Characterization of konjac glucomannan–gellan gum blend films and their suitability.pdfVIP

Carbohydrate Polymers 70 (2007) 192–197 /locate/carbpol Characterization of konjac glucomannan–gellan gum blend films and their suitability for release of nisin incorporated therein X. Xu a, B. Li a,*, J.F. Kennedy b, B.J. Xie a, M. Huang a a College of Food Science and Technology, Huazhong Agricultural University, Wuhan, Hubei 430070, China b Chembiotech Laboratories, Institute of Research and Development, University of Birmingham, Research Park,Vincent Drive, Edgbaston, Birmingham B15 2SQ, UK Received 26 December 2006; received in revised form 25 March 2007; accepted 26 March 2007 Available online 30 March 2007 Abstract The structure and properties of dried blend films of konjac glucomannan and gellan gum prepared by a solvent-casting technique with different blending ratios of the two polymers have been studied by using Fourier transform infrared spectroscopy (FT-IR), wide-angle X- ray diffraction (WAXD), differential scanning calorimetry (DSC), scanning electron microscopy (SEM), transparence analysis, and strength tests. The crystallinities of the blend films decreased with the increase of the konjac glucomannan proportion. The DSC and FT-IR showed the existence of interaction between two kinds of polysaccharides. The tensile strength of the blend films achieved its max- imum 17.5 MPa when the konjac glucomannan content in the blend films was around 70 wt% (KG7). The section morphology of the blend films observed by SEM also displayed the best miscibility at this ratio. The structure analysis indicated that there was a hydrogen interaction betwee