Improvement of hydration properties of pectin/ alginate films with ZnO nanoparticles
Abstract
This study aims to develop hydration properties of P/AG films by using ZnO nanoparticles. Pectin/ alginate/ ZnO nanoparticles (P/AG/ZnO-NPs) films are fabricated at various ZnO-NPs contents (0, 0.01, 0.05, 0.1 and 0.5 g/100g solution). The addition of ZnO-NPs at content 0.1 g/100g solution in the film decreases swelling degree (SD) from 327.98% to 110.12% and water vapor permeability (WVP) from 0.873 g.mm/m2.day.kPa to 0.358 g.mm/m2.day.kPa. Moisture sorption isotherm shows that P/AG/ZnO-NPs films should be used at lower than 86% RH. The Peleg model is the best model for predicting the equilibrium moisture content (EMC) of P/AG/ZnO-NPs films. Scanning electron microscope (SEM) micrographs of surface and cross section morphology of P/AG and P/AG with 0.1% ZnO-NPs films have indicated that there are interactions between ZnO-NPs and pectin-alginate matrix. Results have suggested that it would be favorable to prepare P/AG/ZnO-NPs film by using ZnO-NPs at the amount of 0.1 g/100g solution for food preservation.
Moraref