Properties of zein films coated with drying oils

Zein films prepared by resin were coated with either flax oil or tung oil and cured by UV- or gamma-radiation. Coated zein films were then evaluated for tensile and water barrier properties. Film microstructure was examined by transmitted light microscope. Tensile strength, elongation, and toughness of oil-coated samples increased substantially with respect to uncoated films. Flax oil coated samples showed an increase in elongation of 300%. It was suggested that oil coatings fill in pinholes and cracks existing in zein films, affecting their mechanical properties. Water vapor permeability also decreased statistically for coated film (except for tung oil coated-UV treated films), suggesting water vapor transfer was controlled by film hydrophobicity and microstructure. Moreover, the liquid water transmission rate of coated films was at least 10 times slower than for control films. Examination of film microstructure revealed that flax oil coatings had uniform coverage and smooth finish, which explained their high elongation, low water vapor permeability. Tung oil coatings cured under UV light showed patterns of intertwined dark and light regions, which may be caused by cross-linking and drying at different times. The oriented structures were found when tung oil coatings were cured by gamma-radiation.     

玉米醇溶蛋白-壳聚糖纳米营养递送粒子的制备及性质

利用蛋白质和多糖构建纳米营养递送载体,是提高食品活性物质稳定性及利用率的重要手段。为了构建具有缓释特性的纳米营养递送体系,该研究以玉米醇溶蛋白（zein）为基材,构建玉米醇溶蛋白-壳聚糖纳米营养递送体系,以姜黄素（Cur）为营养模型,探究了壳聚糖分子量、zein与壳聚糖质量比对纳米粒子及其负载Cur性能的影响,通过扫描电子显微镜（Scanning Electron Microscope,SEM）、傅里叶红外光谱（Fourier Transform Infrared Spectroscopy,FTIR）等方法表征其结构,阐明复合纳米粒子形成机制,探讨其稳定性和缓释性能。结果表明：不同分子量的壳聚糖对纳米粒子的粒径、多分散性指数和zeta电位有影响。高分子量壳聚糖的加入可使纳米粒子粒径减小,且更加稳定。在zein与高分子量壳聚糖质量比为8∶1时,制备纳米粒子粒径较小（80.13 nm）,其zeta电位为46.18 mV;在此条件下,当姜黄素添加量为1.0%时,其包封率和负载量分别为82.93%和8.29%;通过SEM观察,纳米粒子呈球形,分布均匀;氢键及静电相互作用是组装该纳米粒子的作用力;壳聚糖的引入提高了纳米粒子的pH值、离子及储藏稳定性,扩展了其应用范围;与游离的姜黄素相比,纳米营养递送粒子呈现明显的缓释特性。研究结果为构建具有缓释特性的营养递送体系提供了理论基础。     

Optimization of fabrication parameters to produce chitosan-tripolyphosphate nanoparticles for delivery of tea catechins

This work investigated the polyanion-initiated gelation process in fabricating chitosan-tripolyphosphate (CS-TPP) nanoparticles intended to be used as carriers for delivering tea catechins. The results demonstrated that the particle size and surface charge of CS-TPP nanoparticles could be controlled by fabrication conditions. For preparation of CS-TPP nanoparticles loaded with tea catechins, the effects of modulating conditions including contact time between CS and tea catechins, CS molecular mass, CS concentration, CS-TPP mass ratio, initial pH value of CS solution, and concentration of tea catechins on encapsulation efficiency and the release profile of tea catechins in vitro were examined systematically. The study found that the encapsulation efficiency of tea catechins in CS-TPP nanoparticles ranged from 24 to 53%. In addition, FT-IR analysis showed that the covalent bonding and hydrogen bonding between tea catechins and CS occurred during the formation of CS-TPP nanoparticles loaded with tea catechins. Furthermore, studies on the release profile of tea catechins in vitro demonstrated that the controlled release of tea catechins using CS-TPP nanoparticles was achievable.     

