Physical properties of edible films based on cassava starch as affected by the plasticizer concentration

The aim of this work was to investigate the effect of glycerol contents on physical properties of cassava starch films. The films were prepared from film‐forming solutions (FFS) with 2g cassava starch/100g water and 0, 15, 30 and 45g glycerol/100g starch, and were analysed to determine its mechanical properties by tensile tests, the glass‐transition temperature (Tg) by differential scanning calorimetry (DSC) and the crystallinity by X‐ray diffraction (XRD). The infrared spectra of the films were also recorded. The resistance values of the films decreased, while those of the elasticity increased with an increase in glycerol concentration due to the plasticizer effect of glycerol, which was also observed in DSC curves. The Tg of the films prepared decreased with the glycerol content. However, for samples with 30 and 45g glycerol/100g starch, two Tg curves were observed, probably due to a phase separation phenomenon. According to the XRD diffractograms, the films with 0 and 15gglycerol/100g starch presented an amorphous character, but some tendency to show crystalline peaks were observed for films with 30 and 45g glycerol/100g starch. The results obtained with Fourier transform infrared (FTIR) corroborated these observations. Copyright © 2007 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.     

Effects of glycerol and sorbitol on optical,mechanical, and gas barrier properties of potato peel‐based films

Potato peel is a by‐product of potato‐based food production and seen as a zero‐ or negative‐value waste of which millions of tons are produced every year. Previous studies showed that potato peel is a potential material for film development when plasticized with 10% to 50% glycerol (w/w potato peel). To further investigate potato peel as a film‐forming material, potato peel‐based films containing the plasticizer sorbitol were prepared and investigated on their physicochemical properties in addition to films containing glycerol. Due to sufficient producibility and handling of casted films in preliminary trials, potato peel‐based films containing 50%, 60%, or 70% glycerol (w/w potato peel) and films containing 90%, 100%, or 110% sorbitol (w/w potato peel) were prepared in this study. Generally, with increasing plasticizer concentration, water vapor and oxygen permeability of the films increased. Films containing glycerol showed higher water vapor and oxygen permeabilities than films containing sorbitol. Young's modulus, tensile strength, and elongation at break decreased with increasing sorbitol concentration, whereas no significant effect of plasticizer content on elongation at break was shown in films containing glycerol. Due to crystallization of films containing sorbitol as a plasticizer, potato peel‐based films containing 50% glycerol (w/w) were identified as the most promising films, characterized by a water vapor transmission rate of 268 g 100 μm m^?2 d^?1 and an oxygen permeability of 4 cm³ 100 μm m^?2 d^?1 bar^?1. Therefore, potato peel‐based cast films in this study showed comparable tensile properties with those of potato starch‐based films, comparable water vapor barrier with those of whey protein‐based films, and comparable oxygen barrier with those of polyamide films.     

Potassium sorbate controlled release from corn starch films

Active starch films with glycerol and potassium sorbate were obtained by casting. Native and acetylated corn starches, as well as the mixture of them in equal proportions were used and filmogenic suspensions with pH 4.5 were also prepared. Sorbate concentration decreased during film storage due to its oxidative degradation. Active films resulted more yellow and less transparent than films without sorbate. The minimum inhibitory concentration of sorbate resulted 0.3%, regardless of the starch type and the formulation pH. The use of antimicrobial package was more effective to prevent microbial growth on food surfaces than the use of conventional methods. Additive kinetic release was neither affected by the starch type nor by the formulation pH. Sorbate diffusion process was mathematically modeled satisfactorily. Active films were able to inhibit Candida spp., Penicillium spp., S. aureus and Salmonella spp. growth. Active films extended 21% the shelf life of refrigerated cheese, regardless of the formulation pH.     

增塑剂对马铃薯淀粉基复合膜物理机械性能的影响

以马铃薯淀粉、普鲁兰多糖、明胶为成膜物质,氯化钙为交联剂,甘油、山梨醇、聚乙二醇为增塑剂,采用流延法制备了马铃薯淀粉基复合膜,研究了3种增塑剂对复合膜物理机械性能的影响。结果表明:复合膜的抗拉强度和弹性模量均随增塑剂含量的增加而显著减小,断裂伸长率随甘油和山梨醇含量的增加而显著增加,聚乙二醇对其影响不显著;复合膜的水蒸气透过率和水溶性均随增塑剂含量的增加而增加;聚乙二醇能够显著降低复合膜的透光率。     

Glycerol with different purity grades derived from biodiesel: Effect on the mechanical and viscoelastic properties of biodegradable strands and films

