil, Frederic Flin, Jonathan Perrin, Timm Weitkamp, Mario Scheel, Christian Geindreau, Hayat Benkhelifa, Fatou-Toutie Ndoye.

Figure 1

Typical cluster structures of water molecules. (A) Electron distribution of water molecules. (B) Polarity of water molecules. (C) Crystalline structure of water molecules. (D) Structure of dimeric water molecular clusters. (E) Structure of trimeric water molecular clusters. (F) Structure of tetrameric water molecular clusters. (G) Structure of pentameric water molecular clusters. (H) Structure of hexameric water molecular clusters.

Figure 2

Schematic diagram of forming polyhedron in ice fusion processes.

Figure 3

Typical freezing curve of water (A) and common carp (B). Reprinted with permission from Ref. [28]. Copyright 1 July 2019, copyright Qinxiu Sun, Xinxin Zhao, Chao Zhang, Xiufang Xia, Fangda Sun, Baohua Kong. Abbreviations: T₀, initial temperature; T_f, freezing temperature; T_n, nucleation temperature; T_e, freezing endpoint temperature.

Figure 4

(A) Solid–liquid phase diagram of ice under positive pressure. Reprinted with permission from Ref. [32]. Copyright 24 May 2012, copyright Thorsten Bartels-Rausch et al. (B) Solid–liquid phase diagram of ice under negative pressures with the TIP4P/2005 model.