ARS | Publication request: Rheological Studies of Zein in Non-Aqueous Solutions

Submitted to: Meeting Abstract
Publication Type: Abstract
Publication Acceptance Date: October 1, 2004
Publication Date: December 5, 2004
Citation: Selling, G.W., Sessa, D.J. 2004. Rheological studies of zein in non-aqueous solutions[abstract]. BioEnvironmental Polymer Society. p.49:122.

Technical Abstract: Rheological studies were carried out on solutions of zein in dimethylformamide, dimethylsulfoxide, acetic acid and ethanol/water, where the specific lot of zein, zein concentration, temperature and time were varied. It was found that all of the zein solutions behaved in a non-Newtonian fashion. N,N-Dimethylformamide was found to be the best solvent for zein, giving the lowest viscosities at a given concentration. There are significant lot to lot variations in zein that give rise to significant differences in viscosity. With the samples studied, viscosity could double between lots. Zein solutions are known to be unstable and will increase in viscosity. The rate of viscosity rise with time was found to be dependent on temperature and lot. A temperature study on the rate of viscosity rise suggested that at temperatures above 40 deg C, the dominant mechanism for the viscosity rise changed. Efforts are being put forth to understand what differences in the zein are responsible for the effects observed.