Tensile and Barrier Properties of Edible Films Made from Whey Proteins

ABSTRACT: Whey protein isolate (WPI)-based edible biopolymer films were prepared using a film-forming stage designed to provide heat-induced gelation. Effects of whey-protein ratios, calcium, glycerol (plasticizer), and emulsion droplet incorporation on film tensile and barrier properties were investigated. Protein ratios had less influence on tensile strength, elongation, and water vapor permeability than glycerol and calcium ion concentrations. Semitransparent films with reasonably high tensile and UV-light barrier properties and moderate water vapor barrier properties were prepared from WPI:20% glycerol:10 mM calcium solutions. Microstructure analysis revealed the influence of glycerol and calcium concentrations on gel networks, which could be related to film tensile properties.     

Tensile, Solubility, and Electrophoretic Properties of Egg White Films as Affected by Surface Sulfhydryl Groups

Films plasticized with polyethylene glycol were cast from alkaline (pH 10.5, 11.0, or 11.5), aqueous egg white (EW) solutions with or without heating (40°C for 30 min). Prior to casting, concentration of surface sulfhydryl (SH) groups was determined and they increased (P < 0.05) (3.81–19.45 μM/g protein) with both pH and heating, presumably due to protein denaturation and cleavage of disulfide (S-S) bonds. Concentration of surface SH groups correlated (P < 0.05) with film tensile strength (r = 0.70), elongation at break (r = 0.86), and film total soluble matter (r =−0.94). Most likely, surface SH groups formed S-S bonds through air oxidation and/or sulfhydryl/disulfide interchange, thus contributing to EW film formation. SDS-PAGE patterns in presence or absence of 2-mercaptoethanol confirmed occurrence of S-S bonding in dried EW films.     

Lipid Addition to Improve Barrier Properties of Edible Starch-based Films and Coatings

ABSTRACT: Effects of formulation (lipid presence, type of starch, and plasticizer) on microstructure, water vapor (WVP) and gas (GP) permeabilities of films and coatings were analyzed. Plasticizer was necessary to maintain film and coating integrity and to avoid pores and cracks. Films made from high amylose starch showed lower WVP and GP than regular corn starch films; permeabilities of films with sorbitol (20 g/L) were lower than those with glycerol. The addition of 2g/L sunflower oil to the formulations decreased WVP of starch-based films; X-ray diffraction and Differential Scanning Calorimetry experiments demonstrated that films with plasticizer and lipid showed lower crystalline-amorphous ratio compared to films without additives. Microstructural observations helped explain the decrease of the film permeabilities during storage.     

可食性膜阻水特性的研究

本实验采用拟杯子法,以CaCl2为吸水材料,以棉布为膜载体,在温度25±2 ℃、相对湿度为90%±2%的条件下,测定了各种膜的水蒸气透过率,并比较了它们的阻水特性.结果表明,海藻酸钠膜是具有最佳阻水性的多糖膜;明胶膜比大豆蛋白膜阻水性更优;脂质膜的阻水率按以下顺序依次增大:月桂酸＜棕榈酸＜硬脂酸＜石蜡＜蜂蜡,乙酰化单甘酯的阻水性优于单甘酯;增塑剂山梨醇、甘油及乙二醇的加入会使膜的阻水性降低;在三元膜中,脂质膜用作被膜剂比用作乳化剂具有更好的效果.     

Properties of Edible Films from Total Milk Protein

The mechanical properties and water vapor permeability of edible films made from various total milk proteins (TMPs) were investigated. Two TMPs obtained from nonfat dry milk (NDM) by removing lactose and three TMPs obtained from a commercial source were studied. Lactose was extracted from NDM by ultrafiltration or suspension in ethanol followed by filtration. TMP concentrate obtained by ultrafiltration (UF) produced films with the lowest water vapor permeability (WVP) and the highest tensile strength at break. Commercial TMP concentrates produced films more ductile than those from the UF-TMP or retentate from ethanol extraction. Further research is needed to improve mechanical properties of UF-TMP films without increasing the WVP.     

Plasticized Whey Protein Edible Films: Water Vapor Permeability Properties

Heat treatment, protein concentration, and pH effects on water vapor permeability (WVP) of plasticized whey protein films were examined. The best film formation conditions were neutral pH, aqueous 10% (w/w) protein solutions heated for 30 min at 90°. Isoelectric point adjustment of whey protein with calcium ascorbate buffer increased WVP with increasing buffer concentration, The importance of vacuum application to minimize film pore size was identified using scanning electron microscopy. Polyethylene glycol, glycerol and sorbitol plasticizer concentration affected film WVP. Determining the effects of relative humidity on WVP for plasticized whey protein films enabled prediction of film behavior under any water vapor partial pressure gradient.     

