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Nanostructured Silica/Wheat Gluten Hybrid Materials Prepared by Catalytic Sol–Gel Chemistry
Author(s) -
Türe Hasan,
Blomfeldt Thomas O. J.,
Gällstedt Mikael,
Hedenqvist Mikael S.,
Farris Stefano
Publication year - 2013
Publication title -
macromolecular chemistry and physics
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
SCImago Journal Rank - 0.57
H-Index - 112
eISSN - 1521-3935
pISSN - 1022-1352
DOI - 10.1002/macp.201200646
Subject(s) - sorption , desorption , chemical engineering , silica gel , materials science , hydrogen bond , moisture , phase (matter) , matrix (chemical analysis) , diffusion , chemistry , adsorption , composite material , organic chemistry , molecule , thermodynamics , physics , engineering
Abstract The main physicochemical properties of nanostructured silica/wheat gluten hybrid composites are presented. The extraction experiments suggest that the protein phase is intimately encased within the silica matrix, with silica–protein interactions driven by hydrogen bonding, as indicated by IR spectra. Spectroscopic results also show that silica induces a higher degree of constraint of the wheat gluten matrix, despite less aggregation. Moisture diffusion properties of the hybrid materials are investigated by a combined “desorption/sorption” approach. While the reduction of the moisture diffusivity in the presence of silica can be described by the geometrical impedance of a “sintered” porous solid, a time‐dependent relaxation/restructuring of the composite apparently occurs during the sorption‐desorption cycle.