Preparation and characterization of films from pea protein.

The conditions for protein film preparation from an alkaline dispersion of a pea protein isolate were investigated in the presence of polyols as plasticizers. Mechanical and barrier properties of resulting films were studied as a function of protein dispersion conditions, protein and plasticizer concentrations and ratios, chain length of the plasticizer, and pH and composition of the alkaline medium. Neither the mode of protein hydration nor the pea isolate origin had a significant effect on the mechanical properties of pea protein films.

[Aflatoxin inactivation after ammonia treatment. In vitro studies on detoxified peanut meals].

The maximum allowable tolerance of aflatoxins in animal feeds is becoming lower and lower, and it is obvious that the fairly high level of aflatoxin B1 found in almost all peanut meals in recent years restricts this protein source for use in the diets of most animal species. Among the different chemical methods for aflatoxin inactivation, treatment by gaseous ammonia under a pressure of 2 to 3 bars, appears a very attractive solution because it may be achieved by a fairly easy and rapid procedure. This treatment markedly reduces--up to 95 p.