转谷氨酰胺酶提高蛋清粉凝胶性能的研究

为改善蛋清粉的加工品质,探讨了酶交联反应对提高蛋清粉凝胶性能的影响。通过研究转谷氨酰胺酶用量、反应温度及作用时间对蛋清粉凝胶强度的影响,采用Box-Benhnken设计对转谷氨酰胺酶交联蛋清粉的凝胶强度进行优化。以蛋清粉凝胶强度为响应值,进行响应面分析。结果表明,转谷氨酰胺酶交联蛋清粉的优化工艺条件为:酶用量6U/g蛋清粉,作用时间3.99h,温度35℃,在此条件下,蛋白粉的凝胶强度达到820g/cm2,与实测值基本一致,说明利用该试验建立的模型在实践中具有可行性。     

Permeability and Mechanical Properties of Cellulose-Based Edible Films

Factors affecting barrier properties [oxygen permeability (OP) and water vapor permeability (WVP)] and mechanical properties [tensile strength (TS) and elongation (E)] were investigated for methyl cellulose (MC) and hydroxypropyl cellulose (HPC) films. OP, WVP and TS of MC and HPC films increased as the molecular weight (MW) of the cellulose increased. E of MC films increased as MW increased, but E of HPC films was highest for the intermediate MW of 370,000. OP, WVP and TS of MC films were not a function of thickness, but E slowly increased as film thickness increased. OP and WVP of HPC films were not relatable to film thickness, but TS and E of HPC films slowly increased as film thickness increased. TS decreased and E increased for both film types as concentration of plasticizers was increased. Plasticizers enhanced or retarded OP and WVP of cellulose-based films, depending on their concentrations.     

Physical and Mechanical Properties of Pea-Protein-based Edible Films

ABSTRACT: Edible films produced from denatured pea protein concentrate (PPC) solution possessed the strength and elasticity to resist handling. Increasing the concentration of the plasticizer (glycerol) in the film decreased tensile strength and elastic modulus, and increased elongation and water vapor permeability (WVP). Very strong and stretch-able films were obtained from 70/30 and 60/40 of PPC/glycerol composition, respectively. The low WVP value was maintained over a range of glycerol concentration from 20% to 40%, in the dry film. Film solubility was not affected significantly by the amount of the plasticizer. The physical and mechanical properties of the PPC films were comparable with those of soy protein and whey protein films.     

CMC与CMC-Na 改性鸡蛋清蛋白溶胶- 凝胶性质研究

将一定质量分数的离子型多糖羧甲基纤维素(CMC)与羧甲基纤维素钠(CMC-Na)分别溶于蛋清中,冷冻干燥后,将得到的样品置于相对湿度为75% 的环境中干热反应一定时间后,通过质构分析、色度分析、SDS-PAGE、差示扫描量热分析、扫描电子显微镜研究鸡蛋清蛋白与CMC 及CMC-Na 交联改性后性质的变化。结果表明：反应温度60℃、反应时间2d 时,各样品的凝胶强度显著增大,凝胶的微观网络更为均匀致密,蛋清粉中的小分子质量蛋白质减少。证明适度的反应可增强蛋清粉的凝胶强度,但随时间延长,过度反应则会造成分子质量过大、溶解度下降,色泽显著加深。起泡性的分析表明：各反应2d 后样品的起泡性均明显增强,其中以60℃,添加0.25% 的CMC 和CMC-Na 的起泡力最强,分别增大了0.6 倍和0.5 倍,泡沫稳定性亦明显增强。证明在此反应条件下,可获得同时兼顾较高凝胶性和较高起泡性的新型蛋白粉。     

Effects of pH and Salts on Physical and Mechanical Properties of Pea Starch Films

To identify the significant contribution of intermolecular hydrogen bonds of starch molecules to the film structure formation, pH of film‐forming solutions was adjusted and also various salts (NaCl, CaCl₂, CaSO₄, and K₂SO₄) were mixed into the glycerol‐plasticized pea starch film. The film made from pH 7 possessed the highest tensile strength‐at‐break (2 times) and elastic modulus (4 to 15 times) and the lowest elongation‐at‐break compared with those of the films made from acid and alkali environments. The pH 7 film also has the highest film density and the lowest total soluble matter. At the level of 0.01 to 0.1 M of CaSO₄ and 0.1 M of K₂SO₄ in a kilogram of starch, the water solubility of the film increased, while chloride salts slightly lowered the solubility. NaCl and CaSO₄ reduced water vapor permeability (WVP), while CaCl₂ slightly increased WVP at 0.01 and 0.06 M concentrations, and K₂SO₄ significantly increased WVP at 0.03 and 0.15 M. Presence of salts increased tensile strength (5 to 14 times than the control films) and elastic modulus (35 to 180 times) of starch film at 0.01 to 0.03 M of CaSO₄ and K₂SO₄. Elongation‐at‐break increased significantly as salt concentration increases to an optimal level. However, when the concentration exceeded above the optimal level, the E of starch films decreased and showed no significant difference from the control film. Overall, the addition of salts modified physical and mechanical properties of pea starch films more than pH adjustment without any salt addition.     

