This study investigated the feasibility of using pulsed electric fields (PEF) to develop biodegradable films from biopolymers (zein, chitosan) and biosynthetic polymers (poly(vinyl alcohol), polyethylene glycol). Various responses including the viscosity, loss modulus, particle size and polydispersity index of the dispersions were determined after PEF processing at various electric field strength (0.9–3.5 kV/cm), pulse frequency (50–300 Hz), and specific energy (80–650 kJ/kg). The structure-function relationship between the PEF processed colloidal dispersions, and the effect of PEF on the resulting films was evaluated using the tensile strength, Young's modulus, and erosion index. The viscosity and loss modulus decreased, but the particle size increased at a field strength above 2.4 kV/cm and specific energy below 200 kJ/kg. The films showed higher tensile strength and Young's modulus but low erodibility at a field strength/frequency/specific energy of 2.4 kV/cm/<100 Hz/<100 kJ/kg, respectively. The optimum tensile strength (maximised) (32.89 MPa) and erosion index (minimised) (33.42%) were obtainable at a field strength/frequency/specific energy of 3.4 kV/cm/50 Hz/100 kJ/kg, respectively. The results of scanning electron microscopy, X-ray diffraction, and differential scanning calorimetry depicted improvements in the compatibility and nature of intra−/intermolecular interactions between biomacromolecules, as evidenced by the modifications in the morphology, crystallinity and thermal properties. These findings demonstrate the potential of using PEF as a pre-treatment technique during the production of biodegradable films from colloidal dispersions.

Industrial relevance.

The combinations of PEF processing parameters investigated in this study can be employed to elicit microstructural modifications of colloidal dispersions. PEF-induced effects on colloidal systems can be translated into a functional modification of assembled biological materials (e.g. biodegradable films). The study illustrates possible designs for a PEF process for utilisation of agro-based co-products to meet the demand for eco-friendly materials.

这项研究调查了使用脉冲电场（PEF）从生物聚合物（玉米醇溶蛋白，壳聚糖）和生物合成聚合物（聚乙烯醇，聚乙二醇）开发可生物降解膜的可行性。经过PEF处理后，在各种电场强度（0.9-3.5 kV / cm），脉冲频率（50-300 Hz）和比能（80）下测定了分散体的粘度，损耗模量，粒度和多分散性指数等各种响应–650 kJ / kg）。使用拉伸强度，杨氏模量和腐蚀指数评估了PEF处理的胶体分散体之间的结构-功能关系，以及PEF对所得膜的影响。粘度和损耗模量降低，但在电场强度高于2.4 kV / cm且比能低于200 kJ / kg时，粒径增加。薄膜在2.4 kV / cm / <100 Hz / <100 kJ / kg的场强/频率/比能下分别显示出较高的拉伸强度和杨氏模量，但其易蚀性较低。场强/频率/比能分别为3.4 kV / cm / 50 Hz / 100 kJ / kg时，可获得最佳抗张强度（最大）（32.89 MPa）和侵蚀指数（最小）（33.42％）。扫描电子显微镜，X射线衍射和差示扫描量热法的结果表明，生物大分子之间的相容性和分子内/分子间相互作用的性质得到了改善，这在形态，结晶度和热性能方面得到了证明。这些发现证明了在从胶体分散体生产可生物降解薄膜的过程中，使用PEF作为预处理技术的潜力。

行业相关性。

本研究中研究的PEF加工参数的组合可用于引发胶体分散体的微观结构改性。PEF诱导的对胶体系统的影响可以转化为组装的生物材料（例如，可生物降解的薄膜）的功能修饰。该研究说明了利用农业副产品利用PEF工艺来满足环保材料需求的可能设计。