Soybean Research

Development of industrial soy protein films
 Dr. Christine Moresoli, University of Waterloo

This project aims to systematically evaluate the suitability of proteins from soybean for producing industrial films on the basis of structural and functional criteria. Protein films represent an attractive market for the use of Ontario grown soybeans.

Protein films have a large range of potential uses in strengthening plastic materials, in medicine to produce wound closures, in the manufacture of high performance textiles and in biodegradable food packaging applications. Depending on their composition, proteins can be made into elastic materials that can survive repeated stress-strain cycles and they can aggregate to form films that provide barriers to gases, moisture and bacteria.

The overall objective of this project is to evaluate the potential of proteins extracted from a variety of soybeans grown in Ontario for manufacturing industrial films.

The specific objectives are to:

1. Manufacture films from whole protein and protein fractions.
2. Define appropriate assay methods and standards for protein film physical properties (strength, stiffness, stability, permeability, etc).
3. Identify plant protein compositions that give films with unique properties.

The soybean genotypes have been selected and consist of 16 genotypes (Ontario commercial cultivars and Recombinant Inbred). Potential assay methods for protein film physical properties have been identified and will be further explored. These potential assay methods include film tensile strength, film elastic modulus and water vapor permeability.