糖基化改性玉米醇溶蛋白膜的性能及硬胶囊体外释放分析

为了探究改性对玉米醇溶蛋白膜的性能影响,明确制备硬胶囊后的体外释放规律。该研究采用葡萄糖对玉米醇溶蛋白进行湿法糖基化改性,对糖基化改性产物的机械性能、阻湿性、阻氧性、阻油性和肠溶性进行研究。结果表明,改性后玉米醇溶蛋白膜的抗拉强度为34.06 MPa,相比未改性zein膜4.67 MPa有明显提高(P0.05);改性后玉米醇溶蛋白的吸水率在24 h达到最大,为84.98%;zein-glu膜的过氧化值为0.43 g/100 g,较zein膜的过氧化值0.49 g/100 g低;zein-glu膜的水蒸气透过率在达到平稳时降至7.89×10~(-8) g·m/(m~2·d·Pa);zein-glu膜的透油系数为0,阻油性与市售保鲜膜相当;胶囊释放以罗丹明B作为胶囊填充内容物,结果表明由zein-glu制备的胶囊具有肠溶性,模拟体外释放的拟合数学模型决定系数R~2为0.800,该模型通过卡方检验、相关系数检验和t统计量的显著性检验。研究结果可为玉米醇溶蛋白的改性、成膜机制和肠溶性释放提供理论参考。     

Controlled-release NPK fertilizer encapsulated by polymeric membranes

The commercial granular fertilizer NPK6-20-30 was coated using polysulfone (PSF), polyacrylonitrile (PAN), and cellulose acetate (CA). The coatings were formed from the polymer solutions by the phase inversion technique. Measurements of the thickness and porosity of the prepared coatings and a microphotographic observation of the coatings were performed. The physical properties of the coatings influence the release rate of macronutrients which are present in the core of the coated fertilizer. In the case of PAN coating with 60.45% porosity, prepared from a 16% polymer solution, 100% of NH(4)(+) and P(2)O(5) was released after 4 h of test and 99.7% of K(+) after 5 h of test, whereas in the case of coating with 48.8% porosity, 31.8% of NH(4)(+), 16.7% of P(2)O(5), and 11.6% of K(+) was released after 5 h. In all experiments, different selectivities of the coatings in terms of the release of components were observed. The release of potassium through the coatings made of PSF and PAN was the slowest. The same tendency was observed for the release of nitrogen through a coating of CA. The release of fertilizer active components was the slowest in the case of PSF. The lowest porosity coating was prepared from the 18% PSF solution.     

保水剂包膜尿素的特征与性能

保水肥料是缓/控释肥料研究的新方向,本文利用聚合化学反应制备出了一种保水剂包膜尿素肥料,并对该肥料的包膜特征、养分控释性能及其对土壤水分的影响进行了研究。结果表明:保水剂包膜尿素的实际包膜量低于设计包膜量,一般低10%～12%。扫描电镜成像图显示:保水剂包膜尿素包膜上存在纤维网状孔隙,膜厚度为0.15～0.25mm。7d水溶出率的实验结果表明,保水剂包膜尿素养分控释效果低于塑料包膜尿素,保水剂包膜尿素的养分缓释作用主要来自包膜对尿素的吸附作用。保水剂包膜尿素处理土壤的土壤水分脱水曲线测定结果说明,保水剂包膜尿素可提高土壤水分含量,增加土壤水分的有效性,改善土壤的保水、释水性能。因此,保水剂包膜尿素肥料是具有开发应用前景的新型缓/控释肥料。     

C36多元醇改良C18多元醇包膜肥料缓控释性能

为探讨C36多元醇(简称C36)对C18多元醇(简称C18,对照)包膜材料缓控释性能的影响,该文以C18为对照膜材,将C36与C18分别按照质量比1:2、2:3、1:1共混聚合制备成3种新型包膜材料,在相同工艺下依次制造成包膜厚度均为2.5%(膜材占核芯肥料的百分比)的包膜尿素,分别记作PCU1、PCU2、PCU3、PCU4,其中PCU1为对照。通过坠落撞击前、后包膜尿素的释放率评价C36作为包膜材料的效果。研究结果表明:C36与C18共混聚合包膜尿素的外观及耐撞击性能明显优于对照处理的,表现为包膜层光泽明亮、膜质均匀、膜层韧性好,同期静水培养的颗粒表面积较对照的增加了23%。该文提出了肥效期保持率(tR)的概念,并用其评价包膜肥料耐撞击性能。共混聚合物C36:C18比例为2:3时,包膜尿素耐撞击性能最优,受撞击后肥效期保持率tR可高达88%左右,为对照处理的2.5倍以上。该处理包膜尿素的初期溶出率、微分溶出率最小,与对照PCU1处理的无明显差异。C36嵌入C18共混聚合生成的新包膜材料对包膜尿素肥效期的影响与两者的比例和包膜材料的用量有关,当C36:C18为2:3,包膜材料用量(2.5%)小于常规用量(3%~4%)时,虽然包膜尿素的肥效期没有延长,但是包膜完整、膜层均匀、韧性强,在包膜肥受到强烈撞击的情况下能够很好地保持原有肥料的肥效期,即能保持包膜肥料的缓控释性能。因此,在C18多元醇嵌入适量C36多元醇是改良C18多元醇包膜材料,增加其包膜肥肥效期保持率的有效方法。     

