ABSTRACT
Water transport in edible films based on hydrophilic materials such as starch, is a complex phenomenon due to the strong interaction of sorbed water molecules with the polymeric structure. Cellulose nanocrystals (CNC) were obtained from sugarcane bagasse. Starch and starch/CNC films were formulated and their water barrier properties were studied. The measured film solubility, contact angle, and water sorption isotherm indicated that reinforced starch/CNC films have a lower affinity to water molecules than starch films. The effects that the driving force and the water activity (aw) values at each side of the film have on permeability were analyzed. Permeability, diffusivity, and solubility coefficients indicated that the permeation process depends mostly on the tortuous pathway formed by the incorporation of CNC and therefore were mainly controlled by water diffusion. The interaction between CNC and starch chain is favoured by the chemical similarities of both molecules.
Subject(s)
Cellulose/chemistry , Food Packaging , Nanoparticles/chemistry , Saccharum , Starch/chemistry , Cellulose/metabolism , Food Packaging/methods , Nanoparticles/metabolism , Permeability , Starch/metabolism , Water/metabolismABSTRACT
Water transport in edible films of starch based products is a complex phenomenon due to the strong interaction of sorbed water molecules with the polymeric structure of starch. Moisture sorption isotherms of starch and starch/MMT films were obtained. The results indicated that nanoclay incorporation produces a decrease of water uptake at all temperatures analysed. Thermodynamic parameters showed that sorption process is less favourable when MMT is incorporated into the starch matrix. Effect of driving force and water activity (aw) values at each side of the film on permeability and diffusivity coefficients were analysed. The effect of the tortuous pathway generated by MMT incorporation was significant only in the middle and lower range of aw. At high aw range the plasticizing effect of water dominated and MMT incorporation had little effect on the water barrier properties of these films.
