Wet cross-linking gliadin fibers with citric acid and a quantitative relationship between cross-linking conditions and mechanical properties

This paper reports the wet cross-linking of gliadin fibers using citric acid without using phosphorus-containing catalysts or high temperatures. Carboxylic acids such as citric acid are inexpensive and nontoxic chemicals preferred for cross-linking proteins and cellulose. However, previous studies have shown that carboxylic acid cross-linked materials experience substantial strength loss and/or yellowing when cross-linked using phosphorus-containing catalysts after drying and curing at high temperatures. In this research, citric acid has been used to cross-link gliadin fibers and the effects of various cross-linking conditions on the breaking tenacity and breaking elongation have been studied. A mathematical relationship that can predict the breaking tenacity of the fibers at various cross-linking conditions has also been developed. This research shows that citric acid in aqueous solutions can cross-link gliadin fibers at low temperatures using alkali as catalyst. The method of cross-linking developed in this research could be useful to cross-link plant proteins for food, fiber, and other applications.