The objectives of this work were to produce biodegradable films by blown extrusion containing glycerin obtained from biodiesel manufacturing as a plasticizer and to estimate the film characteristics using the mechanical and stress relaxation properties of the cylindrical strands. Three different purity grades of glycerin were investigated. Modified cassava starch, poly(butylene adipate co-terephthalate) and glycerin were utilized to produce the extruded cylindrical strands, and the pelletized strands were used to produce the films. Films with bi-distilled glycerin (BDG) as a plasticizer showed the highest elongation at break (438%) and the lowest Young's modulus (50 MPa), and the viscoelastic properties of the strands produced with BDG showed the most viscous behavior. The elongation at break of the strands was not influenced by the degree of purity of the glycerin, and their viscoelastic properties were useful in predicting the behavior in the blown film production.     

Effects of plasticizers on the properties of oat starch films

Oat starch films were prepared by casting using glycerol, sorbitol, glycerol–sorbitol mixture, urea and sucrose as plasticizers. The effects of these plasticizers on the microstructure, moisture sorption, water vapor permeability (WVP) and mechanical properties were investigated using films stored under a range of relative humidities. The plasticizer type did not affect significantly (p ≤ 0.05) the equilibrium moisture content of films, except at 90% relative humidity (RH). Films without plasticizer adsorbed less water and showed higher WVP than plasticized ones, indicating the antiplasticizing effect observed in this work. In general, a decrease in stress at break and Young's modulus and an increase in strain at break were observed when RH increased in all film formulations. Films without plasticizer showed higher stress at break values than the plasticized ones and presented stable strain at break under a range of RH. Sucrose films were the most fragile at low RH while glycerol films were the most hygroscopic.     

四种多元醇增塑剂对淀粉-壳聚糖复合膜的性能研究

目的探究多元醇作为增速剂对淀粉-壳聚糖薄膜材料性能的影响,评估4种多元醇的增塑效果,并选出最优。方法将4种不同的多元醇作为增塑剂,通过流延法制备壳聚糖-淀粉薄膜,分析增塑剂含量对材料力学性能的影响,并通过扫描电镜、傅里叶红外、X-射线衍射、静态接触角对复合膜的结构和性能进行表征。结果将单一多元醇作为增塑剂加入淀粉-壳聚糖溶液,当添加质量分数为15%的甘露醇时,拉伸强度为最大值,为53.39 MPa;当添加质量分数为60%的甘油时,断裂伸长率最大,为45.11%。当甘油质量分数为50%时,综合效果较好,拉伸强度为21.36 MPa,断裂伸长率为35.33%。结论复合膜中淀粉与壳聚糖具有良好的相容性,添加增塑剂有利于改善复合膜的力学性能。多元醇增塑剂处于低浓度或中等浓度范围时,不具有有效的增塑作用。在4种多元醇增塑剂中,甘油的综合效果最好,所制备的膜具有较优的综合性能。     

番茄皮渣/玉米淀粉膜的制备与研究

目的以番茄皮渣为原料,玉米淀粉为增稠剂,甘油为增塑剂,采用流延法制备番茄皮渣/玉米淀粉膜。方法研究番茄皮渣、玉米淀粉和甘油含量对番茄皮渣/玉米淀粉膜性能的影响。结果随着番茄皮渣含量的增加,番茄皮渣/玉米淀粉膜的抗张强度和氧气透过率增大,断裂伸长率和水溶性减小,经番茄皮渣/玉米淀粉膜包裹的油脂的过氧化值减小,抗氧化性提高;随着淀粉含量的增加,番茄皮渣/玉米淀粉膜的抗张强度增大,断裂伸长率和水溶性减小,氧气透过率先减小后增大,经番茄皮渣/玉米淀粉膜包裹的油脂的过氧化值变化不大;随着甘油含量的增加,番茄皮渣/玉米淀粉膜的抗张强度减小,断裂伸长率、氧气透过率和水溶性增大,经番茄皮渣/玉米淀粉膜包裹的油脂的过氧化值变化不大。结论番茄皮渣/玉米淀粉膜的适宜制备工艺条件为番茄皮渣质量分数为2.5%~3%、玉米淀粉质量分数为3%~4%、甘油质量分数为1.5%~2%。     

Study of mechanical properties,oxygen permeability and AFM topography of zein films plasticized by polyols

