Material properties of ZnS nanoparticles incorporated soy protein isolate biopolymeric film

Abstract

ABSTRACTGlycerol plasticised soy protein isolate (SPI) films at different contents (1 to 5% w/w w.r.t SPI) of zinc sulphide (ZnS) nanoparticles were fabricated. Before the film formation, the ZnS nanoparticles incorporated SPI suspensions were subjected to molecular mass studies by SDS-PAGE and specific conductivity studies. SPI films and ZnS nanoparticles incorporated SPI films were structurally and mechanically characterised by Fourier transform infrared spectroscopy (FT-IR) and mechanical properties, respectively. Transmittance and water uptake studies were also carried out for ZnS nanoparticles incorporated SPI films. The results from transmittance, water uptake and FT-IR studies indicated a good compatibility between the ZnS nanoparticles and the SPI. With the increase in the contents of ZnS nanoparticles from 0 to 4%, the tensile modulus increased from 87.4 to 99 MPa. The water uptake decreased significantly from 159 to 10.76%. However, the results showed the absence of antibacterial effect in ZnS nanoparticles incorporated SPI film.