title: Characterization of konjac glucomannan-ethyl cellulose film formation via microscopy.
abstract: Konjac glucomannan-ethyl cellulose (KGM-EC, 7:3, w/w) blended film shows good mechanical and moisture resistance properties. To better understand the basis for the KGM-EC film formation, optical microscopy, scanning electron microscopy (SEM), transmission electron microscopy (TEM), and atomic force microscopy (AFM) were used to observe the formation of the film from emulsion. Optical microscopy images showed that EC oil droplets were homogeneously dispersed in KGM water phase without obviously coalescence throughout the entire drying process. SEM images showed the surface and cross-sectional structures of samples maintained continuous and homogeneous appearance from the emulsion to dried film. AFM images indicated that KGM molecules entangled EC molecules in the emulsion. Interactions between KGM and EC improved the stability of KGM-EC emulsion, and contributed to uniformed structures of film formation. Based on these output information, a schematic model was built to elucidate KGM-EC film-forming process.
authors.affiliation: Glyn O. Philips Hydrocolloid Research Centre at HUT, Hubei University of Technology, Wuhan 430068, China.
authors.forename: Man
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Xiao
authors.affiliation: Glyn O. Philips Hydrocolloid Research Centre at HUT, Hubei University of Technology, Wuhan 430068, China.
authors.forename: Li
authors.initials: L
authors.lastname: Wan
authors.affiliation: Glyn O. Philips Hydrocolloid Research Centre at HUT, Hubei University of Technology, Wuhan 430068, China; School of Biological Sciences, The University of Hong Kong, Hong Kong, China.
authors.forename: Harold
authors.initials: H
authors.lastname: Corke
authors.affiliation: Glyn O. Philips Hydrocolloid Research Centre at HUT, Hubei University of Technology, Wuhan 430068, China.
authors.forename: Wenli
authors.initials: W
authors.lastname: Yan
authors.affiliation: Glyn O. Philips Hydrocolloid Research Centre at HUT, Hubei University of Technology, Wuhan 430068, China.
authors.forename: Xuewen
authors.initials: X
authors.lastname: Ni
authors.affiliation: Glyn O. Philips Hydrocolloid Research Centre at HUT, Hubei University of Technology, Wuhan 430068, China.
authors.forename: Yapeng
authors.initials: Y
authors.lastname: Fang
authors.affiliation: Glyn O. Philips Hydrocolloid Research Centre at HUT, Hubei University of Technology, Wuhan 430068, China. Electronic address: JIANGFT@mail.hbut.edu.cn.
authors.forename: Fatang
authors.initials: F
authors.lastname: Jiang
mesh_terms: D002482:Cellulose / Q000031:analogs & derivatives* / Q000737:chemistry / Q000648:ultrastructure; D008351:Mannans / Q000737:chemistry*; D008853:Microscopy / Q000379:methods; D018625:Microscopy, Atomic Force; D008854:Microscopy, Electron / Q000379:methods
chemical_list: D008351:Mannans; C022901:(1-6)-alpha-glucomannan; C013517:ethyl cellulose; D002482:Cellulose
keywords: Blend film; Ethyl cellulose; Film forming process; Konjac glucomannan; Microscopy