Nitrogen use efficiency with the application of controlled release fertilizers coated with Kraft pine lignin

The aim of the present paper is to assess the efficiency of several experimental fertilizers in a soil-plant system. The laboratory-prepared fertilizers consisted of granular urea coated with Kraft pine lignin. Five fertilizers were used with coatings differing in thickness and/or the addition of linseed oil as a sealing agent. The experiment was carried out in pots inside a glasshouse. The crop used was rye-grass. Results were compared with those from a urea control treatment without coating and a soil without fertilizer application.

The dry matter yield and the N uptake by the plant were higher in the treatments with coated controlled release fertilizers (CRF) than in those with uncoated urea. There was a lower nitrogen loss through leaching when using CRF (34 to 68%) was used than when using uncoated urea (over 74%) was used. The N use efficiency was lower for urea than for coated fertilizers. This index increased with the thickness of the coating and the addition of the sealing agent.     

Water Vapor Barrier Properties of Zein Films Plasticized with Oleic Acid

Water sorption, water vapor permeability, and tensile properties were evaluated for zein films plasticized with oleic acid. The effect of relative humidity on water vapor permeability and tensile properties of films was investigated. Samples were produced by two different methods: casting from a zein solution and stretching from a zein-fatty acid resin. Films were also coated with linseed oil. Results indicated that preparation method affected water sorption and permeability of zein films. Resin films showed lower water sorption than cast films, especially at high A_w values. Water vapor permeability was also lower for resin films. Coating with linseed oil further improved water vapor barrier ability of resin films. Permeability was affected by environmental relative humidity; higher relative humidity resulted in increased permeability. Environmental relative humidity also affected tensile properties of resin films. Toughness and elongation were improved when relative humidity increased from 50 to 85% rh. Tensile strength showed a maximum at 75% rh. Coating improved elongation and toughness of films. Maximum elongation and toughness were observed for coated samples at 85% rh. Zein resin films showed good tensile and water barrier properties that were maintained through environmental humidity levels from 50 to 98% rh.     

Water Barrier Properties of Zein‐Oleic Acid Films

Free‐standing films were prepared from zein formulations containing 30, 40, 50, 60, 70, and 80% oleic acid (OA). Zein/OA formulations were also used as coating films for rodent diet bars. Water vapor permeability (WVP) of films and moisture loss rate (MLR) of coated rodent diet bars were measured at 4 and 25°C. Temperature affected the water barrier properties of films and coatings. At 4°C, WVP of films decreased with OA concentration while it increased at 25°C. WVP behavior was attributed to oleic acid phase changes due to temperature. At 4°C, OA is a crystalline solid that limits water diffusion through the films. At 25°C, liquid OA increased the system free volume and allowed for water diffusion. The effect was more pronounced the higher the OA concentration in films. Differential scanning calorimetry (DSC) of zein/OA films showed endothermic peaks at 12–18°C, confirming the melting of OA in that temperature range. MLR of coated rodent diet bars was also affected by temperature and OA concentration in coating formulations. In this case, formulations containing 40, 50, and 60% OA were better moisture barriers than coatings with higher OA content at both 4 and 25°C. Moisture losses were reduced at 4°C due to OA solidification.     

纳米材料胶结包膜型缓/控释肥料对作物产量和品质的影响

为了对纳米级材料胶结包膜型缓/控释肥料的缓/控释性能进行准确的评价,以3年6季作物定位施肥试验为基础,对冬小麦和夏玉米的产量及部分品质进行了监测。结果表明,与等量氮磷钾化肥配施相比,4种纳米级材料胶结包膜型缓/控释肥料不同程度地提高了小麦和玉米子粒产量和蛋白质产量,但蛋白质含量增加不显著,可溶性总糖含量反而降低。纳米级材料胶结包膜型缓/控释肥料对提高冬小麦的产量和品质有一定的促进作用,但不同肥料促进作用大小不同。     