The use of plastic for packaging has grown extensively in recent years. In this context, biodegradable films can be a source of energy saving and an important issue for environmental protection. Zein protein (prolamin of corn) is one of the best biopolymers for edible film making and polyols are convenient plasticizers for biopolymers. Polyols (sorbitol, glycerol and mannitol) at three levels (0.5, 0.7 and 1g/g zein) were used as plasticizers and the tensile properties, oxygen permeability (OP) and AFM topography of zein films were studied. Films plasticized by sorbitol had a relatively higher ultimate tensile strength (UTS) than films containing glycerol and mannitol at low levels of plasticizers (0.25, 0.7g/g zein). There was no significant difference between the strain at break values (SB) of films plasticized by sorbitol and glycerol at low levels of plasticizers, while films plasticized by sorbitol had higher SB than the films containing glycerol and mannitol at a high level of plasticizer (1g/g zein). Pure zein films had low oxygen permeability (OP), and increasing the plasticizer level to 0.5g/g zein decreased OP values in films containing sorbitol and glycerol. Films containing sorbitol and mannitol had the lowest and highest OP values, respectively. AFM images were used to evaluate the surface morphology (qualitative parameter) and roughness (quantitative parameter) of zein films. Films plasticized by glycerol had smoother surfaces and a lower roughness parameter (Rq). No relationship between OP values and the roughness of the zein films was observed. Copyright © 2006 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.     

芒果核淀粉基膜的性能分析

目的 制备以芒果核淀粉为基质的淀粉膜,分析淀粉膜性能,为生物可降解包装材料的应用提供一定的理论指导和数据参考。方法 制备不同甘油、羧甲基纤维素和没食子酸浓度的淀粉膜,利用现代分析仪器分析膜的力学性能、水蒸气透过系数、抗氧化活性及热稳定性,并探究膜的最佳性能参数。结果 当甘油质量分数为30%、羧甲基纤维素质量分数为45%、没食子酸质量分数为4%时,膜的抗拉伸强度为25.28MPa,断裂伸长率为11.66%,水蒸气透过系数为0.14g·mm/(m2·h·kPa),抗氧化活性为75.93%。结论 芒果核淀粉能与添加的助剂形成有效交联,一定程度上增强了淀粉膜的力学性能和抗氧化活性,降低了水蒸气透过系数,并提高了膜的热稳定性。     

可食性干酪包装膜的制备及性能研究

目的研究酪蛋白酸钠、壳聚糖、甘油添加量对可食膜性能的影响。方法以酪蛋白酸钠和壳聚糖为原料,甘油作为增塑剂,制备可食性干酪包装膜,以膜的水溶性及力学性能为指标,通过单因素及正交试验,确定各成膜成分的最佳配比。结果当用质量分数为5%的酪蛋白酸钠水溶液、质量分数为2%的壳聚糖冰乙酸溶液和质量分数为2%的甘油混合液进行成膜,所得可食膜的综合性能较优,其水溶性为35.8%,断裂伸长率为75.4%,拉伸强度为10.58 MPa,弹性模量为13.47 MPa。结论随着酪蛋白酸钠含量的增加,膜的水溶性变化不大,膜的断裂伸长率先增大后减小,拉伸强度和弹性模量均随之增大;随着壳聚糖含量的增加,膜的水溶性逐渐下降,膜的断裂伸长率、拉伸强度、弹性模量均随之增大;随着甘油含量的增加,膜的水溶性逐渐减小,膜的断裂伸长率逐渐增大,拉伸强度和弹性模量逐渐减小。     

单糖对玉米淀粉基复合膜性能的影响

目的研究D-果糖和葡萄糖作为增塑剂对玉米淀粉-壳聚糖复合膜性能的影响。方法糊化后的玉米淀粉溶液与壳聚糖溶液混合,分别添加5%,20%,35%,50%,65%(质量分数)的D-果糖及葡萄糖,均质后流延成膜;测定膜的力学性能,并通过扫描电镜、接触角、傅里叶红外扫描和X-衍射对复合膜相关特性进行表征。结果成膜物质之间相容性好,增塑剂用量由5%增加至65%,膜的厚度增加,经D-果糖和葡萄糖增塑的复合膜抗拉强度分别由73.99,70.88 MPa减至18.08,40.53 MPa。经D-果糖增塑的复合膜断裂伸长率呈递增趋势,在添加量为65%时达到19.03%,经葡萄糖增塑的复合膜呈现递减趋势。结论同一含量下,2种复合膜的厚度相近,抗拉强度相差不大,但经D-果糖增塑的复合膜断裂伸长率高,亲水性较好,更适合作为增塑剂应用在复合膜的制备中。     

Effects of film forming and hydrophobic properties of starches on surface sized packaging paper

