Development of a continuous process to make casein films.
A semicontinuous pilot plant process was developed to make films from calcium caseinate plasticized with glycerol. Calcium caseinate/glycerol solutions were wetted and spread on polyethylene or Mylar belts and were readily removed after forming films. A Meier rod was used to spread the solution onto the belt. Feed rates were 3.3 and 5 g/cm. The resulting films using the polyethylene belt had a tensile strength of 5 MPa and 30% elongation with thickness of 0.14 mm. When the glycerol concentration was adjusted, the process produced films with properties similar to those previously reported for a batch process. It is anticipated that this process will apply to other proteins.
Kozempel
Michael
M
Dairy Processing and Products Research Unit, Eastern Regional Research Service, Agricultural Research Service, U.S. Department of Agriculture, 600 East Mermaid Lane, Wyndmoor, Pennsylvania 19038, USA. mkozempel@arserrc.gov
Tomasula
Peggy M
PM
D002364:Caseins / Q000737:chemistry; D018857:Food Packaging / Q000295:instrumentation*; D005990:Glycerol / Q000737:chemistry; D010968:Plasticizers; D020959:Polyethylene; D012996:Solutions
D002364:Caseins; D010968:Plasticizers; D012996:Solutions; C484216:calcium caseinate; D020959:Polyethylene; D005990:Glycerol