Combined effects of octenylsuccination and beeswax on pullulan films: Water-resistant and mechanical properties

In this study, to improve the water resistance properties of pullulan (PU) edible-films, the combination of the modification with octenyl succinic anhydride (OSA) and beeswax (BW) incorporation was used. The FTIR spectra results confirmed the PU octenylsuccination and also the presence of the BW in the composite films. The scanning electron microscopy (SEM) micrographs showed that the PU modification with OSA powerfully retarded the coalescence of BW droplets in film casting process and led to their homogeneity in the dried films. Also, the findings indicated that the water-proof properties including water solubility, water vapor permeability and water contact angle in the PU films were improved by the PU modification and BW incorporation. In addition, the obtained data showed that the octenylsuccination of PU had a negative effect on the mechanical properties of the produced films, while BW incorporation into PU-OSA films led to resolve this drawback.