The effect on mechanical and barrier properties upon addition of glycerol to temperature‐responsive hydrophobically modified (HM) potato starch was studied on free films. The addition of glycerol lowered the glass transition temperature, the storage modulus, and the water vapor permeability (WVP) for the HM starch films. The HM starch phase separates upon cooling below an upper critical temperature into a solid and a liquid phase. Adding glycerol to the warm starch solution had an inhibiting effect on the particulate precipitation. Substrates surface sized with HM starch with various amounts of glycerol were investigated with respect to barrier properties; WVP, contact angle and Cobb values. Hydroxypropylated starch was used as a reference. Cobb values and WVP results on surface‐sized substrates indicated that the film formation properties of the starches were of great importance for the final surface properties. Good film formation properties were essential for the gas barrier and water resistance while they were less important for high contact angles. The WVP decreased as the glycerol content of the sizes increased, but no sufficient water vapor barrier could be obtained. The HM starches investigated in this work provided good oxygen barrier and the contact angles indicated a hydrophobic character of the surface. The role of the precipitate was investigated, and surface sizing with the precipitate gave low WVP and high contact angles despite its poor film‐forming properties under the experimental conditions. Cobb60 values were slightly improved for HM starch with increasing glycerol content over glycerol‐free sizing. Copyright © 2007 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.     

纳米SiO2改性生物降解复合薄膜研究

目的以壳聚糖(chitosan)、木薯淀粉和聚乙烯醇(PVA)为基础成膜原料,探究纳米SiO2改性木薯淀粉/PVA/壳聚糖薄膜的制备工艺过程。方法以薄膜断裂伸长率、抗张强度、透光率和吸水率为评判标准,在单因子试验基础上,设计L9(34)正交试验,研究纳米SiO2含量、分散剂十二烷基苯磺酸含量、膜液pH值等3个因素对纳米SiO2改性木薯淀粉/聚乙烯醇/壳聚糖薄膜性能的影响。结果得出了制备纳米SiO2改性木薯淀粉/PVA/壳聚糖薄膜的最佳工艺参数,纳米SiO2质量分数为2.0%、十二烷基苯磺酸钠质量分数为2.0%、膜液pH值为3.0,3个因素对改性薄膜性能的影响程度大小排序为分散剂含量纳米SiO2含量pH值。结论获得了纳米SiO2改性木薯淀粉/PVA/壳聚糖薄膜的最佳生产工艺参数。     

Mucoadhesive dosage form of lidocaine hydrochloride: I. Mucoadhesive and physicochemical characterization

The aim of this study was to characterize a buccal mucoadhesive film using lidocaine and its hydrochloride salt (LDHCL) as a model drug. Buccal films were developed using carbopol 971P as a mucoadhesive polymer, and glycerol as a plasticizer. Scanning Electron Microscope, Differential Scanning Calorimetry, X-ray powder diffraction, and Fourier Transform Infra Red techniques were used to characterize the mucoadhesive films. Bioadhesive properties were evaluated using the Universal Instron Instrument with chicken pouch as a model tissue.

LDHCL and its base were present in carbopol 971P films in a molecular dispersion state without exerting any effect on the glass transition of these films. The mucoadhesive force between the chicken pouches and the film containing glycerol did not change by time during the tested period (1-20 min), while increased with increasing the amount of glycerol (10-40% w/w of polymer content). Furthermore, a linear increase in the mucoadhesive force was accompanied by the increase in the film thickness, while a linear decrease followed by plateau was obtained when loading the patch with LDHCL at concentration above 1 mg/cm².

Loading carbopol film with lidocaine base, in a concentration up to 6 mg/cm² decreased linearly the mucoadhesive properties, which could be attributed to salt formation between the acidic carboxylic moiety of carbopol and basic lidocaine.     

Chitosan tailor‐made films: the effects of additives on barrier and mechanical properties

With the aim of achieving ‘tailor‐made’ chitosan films, the effects of several variables on the properties of chitosan films were studied. These variables were chitosan concentration and molecular weight of thermally depolymerized chitosan, addition of lipids (palmitic acid, beeswax or carnauba wax) and plasticizer (glycerol). The water vapour transmission rate (WVTR) and mechanical properties of these films were measured. The innovative feature of this study is that it provides specific information to support the design of tailor‐made films. These can only be formulated when the effects of the important variables are well understood. It was found that WVTR was reduced by 57% in film made from chitosan that had been thermally treated for 7 h at 100°C (molecular mass 13.7 kDa), while in the emulsion films, the WVTR was increased by incorporation of palmitic acid, beeswax or carnauba wax incorporation. The mechanical properties (tensile strength and elongation at break) were improved when glycerol was used as plasticizer, resulting in more elastic films (increasing the elongation at break by 62%). Copyright © 2008 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.     

