Development and Characterization of Edible Films Based on Mucilage of Opuntia ficus-indica (L.) |
| |
| Authors: | Miguel Espino-Díaz J De Jesús Ornelas-Paz Miguel A Martínez-Téllez Carlos Santillán Gustavo V Barbosa-Cánovas Paul B Zamudio-Flores Guadalupe I Olivas |
| |
| Affiliation: | Authors Espino-Díaz, Ornelas-Paz, Zamudio-Flores, and Olivas are with Centro de Investigación en Alimentación y Desarrollo, A.C., Av. Río Conchos S/N 31570, Cuauhtémoc, Chih., Mexico. Author Martínez-Téllez is with Centro de Investigación en Alimentación y Desarrollo, AC, Carretera la Victoria Km 0.6, Hermosillo, Son, Mexico. Author Santillán is with Centro de Investigación en Materiales Avanzados S.C., Miguel de Cervantes 120, Chihuahua, Chih., Mexico. Author Barbosa-Cánovas is with Washington State Univ., Biological Systems Engineering Dept., LJ Smith 220, P.O. Box 646120, Pullman, WA 99164-6120, U.S.A. Direct inquiries to author Olivas (E-mail: golivas@ciad.mx). |
| |
| Abstract: | Abstract: Mucilage of Opuntia ficus-indica (OFI) was extracted and characterized by its composition and molecular weight distribution. Mucilage film-forming dispersions were prepared under different pHs (3, 4, 5.6, 7, and 8) and calcium concentration (0% and 30% of CaCl2, with respect to mucilage's weight), and their particle size determined. Mucilage films with and without calcium (MFCa and MF, respectively) were prepared. The effect of calcium and pH on mucilage films was evaluated determining thickness, color, water vapor permeability (WVP), tensile strength (TS), and percentage of elongation (%E). The average molecular weight of the different fractions of mucilage was: 3.4 × 106 (0.73%), 1 × 105 (1.46%), 1.1 × 103 (45.79%), and 2.4 × 102 Da (52.03%). Aqueous mucilage dispersions with no calcium presented particles with an average size d(0.5) of 15.4 μm, greater than the dispersions with calcium, 13.2 μm. MFCa films showed more thickness (0.13 mm) than the MF films (0.10 mm). The addition of calcium increased the WVP of the films from 109.94 to 130.45 gmm/m2dkPa. Calcium and pH affected the mechanical properties of the films; the largest TS was observed on MF films, whereas the highest %E was observed on MFCa films. The highest differences among MF and MFCa films were observed at pHs 5.6 and 7 for TS and at pHs 4 and 8 for %E. No effect of pH and calcium was observed on luminosity and hue angle. Chroma values were higher for MF when compared with MFCa, and increased as pH of the films increased. Practical Application: In this study mucilage from nopal was extracted and characterized by its ability to form edible films under different pHs, and with or without the addition of calcium. Opuntia ficus-indica mucilage had the ability to form edible films. In general, it can be considered that mucilage films without modification of pH and without the addition of calcium have the best water vapor barrier properties and tensile strength. Mucilage from nopal could represent a good option for the development of edible films in countries where nopal is highly produced at low cost, constituting a processing alternative for nopal. |
| |
| Keywords: | calcium edible films mucilage nopal pH |
|
|
