Zein
2523359
208208927
2008-04-25T22:23:26Z
Kotra
600804
added link to [[Pharmaceutical glaze|confectioner's glaze]], noted that this may also mean shellac-based glaze
'''Zein''' is a class of [[proline|prolamine]] [[protein]] found in [[maize]]. It is usually manufactured as a powder from [[corn gluten meal]].
Zein is one of the most well understood plant proteins<ref name="momany">Momany, Frank A.; Sessa, David J.; Lawton, John C.; Selling, Gordon W.; Hamaker, Sharon A. H.; and Willett, Julious L. "[http://pubs.acs.org/cgi-bin/abstract.cgi/jafcau/2006/54/i02/abs/jf058135h.html Structural Characterization of A-Zein]" December 27, 2005, American Chemical Society</ref> and has a variety of industrial and food uses.<ref name="lawton2002">Lawton, John W. "[http://199.86.26.71/cerealchemistry/articles/2002/1203-01R.pdf Zein: A History of Processing and Use]", [[November 1]] [[2002]], American Association of Cereal Chemists</ref><ref name="gennadios">Gennadios, Aristippos"[http://www.chipsbooks.com/protbase.htm Protein-Based Films and Coatings]" 2002</ref> Historically it has been used in the manufacture of a wide variety of commercial products including coatings for paper cups, soda bottle cap linings, clothing fabric,<ref name="commission on life sciences">Commission on Life Sciences "[http://www.nap.edu/openbook/0309053927/html/35.html Biobased Industrial Products: Research and Commercialization Priorities]" 2002.</ref> buttons, adhesives, coatings and binders. The dominant historical use of zein was in the textile fibers market where it was produced under the name "Vicara".<ref name="lawton2002">Lawton, John W. "[http://199.86.26.71/cerealchemistry/articles/2002/1203-01R.pdf Zein: A History of Processing and Use]", [[November 1]] [[2002]], American Association of Cereal Chemists</ref><ref name="Horst">Horst, W.P. ''Amer Dyestuff Rep'' Vol. 38, 335, 1949.</ref> With the development of synthetic alternatives, the use of zein in this market eventually disappeared. By utilizing electrospinning, zein fibers have again been produced in the lab where additional research will be performed to re-enter the fiber market.<ref name="Miyoshi">Miyoshi, T., Toyohara, H., Minematsu, H. "[http://www3.interscience.wiley.com/cgi-bin/abstract/110481790/ABSTRACT Preparation of ultrafine fibrous zein membranes via electrospinning]", ''Polymer International'' Vol. 54, no. 8, 2005.</ref><ref name="Selling">Selling, G., Biswas, A., Patel, A., Walls, D., Dunlap, C., Wei, Y. "[http://www3.interscience.wiley.com/cgi-bin/abstract/114229013/ABSTRACT Impact of Solvent on Electrospinning of Zein and Analysis of Resulting Fibers]", ''Macromolecular Chemistry and Physics'' Vol. 208, no. 9, 2007.</ref> Pure zein is clear, odorless, tasteless, hard, water-insoluble, and edible, making it invaluable in processed foods and pharmaceuticals, in competition with insect [[shellac]]. It is now used as a coating for candy, nuts, fruit, pills, and other encapsulated foods and drugs. In the United States it may be labeled as "[[Pharmaceutical glaze|confectioner's glaze]]" (which may also refer to shellac-based glazes) and used as a coating on bakery products<ref name="kobs">Kobs, Lisa "[http://www.foodproductdesign.com/archive/2000/0500ap.html Shining Up Appearances]", ''Food Product Design''.</ref>or as "vegetable protein." It is classified as [[GRAS]] (Generally Recognized as Safe) by the U.S. Food and Drug Administration.
Zein can be further processed into [[resin]]s and other bioplastic [[polymer]]s which can be extruded or rolled into a variety of plastic products.<ref name="lee">Lee, Richard "[http://www.otm.uiuc.edu/techs/techdetail.asp?id=259 Multiple-use Corn zein-based Biodegradable Resins, Sheets, and Films are an attractive alternative to plastic]", [[University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign]].</ref><ref name="lawton">Lawton Jr., J.W. "[http://199.133.10.189/research/publications/publications.htm?SEQ_NO_115=142776 Plasticizers for Zein:their Effect on Tensile Properties and Water Absorption of Zein Films]" January 12, 2004, ''Cereal Chemistry''.</ref> With increasing environmental concerns about synthetic coatings (such as [[PFOA]]) and the currently higher prices of hydrocarbon based petrochemicals, there is increased focus on zein as a raw material for a variety of non-toxic and renewable polymer applications, particularly in paper industry applications.<ref name="jabar">Jabar, Anthony Jr; Bilodeau, Michael A.; Neivandt, David J.; Spender, Jonathan "[http://v3.espacenet.com/textdoc?DB=EPODOC&IDX=WO2006002346&F=0 Barrier Compositions and Articles Produced with the Compositions]", December 29, 2005, United States Patent (pending)</ref><ref name="parris">Parris, Nicholas; Sykes, Marguerite; Dickey, Leland C.; Wiles, Jack L.; Urbanik, Thomas J.; Cooke, Peter H. "[http://www.treesearch.fs.fed.us/pubs/8583 Recyclable zein-coated kraft paper]", ''Progress in paper recycling'' Vol. 11, no. 3 May 2002.</ref> Other reasons for a renewed interest in zein include concern about the landfill costs of plastics and consumer interest in natural substances. There are also a number of potential new food industry applications.