Physical and Mechanical Properties of High-amylose Rice and Pea Starch Films as Affected by Relative Humidity and Plasticizer

ABSTRACT: The tensile properties, water vapor permeability, oxygen permeability at different relative humidities (RH), and water solubility of edible films made of high-amylose rice starch (RS) or pea starch (PS) were measured and compared with the most commonly used edible films. Photomicrography of starch films shows amylopectin-rich gels and amylose-rich granules. The addition of glycerol into starch films made amylose-rich granules swollen and continuously dispersed between amylopectin-rich gels. Tensile strength of RS and PS films decreased when RH increased from 51% to 90%, whereas elongation-at-break (E) of both films increased when RH increased. Water vapor permeabilities of both films were similar, resulting in 130 to 150 g mm/m²/d /kPa. Oxygen permeability of RS and PS were very low (< 0.5 cm³μm/m²/d/kPa) below 40% RH, and 1.2 to 1.4 at 45% RH. Water solubility of PS film was 32.0%, which is lower than that of RS film (44.4%). Overall high-amylose rice and pea starch films possess an excellent oxygen barrier property with extremely high stretchability.     

Physical and Mechanical Properties of Pea Starch Edible Films Containing Beeswax Emulsions

ABSTRACT:  Hydrophobic beeswax emulsions were incorporated into hydrophilic starch films to modify physical, mechanical, and thermal properties of the films. Beeswax was added in the film-forming solution of high-amylose pea starch (35% to 40% amylose w/w) at the level of 0%, 10%, 20%, 30%, and 40% w/w of starch with glycerol as a plasticizer (40/60 of glycerol/starch). Addition of beeswax affected mechanical properties, significantly reducing tensile strength and elongation and increasing elastic modulus. Beeswax addition decreased water vapor permeability and increased oxygen permeability. However, the addition of hydrophobic wax particles in starch films marginally affected these physical properties below 30% beeswax in the films. Beeswax addition at the 40% concentration formed amylose–lipid complex that caused the dramatic changes of physical and thermal properties of the films.     

Ultraviolet Radiation Affects Physical and Molecular Properties of Soy Protein Films

Films were cast from heated, alkaline aqueous solutions of soy protein (5 g/100 mL water) and glycerin (50% w/w of protein). Control and ultraviolet (UV) irradiated (13.0, 25.9,38.9, 51.8, 77.8, or 103.7 J/m²) films were evaluated for tensile strength (TS), elongation at break (E), water vapor permeability (WVP), and Hunter L, a, and b color values. TS increased (p<0.05) linearly while E decreased linearly with UV dosage. WVP was not affected (P>0.05) by UV irradiation. UV treatment intensified the yellowish coloration of films (increased +b values). SDS-PAGE patterns for UV-treated samples revealed bands of aggregates, increasing in intensity with UV dosage, which were absent in control samples. These changes suggested UV-induced cross-linking in films.     

Structural and Rheological Properties of Aerated High Sugar Systems Containing Egg Albumen

ABSTRACT: Structural and rheological properties have been investigated for an aerated system containing a high content of invert sugar and 2 to 10 wt% egg albumen. The specific gravity and the overrun were found to be influenced by the protein concentration and the whipping time. The systems exhibited rheopexy and shear-thinning at high shear rate, with flow data fitted to a power-law model. At small deformations, viscous character was found to dominate over elastic character over the frequency range 10⁻² to 10 Hz. Images taken from confocal microscopy indicated that mean bubble size and concentration varied systematically with protein concentration and whipping time, and that more protein accumulated on the bubble surfaces as whipping proceeded. The study of this model system illustrates how the texture of a high sugar content aerated food depends on protein content and whipping conditions.     

Use of a Mathematical Model to Describe the Barrier Properties of Edible Films

ABSTRACT: A study on the influence of the solubilization and diffusion process on the barrier properties of 4 different edible films is presented. The water and oxygen barrier properties of zein, alginate, casein, and chitosan films were measured at 25°C. A mathematical model was fitted to the experimental data to obtain quantitative information on both solubilization and diffusion process. Results suggest that alginate film, which shows the highest water and oxygen permeability coefficient, has both higher affinity with water and a higher macromolecular mobility than the other 3 films. The lowest water and oxygen permeability coefficient was detected for chitosan and zein films. The casein film has shown an intermediate behavior.     

