Application of the Frozen Thin Sectioning Method to the Observation and X-ray Microanalysis of Cheese by Using an Analytical Transmission Electron Microscope

Abstract

A frozen thin section of commercially available process cheese was prepared and transferred into an analytical transmission electron microscope by using a cryotransfer holder. The frozen thin section was then observed and X-ray microanalyzed. And also, it was compared with an Epon-em-bedded thin section. As a result, in the frozen thin section, especially large contents of P and Ca were detected from granules (0.2-1μm dia.), and Na, P, S, Cl, K, Ca were detected from smaller granules (20nm dia.). In the Epon-embedded thin section, however, these granules were not observed. It seems that the frozen thin sectioning method is effective for observing the inner structures of the native state of cheese and for carrying out X-ray microanalysis.