TY - JOUR
T1 - Compositional and Moisture Content Effects on the Biodegradability of Zein/Ethylcellulose Films
AU - Romero-Bastida, Claudia A.
AU - Flores-Huicochea, Eduardo
AU - Martin-Polo, Martha O.
AU - Velazquez, Gonzalo
AU - Torres, J. Antonio
PY - 2004/4/21
Y1 - 2004/4/21
N2 - The effect of moisture content and film composition on biodegradability is the focus of this study. Flexible films were first characterized for the effect on water sorption isotherms of relative humidity, temperature, zein content, and the addition of the plasticizers stearic acid, poly(ethylene glycol), or etoxylated ricine oil. Zein/ethylcellulose (EC) mixture films had a behavior between that for pure zein and EC films, which had the lowest water sorption. For films with plasticizer, the lowest water sorption at 25 °C was observed for those with stearic acid. Biodegradability of zein/EC films, evaluated using bacterial cultures selected for their zein proteolytic activity and isolated from a local solid waste landfill and a lagoon, showed no plasticizer effect even though its effect on moisture content was significant. Large differences were observed at different film zein concentration with the highest biodegradability for 100% zein. However, biodegradability did not mimic the water sorption behavior of zein/EC mixture films.
AB - The effect of moisture content and film composition on biodegradability is the focus of this study. Flexible films were first characterized for the effect on water sorption isotherms of relative humidity, temperature, zein content, and the addition of the plasticizers stearic acid, poly(ethylene glycol), or etoxylated ricine oil. Zein/ethylcellulose (EC) mixture films had a behavior between that for pure zein and EC films, which had the lowest water sorption. For films with plasticizer, the lowest water sorption at 25 °C was observed for those with stearic acid. Biodegradability of zein/EC films, evaluated using bacterial cultures selected for their zein proteolytic activity and isolated from a local solid waste landfill and a lagoon, showed no plasticizer effect even though its effect on moisture content was significant. Large differences were observed at different film zein concentration with the highest biodegradability for 100% zein. However, biodegradability did not mimic the water sorption behavior of zein/EC mixture films.
KW - Biodegradability
KW - Ethylcellulose
KW - Moisture sorption isotherms
KW - Plasticizer
KW - Zein
UR - http://www.scopus.com/inward/record.url?scp=1842733090&partnerID=8YFLogxK
U2 - 10.1021/jf0350414
DO - 10.1021/jf0350414
M3 - Artículo
C2 - 15080626
SN - 0021-8561
VL - 52
SP - 2230
EP - 2235
JO - Journal of Agricultural and Food Chemistry
JF - Journal of Agricultural and Food Chemistry
IS - 8
ER -