Influence of pH-Induced Unfolding and Refolding of Egg Albumen on Its Foaming Properties

ABSTRACT: The foaming properties of egg albumen, which had been subjected to low and high pH unfolding followed by refolding, were investigated. The foaming capacity of egg albumen, the stability of the foam, or both, could be improved by an unfolding and refolding regime by choosing proper unfolding and refolding pH values. The foaming capacities of egg albumen were greatly improved when the refolding was at pH 6.5, 7.5, or 8.5, whereas the foaming capacities could be either slightly increased or decreased when the refolding was at pH 4.5 or 5.5 compared with the controls. The foam stability was in almost all cases improved by the unfolding and refolding treatments except for a few cases of unfolding at pH 1.5 or 10.5. The foam stability and liquid drainage were improved most when the unfolding was at pH 12.5. Analysis of total and surface sulfhydryl groups, surface hydrophobicity, and protein analysis by sodium dodecyl sulfate-polyacrylamide gel electrophoresis (SDS-PAGE) provided strong evidence that the partial unfolding of egg albumen proteins as well as the interactions among egg albumen proteins through disulfide and/or hydrophobic groups dictated the improvements in foaming properties. The increase in surface hydrophobicity showed better correlation with the improvement of foaming properties than the change of surface sulfhydryl content did.     

Water Vapor Permeability and Mechanical Properties of Soy Protein Isolate Edible Films Composed of Different Plasticizer Combinations

Water barrier and mechanical properties were measured for soy protein isolate (SPI) films plasticized with glycerol (GLY) and 1 of the plasticizers (propylene glycol [PG], polyethylene glycol [PEG], sorbitol [SOR], or sucrose [SUC]) at a ratio of 25:75, 50:50, 75:25, and 0:100. Plasticizer type as well as the plasticizer ratio in the GLY: plasticizer mixtures affected the film water barrier and mechanical properties. An addition of as little as 25% of a less hygroscopic plasticizer in the mixture induced significant reduction in water vapor permeability (WVP) of SPI films. However, at least 50% of the mixture needs to be GLY to show significant improvement in tensile strength (TS). From our experimental design, 50:50 GLY:SOR was the recommended combination because of its comparatively low WVP value and relatively high flexibility and strength. Incompatibility of GLY:PEG plasticizer mixture in SPI film was observed by surface migration of PEG from the film matrix.     

Barrier and Tensile Properties of Transglutaminase Cross-linked Gelatin Films as Affected by Relative Humidity, Temperature, and Glycerol Content

Gelatin films were prepared by enzymatic cross-linking with transglutaminase, and their mechanical and barrier properties were evaluated as functions of relative humidity (RH, 30 to 75%), temperature (15 to 35°C) and glycerol content (15 to 31%). Water and glycerol plasticized the films synergistically, resulting in greater elongation but lower tensile strength values. Films with higher glycerol contents exhibited higher moisture contents, indicating higher hydrophilicity of the films. Permeabilities of oxygen and allyl isothiocyanate (an antimicrobial vapor from Cruciferae plants) were low when the films were dry, but increased considerably when RH>50%. Therefore, RH conditions during end-use applications must be considered to optimize the performance of these films.     

Physical Properties of Gelatin Films Plasticized by Blends of Glycerol and Sorbitol

ABSTRACT: The addition of plasticizers increases the flexibility and workability of films based on biopolymers. However, the use of some plasticizers cause undesirable results, such as the migration of these additives out the film or crystallization during shelf life. Thus, the aim of this study was to evaluate the effect of blends with different ratios of sorbitol and glycerol, at 2 plasticizer concentrations, on mechanical, viscoelastic, and water vapor barrier properties of films based on gelatin. The films were prepared with 2 g gelatin/100 mL of water and with 25 or 55 g plasticizer/100 g gelatin. The ratio, glycerol to sorbitol, was studied as 0:100, 20:80, 40:60, 60:40, 80:20, and 100:0. The increase of plasticizer concentration from 25 to 55 g plasticizer/100 g gelatin caused an increase of flexibility and reduction of resistance and water vapor barrier as expected. In relation to the effect of the mixture, the increase in the proportion of glycerol caused a reduction of the puncture force, tensile strength, modulus of elasticity, and an increase of the puncture deformation, elongation at break, and water vapor permeability due to the higher plasticizing effect of glycerol. This behavior was explained in terms of molecular weight of the plasticizers, which demonstrated that the studied properties could be considered as functions of the number of molecules of plasticizers in the films.