Native and modified porcine plasma protein as wall materials for microencapsulation of natural essential oils

Porcine plasma protein (PPP) is of interest as a wall material to encapsulate lemongrass oil, turmeric oil and eucalyptus oil using emulsion technique and freeze drying. The properties of microcapsules were used to evaluate two types of wall material (native porcine plasma protein; NPPP and modified porcine plasma protein; MPPP) at two different ratios of wall material (W) and core material (C) (W:C; 4:1 and 3:1). All NPPP and MPPP emulsions showed Bingham plastic fluid flow behaviours. Moreover, MPPP microcapsules showed lower free oil content on their surface (0.10–0.50%) with higher encapsulation efficiency (91–98%). Fourier-transform infrared spectroscopy showed the outstanding chemical structure of microcapsules. Furthermore, scanning electron microscopy indicated holes on the surface of microcapsules encapsulated with essential oils. Both PPPs can be used as encapsulation material for natural extract and food additives to improve the food texture and as a biopolymer film to maintain the quality of food products.     

Rice straw paper incorporated with activated carbon as an ethylene scavenger in a paper‐making process

Rice straw contains cellulose as its main carbohydrate component, which is the major constituent for making rice straw paper as an alternative use of the residue. The objectives of this study were to determine a rice straw paper‐making process incorporating activated carbon (AC) and the effect of AC and the glucomannan (GLU) content on the physical and mechanical properties, including the ethylene adsorption capacity of rice straw paper containing AC. The results showed that AC was an effective ethylene scavenger, and it was possible to incorporate it into the rice straw paper‐making process. Increasing the AC content increased the ethylene adsorption capacity but decreased the strength of the AC‐rice straw paper. GLU maintained the strength of the rice straw paper but did not affect the ethylene adsorption capacity. Incorporation of 30% AC content with 0.3% GLU in the AC‐rice straw paper produced the maximum level of ethylene scavenging (77%). Moreover, AC‐rice straw paper is an environmentally friendly material owing to its reusability, and it has the potential for applications in food and agricultural packaging because it can act as an ethylene scavenger and also provide protection against mechanical damage.     

Effect of clay content on the physical and antimicrobial properties of whey protein isolate/organo-clay composite films

Whey protein isolate (WPI)/Cloisite 30B organo-clay composite films with different amounts of the clay (0, 5, 10, and 20 g/100 g WPI) were prepared using a solution casting method and their properties were determined to assess the effects of clay content on film properties. The resulting films had an opaque appearance, which depended on the amount of clay added, and a similar gloss. However, the composite films were slightly less transparent compared to the transparent neat WPI films. Film properties, such as surface color and optical properties, varied depending on clay content. The haze index of the WPI/clay composite films as assessed by surface reflectance decreased indicating that the surface of the films was more smooth and homogeneous. The tensile and water vapor barrier properties of the composite films were also influenced by the amount of incorporated clay. In addition, WPI/Cloisite 30B composite films showed a beneficially bacteriostatic effect against Listeria monocytogenes.     

Water Vapor Permeability and Solubility of Films from Hydrolyzed Whey Protein

ABSTRACT: The effects of whey protein hydrolysis on film water vapor permeability (WVP) and solubility at 3 plasticizer levels were studied. Little or no significant difference (p > 0.05) appeared for film WVP between unhydrolyzed whey protein isolate (WPI), 5.5% degree of hydrolysis (DH) WPI and 10% DH WPI films at comparable plasticizer contents. However, increase in glycerol (gly) content significantly increased film WVP. Thus, reduction in WPI molecular weight (MW) through hydrolysis may be a better approach to improving film flexibility than addition of plasticizer. Both 5.5% and 10% DH WPI had significantly different (p ≤ 0.05) film solubility compared to unhydrolyzed WPI. Soluble Protein (SP) and total soluble matter (TSM) of hydrolyzed WPI films were much higher than for unhydrolyzed WPI films.     

Modification and characterisation of porcine plasma protein with natural agents as potential cross‐linkers

Modification of porcine plasma protein (PPP) using the natural cross‐linkers at different concentrations of rutin (0.6–1% w/w), caffeic acid (1–3% w/w) and genipin (0.15–0.5% w/w) on chemical and thermal properties of PPP was investigated. Among these, rutin was the most significant effective natural agent corresponding to a decrease in the free amino group and sulphydryl group contents including a change in the protein bands’ intensity from SDS‐PAGE. However, genipin exhibited greater thermal properties of modified PPP. Moreover, the modification affected the colour of PPP and a change in the FT‐IR spectra of the samples. The suitable concentrations of each natural agent were 0.6% rutin, 0.5% genipin and 3% caffeic acid. Therefore, natural cross‐linkers such as rutin, caffeic acid and genipin can be considered as alternative cross‐linkers to improve the properties of PPP for food processing and biopolymer material applications as they are nontoxic.     