Researchers at the University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign and at Wm. Wrigley Jr. Company have recently been studying the possibility of using zein to replace some of the gum base in chewing gum.<ref name="mcgowan">McGowan B.A., Padua G.W., and Lee S-Y. "[http://bookstore.ift.org/store/iftstore/newstore.cgi?categoryid=1114&categoryparent=1114&itemid=26466&view=item Formulation of Corn Zein Chewing Gum and Evaluation of Sensory Properties by the Time-Intensity Method]", September, 2005, ''Journal of Food Science''.</ref> They are also studying medical applications such as using the zein molecule to "carry biocompounds to targeted sites in the human body".<ref name="picklesimer">Picklesimer, Phyllis. "[http://www.news.uiuc.edu/ii/05/0317/nano.html Nanotechnologist Plans to Build Things with Bricklike Corn Molecules]," [[University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign]].</ref> There are a number of potential food safety applications that may be possible for zein-based packaging according to several researchers. A military contractor is researching the use of zein to protect [[Meal, Ready-to-Eat|MRE]] food packages.<ref name="mrezien">Bertrand, Kate, "[http://www.fdp.com/content.php?s=FP/2005/09&p=15 Military packages put technology to the test]," September 2005</ref> Other packaging/food safety applications that have been researched include frozen foods,<ref name="padua">Padua, Graciela W., Rakotonirainy, Andrianaivo, and Wang, Qin "[http://www.aces.uiuc.edu/~biobased/Publications/Biopack-paper.html Zein-Based Biodegradable Packaging for Frozen Foods]",[[University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign]]</ref> ready-to-eat chicken,<ref name="janes">Janes M.E.; Kooshesh S.; Johnson M.G. "[http://bookstore.ift.org/store/iftstore/newstore.cgi?categoryid=556&categoryparent=556&itemid=20272&view=item Control of Listeria monocytogenes on the Surface of Refrigerated, Ready-to-eat Chicken Coated with Edible Zein Film]" September, 2002, ''Journal of Food Science''.</ref>and cheese and liquid eggs.<ref name="dawson">Dawson, Paul "[http://www.clemson.edu/scg/food/pkgfilm.htm Packaging Films Fight Bacteria and Help the Environment]" [[Clemson University]]</ref> Food researchers in Japan have noted the ability of the zein molecule to act as a water barrier.<ref name="quiangzian">Qiangxian Wu, Hiroshi Sakabe and Seiichiro Isobe "[http://www.sciencedirect.com/science?_ob=ArticleURL&_udi=B6TXW-48NJ38B-2&_coverDate=06%2F30%2F2003&_alid=371882069&_rdoc=1&_fmt=&_orig=search&_qd=1&_cdi=5601&_sort=d&view=c&_acct=C000050221&_version=1&_urlVersion=0&_userid=10&md5=cc2901ad554a5aaac9a885d88237a6fb Studies on the toughness and water resistance of zein-based polymers by modification]" June, 2003, National Food Research Institute, Japan.</ref>
While there are numerous existing and potential uses for zein, the main barrier to greater commercial success has been its historic high cost until recently. Some believe the solution is to extract zein as a byproduct in the manufacturing process for [[ethanol]]<ref name="core">Core, Jim. "[http://www.ars.usda.gov/is/pr/2002/020415.htm Corn Protein Could Reduce Ethanol Production Costs]," [[April 15]] [[2002]], [[United States Department of Agriculture]] [[Agricultural Research Service]].</ref> or in new off-shore manufacture.
== References ==
{{reflist|2}}
== External links ==
* Illinois Corn: [http://www.ilcorn.org/Research/Zein-Based/zein-based.html Corn Zein-Based product technology]
* [[Oregon State University]] Food Resource: [http://food.oregonstate.edu/g/zein.html Zein]
* Zein Protein Products: [http://www.zeinprotein.com Non-GMO Corn Zein Supplier]
* Freeman Industries: [http://www.freemanllc.com/zein.htm Corn Zein Supplier]
[[Category:Proteins]]
[[Category:Seed storage proteins]]
[[Category:Food additives]]
[[Category:Biodegradable plastics]]
[[eo:Zeino]]
[[fr:Zéine]]
[[nl:Zeïne]]