Preparation And Properties Of Zein/Nano-TiO₂Composite Films

Zein has well film forming characteristic,biodegradability, stability at high temperature and in high humidity and security. Zein was the only one that can form film without any addictive or tanning agent, had high moisture barrier and oxygenium barrier property among many edible film. Therefore, zein film could be used in food preservation, package and pharmaceutical industry.Nano-TiO2was the one of the most active inorganic nano material of the preservative, and was in nature of non-toxicity, antibacteria, bacterial decomposition, UV-P, well-hydrophilicity and well-lipophilicity.Nano-TiO2particles were prepared by hydrolysis of titanium isopropoxide in the sol-gel method, then zein/nano-TiO2composite films were prepared by coating with the nano-TiO2particles, and effect on properties of the composite films were studied. The tensile strength, elongation at break and water vapor permeability reached maximum as TiO2content was14%, and the value was35.2MPa,3.0%and169.9g/m2*24h, respectively. Photocatalytic test of the composite films suggested it had great antibiotic reaction.TiO2particles were well-distributed in composite films by observed structure of composite films using scanning electron microscopy and NanoScope.Zein/nano-TiO2complex film can be using as a new green antibacterail package material, for shelf life extending of dairy products, garden stuff and meat products. Degradability of the film can abate the white pollution which caused by traditional package. Moreover, our study expanded the utlization space for the byproduct of corn starch production.