Effect of chemical cross-linking on gelatin membrane solubility with a non-toxic and non-volatile agent: terephthalaldehyde

  • Int J Biol Macromol. 2015 Mar:74:5-11. doi: 10.1016/j.ijbiomac.2014.11.022.
Jennifer Biscarat  1 ,  Benjamin Galea  1 ,  José Sanchez  1 ,  Celine Pochat-Bohatier  2
Affiliations
  • 1. IEM (Institut Europeen des Membranes), UMR 5635 (CNRS-ENSCM-UM2), Universite Montpellier 2, Place E. Bataillon, F-34095 Montpellier, France.
  • 2. IEM (Institut Europeen des Membranes), UMR 5635 (CNRS-ENSCM-UM2), Universite Montpellier 2, Place E. Bataillon, F-34095 Montpellier, France. Electronic address: [email protected].
PMID: 25478961 DOI: 10.1016/j.ijbiomac.2014.11.022
Abstract

In this paper, terephthalaldehyde (TPA) is proposed as non-toxic and non-volatile gelatin cross-linker. Optimal cross-linking parameters (TPA/gelatin ratio, temperature) were first determined from in situ rheological measurements on gelatin solutions and from chemical tests with 2,4,6-trinitrobenzenesulfonic acid (TNBS assays) on gelatin gel. The highest cross-linking ratio was achieved for a concentration of 0.005 g TPA/g gelatin at 60°C. The impact of TPA cross-linking on gelatin membrane functional properties (water swelling ratio, water vapor sorption and mechanical properties) was measured. TPA cross-linking increased 17 times the liquid water resistance duration of gelatin films, and delayed the entry of vapor water in the polymer matrix for 7 days, indicating that TPA increased the hydrophobic character of the gelatin matrix.

Keywords
Cross-linking; Gelatin; Rheology; Terephthalaldehyde; Water solubility.
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