Biodegradable Protein‐based Films and Their Properties: A Comparative Study

Biodegradable protein‐based films prepared from different protein sources [commercial bovine gelatine (CG), giant catfish skin gelatine (GG), soy protein isolates (SPI), fish myofibrillar protein (FMP) and whey protein concentrate (WPC)] were all investigated for their mechanical, physical, chemical, thermal and barrier properties. The properties of the resulting films were then compared with those of commercial wrap films [polyvinyl chloride (PVC)]. The film forming solution containing 7% (w/v) protein and 50% (w/w) glycerol was used to produce the films through a casting method. Of the protein‐based films, the GG film had the highest tensile strength and elongation, while the WPC film exhibited the lowest film solubility, water vapour permeability, light transmission in UV‐Vis range (200–800 nm) and film transparency. However, the colour of the FMP film and the thickness were closer to that of the PVC film, particularly the L* and b* values. The appearances of the protein‐based films were similar to the PVC film, and they were uniformly transparent. Therefore, biodegradable films produced from different types of protein sources exhibited differences in their properties. These results are consistent with data from FTIR and protein pattern analyses. Based on these findings, different sources of protein‐based films can be used as an alternative for food packaging applications. Copyright © 2015 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.     

A Multi‐functional Biofilm Used as an Active Insert in Modified Atmosphere Packaging for Fresh Produce

We developed a multi‐functional agar‐based biofilm for fresh produce packaging by modulating its CO₂ absorption and water vapour absorption functions. The film was prepared from solutions containing agar as a matrix and a water vapour absorbent, glycerol as a plasticizer, and sodium carbonate (SC) and/or sodium glycinate (SG) as a CO₂ absorbent. The optical, mechanical, and CO₂ and water vapour absorption properties of SC, SG, and SC/SG films were investigated. Multi‐functional films tended to show poor mechanical properties, with a hard texture and an opaque and yellowish colour. The three films had different CO₂ absorption capacities and coefficients, with SC film showing the highest absorption, followed by SC/SG and SG films. The water absorption coefficients were much higher than those of CO₂, with the opposite dependence on the absorbent compound. The multi‐functional benefits of the developed film were shown by using the film for modified atmosphere packaging (MAP) of shiitake mushrooms as an insert label. A tailored MAP design for shiitake mushrooms was produced based on mass transfer mathematical models. The package attached with SC film label was capable of generating the desired internal atmosphere and thus showed the best quality preservation in terms of colour, firmness, flavour score, and bacterial growth after 5‐day storage. A tailored MAP system with our multi‐functional film can provide an optimal modified atmosphere for CO₂‐sensitive fresh commodities, preserve their quality, and extend their shelf life. Copyright © 2015 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.     

Application of Differential Scanning Calorimetry to Evaluate Thermal Properties and Study of Microstructure of Biodegradable Films

The glass transition temperature (T _g) and melting temperature (T _m) of gelatin–starch films were determined using differential scanning calorimetry. Also, the microstructure was observed using scanning electron microscopy (SEM) and the crystalline structure by means of X-ray diffraction (XRD). The effect of starch and glycerol concentrations in films on the thermal properties was evaluated through response surface methodology (RSM). The highest values of T _m were obtained at starch concentration intervals of (0.26 to 0.54) %w/w and glycerol concentrations lower than 0.5 (%w/w). On the other hand, the T _g values diminished as the glycerol concentration increased. Mathematical models for both transitions were fitted to the experimental data. The micrographs obtained by SEM show the influence of glycerol in the microstructure of the films, being more “gummy” as the content of the plasticizer increased. The XRD patterns of the films demonstrate the existence of some pseudo-crystalline regions in the biodegradable materials.     

Mechanical and permeability properties of biodegradable extruded starch/polycaprolactone films

Barley starch and glycerol were mixed with polycaprolactone (PCL) powder in various combinations and plasticized in a twin-screw extruder. When possible, extrudates were processed into films in a single-screw extruder and subjected to an orientation process with the aim of improving the water durability and mechanical strength of the starch films. The mechanical properties, water vapour and oxygen permeabilities, sorption isotherms and solubility of the processed films were studied. The films containing 20% or more PCL achieved a tensile strength of 20 MPa or higher. Orientation of the film still further improved the tensile strength, and also the water vapour and oxygen barrier properties. With PCL contents of 0–20% the starch/PCL films proved to be excellent oxygen barriers. Increase in PCL content beyond this impaired the oxygen barrier properties, whilst improving the water barrier properties. Copyright © 1998 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.