Oxygen permeability of amylose and amylopectin films

The effects of water and glycerol contents on oxygen permeability of starch polymer films were investigated. Starch films were prepared of amylose and amylopectin by a casting technique and oxygen permeability was analysed at 20 degreesC. Glycerol contents were 0, 10, 20 or 30% while water content v aried from 8 to 36%. Under ambient humidity both amylose and amylopectin fi lms were excellent oxygen barriers, as good as the commercial ethylene viny l alcohol film which was studied as a reference material. It was observed t hat the film permeabilities were determined by water content; below 15% wat er both starch films were good oxygen barriers, above 20% water the barrier property was lost. (C) 2002 Elsevier Science Ltd. All rights reserved.