Use of polysulfone in controlled-release NPK fertilizer formulations

Encapsulation of fertilizers in polymeric coatings is a method used to reduce fertilizer losses and to minimize environmental pollution. Polysulfone was used for a coating preparation for soluble NPK granular fertilizer in controlled-release fertilizer formulations. The coatings were formed by the phase inversion technique (wet method). The influence of the polymer concentration in the film-forming solution on the physical properties of the coatings was examined. The coating structure controls the diffusion of the elements from the interior of the fertilizer granule. It was experimentally confirmed that the use of polysulfone as a coating for a soluble fertilizer decreases the release rate of components. Moreover, the release rate of nutrients from coated granules decreases with the decrease of the coating porosity. In the case of coating with 38.5% porosity, prepared from 13.5% polymer solution after 5 h of test, 100% of NH(4)(+) was released, whereas only 19.0% of NH(4)(+) was released after 5 h for the coating with 11% porosity. In addition, coating of fertilizers leads to improvement of handling properties, and the crushing strength of all coated fertilizers was an average 40% higher than that for uncoated NPK fertilizer.     

Structural investigation of edible zein films/coatings and directly determining their thickness by FT-Raman spectroscopy

Near-infrared Fourier transform Raman (FT-Raman) spectroscopy was employed to study the molecular structure of edible zein films/coatings, which were fabricated directly from zein protein. The secondary structure of zein protein was mainly in alpha-helix and remained unaltered during film formation as evidenced by the vibrational modes of amide I at 1656 cm(-1) and amide III at 1274 cm(-1). Raman results indicated that hydrophobic interaction played an important role in the formation of zein film and disulfide bonding might be responsible for the structural stability of zein protein during film formation. To enhance its antimicrobial property, an antimicrobial zein film was manufactured by incorporating zein protein with benzoic acid whose structure was then characterized by FT-Raman. It showed that physical entrapment or hydrophobic interaction was crucial to the incorporation of benzoic acid with zein protein, and the secondary structure of the antimicrobial film was still maintained in alpha-helical form. In addition, FT-Raman exhibits its preference in directly determining the thickness of zein films/coatings. By correlating the Raman intensity ratio of nu(1003) to nu(84) (I(1003/84)) versus the thickness of zein film, a linear relationship with high coefficient (R(2) = 0.9927) was obtained, which was then used pragmatically to determine the thickness of zein coatings on apple. It showed that the FT-Raman result (thickness = 0.27 +/- 0.01 mm) was consistent with that of classical micrometric measurement (thickness = 0.28 +/- 0.02 mm). Consequently, FT-Raman provides a direct, simple, and reagent-free method to characterize the structure and the thickness of zein films/coatings.     

几种包膜控释肥氮素释放特性的评价

采用水浸泡法和土培法,按照欧洲标准化委员会(CEN)推荐的控释肥料评价标准,对国内外8种包膜肥料的氮素释放特性进行了评价。水浸泡法测试结果表明,Compo-1、Compo-2的初期溶出率(t1)超出该标准,其它6种包膜肥的t1在标准规定的范围内;8种包膜肥的微分溶出率(△t)均符合标准,氮素释放期(T)均达到缓/控释要求。8种包膜肥中除了Compo-1、Compo-2的t1以外,其它均符合CEN推荐的控释肥料标准,但因包膜材料和工艺的差异,表现出了各自不同的氮素释放特征。土培条件下Compo系列、Cau系列、Osmocote和Au的释放期分别是水浸泡条件下的2～4、1.5、0.7和1.3倍,不同的包膜肥料有各自不同的估算系数,需要采用具体的校验试验确定。从盆栽试验中油菜、玉米第六周生物量来看,Compo-3、Cau-C17显著低于速效肥处理,Osmocote、Au油菜处理显著高于速效肥油菜处理,其它施肥处理与速效肥处理差异不显著。     

保水包膜尿素肥料理化特征

保水肥料是缓/控释肥料剂一个新的发展方向。本文中作者对研发的一种保水缓释包膜尿素肥料的包膜物理化学特征,养分缓释机制进行了研究。电镜观察显示,保水材料包膜上存在网状孔隙,膜厚度0.12mm~0.30mm,是水分贮存的物理空间。红外光谱分析表明,保水材料与尿素表面存在着氢键作用,这种氢键作用使保水包膜材料对尿素有一定吸附作用,这是保水包膜尿素具有养分缓释的一种机制。吸水倍率测定表明,保水包膜材料吸水倍率在70倍以上,吸水达饱和的时间为1.4小时,在盐水中还有一定的吸水倍率,pH为6.87。因此,保水包膜尿素肥料是水肥复合一体化的缓释肥料。     

Improved Isolation of Zein from Corn Gluten Meal Using Acetic Acid and Isolate Characterization as Solvent

