Development of Zein-Tannin Based Protein Films
Faculty Mentor Information
Dr. Armando McDonald, University of Idaho; and Dr. Shafaet Ahmed, University of Idaho
Presentation Date
7-15-2026
Abstract
Approximately one third of global plastic waste is produced from petroleum-based packing materials, leading to significant waste presence in the environment with concurrent negative health effects. The development of protein-based biodegradable films has become a prominent research interest as a sustainable alternative to petroleum-based packing plastics. Zein derived from corn processing residues is a popular protein for this application due to its wide availability and strong film-forming properties such as hydrophobicity and biodegradability. Applications of zein films are limited due to poor mechanical properties, demonstrating the need for the introduction of a sustainable crosslinker. In this study, tannin extracted from ponderosa pine bark was used to develop zein-tannin composite films to examine the viability of crosslinked zein films for sustainable packaging applications. Various mechanical and physical properties of zein films and crosslinked zein films were tested. Performance of zein-tannin films was compared with the performance of zein films without tannin to examine the benefits of introducing tannin. Preliminary results suggest that the incorporation of tannin improves the tensile strength of films while maintaining thermal stability. These results demonstrate the ability of tannin to act as an effective natural crosslinker for engineering zein films for developing sustainable food packaging materials.
Development of Zein-Tannin Based Protein Films
Approximately one third of global plastic waste is produced from petroleum-based packing materials, leading to significant waste presence in the environment with concurrent negative health effects. The development of protein-based biodegradable films has become a prominent research interest as a sustainable alternative to petroleum-based packing plastics. Zein derived from corn processing residues is a popular protein for this application due to its wide availability and strong film-forming properties such as hydrophobicity and biodegradability. Applications of zein films are limited due to poor mechanical properties, demonstrating the need for the introduction of a sustainable crosslinker. In this study, tannin extracted from ponderosa pine bark was used to develop zein-tannin composite films to examine the viability of crosslinked zein films for sustainable packaging applications. Various mechanical and physical properties of zein films and crosslinked zein films were tested. Performance of zein-tannin films was compared with the performance of zein films without tannin to examine the benefits of introducing tannin. Preliminary results suggest that the incorporation of tannin improves the tensile strength of films while maintaining thermal stability. These results demonstrate the ability of tannin to act as an effective natural crosslinker for engineering zein films for developing sustainable food packaging materials.