Effect of banana and plasticizer types on mechanical,water barrier,and heat sealability of plasticized banana‐based films

Unripe banana flour and starch were used to formulate plasticized banana‐based films (flour film, PBF; starch film, PBS) with two types of plasticizers (glycerol, Gly; sorbitol, Sor) and a mixture of Gly‐Sor on film properties. PBS showed greater water barrier, elongation at break, toughness, and transparency, but lower efficiency in heat sealability than PBF. However, the easier and a higher yield in the preparation process of PBF lead to higher UV and visible light barrier than PBS which could be due to its protein content and the presence of phenolic compounds in PBF. Both banana films plasticized with Sor showed high glossiness, high efficiency in heat sealability, and mechanical and water barrier properties; however, the undesirable recrystallization of white crystals resulted in lower film flexibility. Thus, Gly‐Sor was preferred without change of water barrier but strengthened heat sealability. Therefore, banana‐based film might be considered as a green food packaging material.

Practical applications

Banana flour and starch from unripe bananas can be used as safe food ingredients for food products and as green biodegradable packaging materials. Banana flour film showed similar mechanical properties as banana starch film but involved easier processing and higher yield in the preparation of banana flour. Moreover, banana flour films had higher efficiency in heat sealability with the potential to protect the packed food from UV–visible light deterioration. Furthermore, an easier way to modify proper film properties is by the proper selection of the plasticizer. A mixture of plasticizers (glycerol and sorbitol) showed high potential to improve long‐term physical stability such as through UV–visible light prevention, and improved mechanical properties and heat sealability of plasticized banana‐based films. Briefly, plasticized banana flour film with a mixture of plasticizer will be potential, alternative biodegradable packaging material to reduce the use of nonbiodegradable synthetic plastic materials in food applications.     

Active Banana Flour Nanocomposite Films Incorporated with Garlic Essential Oil as Multifunctional Packaging Material for Food Application

Active plasticized banana flour nanocomposite film (APBNF) incorporated with a different garlic essential oil (GO) content was formed using a solution casting to determine the film properties prior to the investigation of its effectiveness to preserve the roasted peanut quality. The GO concentration was positively correlated with the ultraviolet (UV) light barrier property and antioxidant activity indicating the ability to protect the packed food product from lipid oxidation. Additionally, incorporation of 1 mg/mL GO into APBNF showed the highest antioxidant activity and completely inhibited the growth of Aspergillus flavus. Fourier-transform infrared spectroscopy confirmed the functional group interactions between the film matrix and GO which act as an antioxidant and antimicrobial agent. Thus, APBNF incorporated with 1 mg/mL GO as an active packaging to preserve the quality of roasted peanuts was investigated comparing with a commercial plastic packaging of polyethylene terephthalate/low-density polyethylene (PET/LDPE; PET). The shelf life estimation of roasted peanuts packed in both packaging materials (APBNF and PET) based on the peroxide value (PV) was similar at high storage temperature (45 °C). Therefore, APBNF shows a multifunctional primary food packaging to maintain the quality of roasted peanuts or oily food products.     

Formation Conditions, Water-vapor Permeability, and Solubility of Compression-molded Whey Protein Films

ABSTRACT: Films based on whey protein isolate (WPI) were formed using compression molding. Compression molded films could be formed using 30% to 50% moisture content or glycerol content WPI at 104 °C to 160 °C for 2 min. Films made from water-WPI mixtures were brittle and insoluble and had water-vapor permeability values independent of starting water-WPI mixture moisture content, molding temperature, or molding pressure. Gly-WPI films produced at 104 °C were flexible and partially soluble. Gly-WPI films produced at 140 °C were also flexible but nearly insoluble. Glycerol content and molding temperature and pressure had little effect on water-vapor permeability values of Gly-WPI films over the range of conditions studied.     

Properties of sericin–glucomannan composite films

Sericin is a natural silk protein which is removed from silk in a process called degumming. Thus, finding a use for the extracted sericin as a biopolymer film will create added value which will benefit both the economy and society. It was found that extracted sericin could not form stand-alone films. Therefore, glucomannan was incorporated with or without glycerol to form a flexible film. Sericin and glucomannan ratio (S:G) affected film properties. Increasing sericin content (S:G = 2:1) slightly reduced film water vapour permeability (WVP) without adding glycerol (Gly). This indicated that sericin provided film flexibility without increasing film WVP. As expected, increasing glycerol content increased film WVP as well as decreased tensile strength and elastic modulus but increased dramatically % elongation. It is interesting that adding beeswax to form a composite film did not improve film water vapour barrier. Thus, sericin-based film properties are dependent on components used to form film and can tailor to form the desired film flexibility and minimise permeability of films for application.