An improved means of isolating zein is needed to develop new uses for corn zein. We have measured the yield of zein and evaluated the ability of acetic acid to remove zein from corn gluten meal, distillers dried grains, and ground corn using acetic acid as solvent. Acetic acid removed zein more quickly, at lower temperatures, and in higher yields when compared with alcoholic solvents. After 60 min at 25°C, ≈50% of the zein in corn gluten meal was removed. A step change in yield from 43 to 50% occurs as the extraction temperature is increased from 40 to 55°C after mixing for 30 min at 25% solids. The protein composition of the zein removed from corn gluten meal using acetic acid is very similar to that of commercial zein by SDS‐PAGE. The zein obtained from corn gluten meal using acetic acid had higher amounts of fatty acids and esters according to IR analysis, leading to slightly lower protein content. Films made from zein extracted from corn gluten meal using acetic acid had lower tensile strength (≈60% lower) than films produced from commercial zein. Fibers with very small diameter (0.4–1.6 μm) can be produced by electrospinning using the AcOH solution obtained after corn gluten meal extraction.     

多层包膜控释掺混肥基施对大蒜产量及土壤养分的影响

为明确多层包膜控释掺混肥在农业生产中的应用效果,通过田间试验研究了其对大蒜鳞茎、蒜薹产量,不同器官养分吸收及土壤速效养分状况的影响.在总养分减量10％的条件下,多层包膜控释掺混肥处理较当地常规处理的蒜薹和鳞茎产量分别提高了32.74％和10.61％,较单层包膜控释掺混肥处理蒜薹产量提高了23.22％,同时能够提高土壤速...     

Improvement of Sorghum-Wheat Composite Dough Rheological Properties and Breadmaking Quality Through Zein Addition

Addition of sorghum flour to wheat flour produces marked negative effects on rheological properties of dough and loaf volume. Although there are notable differences in the chemical composition of sorghum proteins (kafirins) compared with wheat gluten that might imply poor functionality in breadmaking systems, a larger constraint may be the unavailability of kafirins due to encapsulation in protein bodies. In this study, zein, the analogous maize prolamin to kafirin, was used to determine the potential effects of protein-body-free prolamins on dough rheology and baking quality of wheat-sorghum composite flour. Mixograms run at 35°C (above the glass transition temperature of zein) were significantly (P < 0.01) improved with addition of zein. Mixogram peak heights increased while mixing time decreased uniformly with addition of zein. Dough extensibility studies showed an increase in maximum tensile stress, while baking studies showed an increase in loaf volume with increasing amounts of added zein. These data are supported by a previous study showing that, in a model system, zein mixed with starch can form viscoelastic networks, and suggest that kafirin, if made available, could contribute to dough formation.     

膜材料及其构成对调节控释肥料养分释放特性的影响

试验采用水溶出率实测法研究了自行研制的控释肥料养分释放的特性。以养分释放速率和释放期为主要指标评价了膜材料及其构成对调节控释肥养分释放特性的影响。结果表明,膜材料M2的控释性能优于膜材料M1;用膜材料M1包膜肥料的养分累积释放曲线呈对数曲线,而用膜材料M2包膜肥料的养分累积释放曲线呈直线型。在膜的比面重(单位肥料面积上所含膜材料的重量)为20～80g/m2范围内,随着比面重的增加,包膜肥的初期溶出率降低,释放期延长;通过调节膜材料组成与比面重可以研制出释放期不同的控释肥料。     

Encapsulation of essential oils in zein nanospherical particles

Three essential oils, oregano, red thyme, and cassia (100% pure oil), were encapsulated by phase separation into zein nanospheres. Topographical images indicated that the powders were made up of irregularly shaped particles ( approximately 50 mum) containing close-packed nanospheres. Approximately 31% of the oregano encapsulated particles had mean diameters greater than 100 nm compared to 19% for the zein alone particles. In vitro digestion of zein particles with pepsin at a concentration ratio of 10:1 was complete after 52 h in phosphate-citrate buffer, pH 3.5, at 37 degrees C by spectroscopic analysis. Nonenzymatic, aqueous in vitro release of essential oils from encapsulated zein particles was carried out in phosphate buffered saline at pH 7.4 and 37 degrees C. Release occurred at varying rates over 20 h probably from different locations within the closely packed nanospheres of different sizes. Gel electrophoresis SDS-PAGE of zein incubated with freeze-dried swine manure solids at 37 degrees C indicated that preformed microbial enzymes capable of digesting zein within minutes were present in the manure. Except for differences in size of nanospheres, no structural differences were resolved by several microscopic methods, suggesting that the oil and proteins phases were blended during phase separation.