Effect of level oleic acid on physiochemical and mechanical properties of edible film Corn Zein

Pollution caused by the use of synthetic plastic materials and problems caused by methods to reduce it has led to significant concerns for environment and generally human beings. Low resistance to water vapor is the most important flaw in plastic materials. Purpose of this paper is to study the effect of oleic acid on film permeability to water vapor and oxygen and determine mechanical properties of such films. Various films of Zein of corn protein, glycerol and oleic acid have been produced using Casting method. Statistical analysis showed that the effect of oleic acid concentration on Tensile strength (TS), Elongation to break (ETB) %, Young modulus (YM), water vapor and oxygen permeabilities were significant (P<0/05). TS and YM of films decreased by increase in oleic acid concentration up to 90%. Film elongation at break increased up to 60-70% of oleic acid and it reduced as the oleic acid concentration increased 70 to 90%. Oxygen transmission rate (OTR) increased with increasing oleic acid concentrations of films. WVP values for films containing 60-70% oleic acid than 40% oleic acid reduced were 6/34 and 5/62%respectively. If the oleic acid is more than 70%, WVP will increase. WVP amount of zein film containing 90% oleic acid than film containing 40% oleic acidincreased was 24%.