pH indicator films fabricated from soy protein isolate modified with chitin nanowhisker and flower extract.

Sensor films are finding wide range of applications. Different type of sensing films is fabricated for the identification of chemicals, ions, heavy metals, changes in the pH, etc. The present report is on the fabrication of pH sensitive films from completely natural sources-soy protein isolate, chitin nano whiskers and flower extract. The highly crystalline chitin nano whiskers (CNW) were extracted from prawn shell under neutral condition via steam explosion technique. Multifunctional Soy protein isolate (SPI) films were prepared by adding chitin nanowhisker and flower extract and its effect on thermal, mechanical and moisture properties of SPI film was investigated. The isolated CNW presented a needle like morphology with a diameter of 10-50 nm and a crystallinity index of 99.67%. The extracted chitin nanowhisker was used to prepare biodegradable films with soy protein isolate immobilized with anthocyanin from flower extract. The prepared Soy protein -chitin nanowhisker films was found to have a tensile strength of about 15.45 ± 0.97 MPa with 8% chitin nanowhisker addition. The addition of CTE was found to decrease the tensile strength of SPI-CNW film but was found to make the film pH sensitive. The developed indicator film showed visible color changes in acidic and basic medium and hence can be used to monitor the freshness of food materials.