Physicochemical properties of chitosan-essential oils film-forming dispersions. Effect of homogenization treatments

Chitosan films enriched with basil (B) or thyme (T) essential oils (EO) were prepared by means of two homogenization treatments, without (H1) and with (H2) microfluidization. H2 treatment led to a significant decrease in the average particle size and the type of EO significantly affected d(43) values (p<0.05). zeta-potential significantly increased with the use of H2 treatment. Treatment H2 changed the rheological behaviour of the FFD. In all cases, the viscosity of the FFD was reduced by this treatment. The type of EO had a different effect on rheological behaviour depending on the homogenization treatment. CH:T were more viscous at H2 and CH:A showed higher apparent viscosity values than CH:T at H1. (C) 2011 Published by Elsevier B.V. Selection and/or peer-review under responsibility of 11th International Congress on Engineering and Food (ICEF 11) Executive Committee.