Barrier properties of biohybrid structures from sugar beet pulp pectin and nanoclay

Pectin is a complex heteropolysaccharide found in the primary walls of terrestrial plants. Pectins are produced as by-products from processing of e.g. citrus fruits and sugar beet and used as gelling additive in food applications. The aim of this work was to study the effects of nanosized montmorillonite on the barrier properties of the unmodified sugar beet pectin films as a function of relative humidity. Dispersions of pectin and nanoclay were produced using high pressure fluidizer. Nanoclay-pectin hybrid film formation and high shear induced orientation of nanoclay platelets were investigated by means of model surfaces which were prepared using high shear spin coating. After fluidisation, the nanoclay formed uniform and laterally oriented stacks consisting of individual nanoclay layers. The formed biohybrid films showed good barrier properties against oxygen, and water vapour. In addition, the films were totally impermeable to grease