Sources, extraction, and characterization of zein

Zein, a major storage protein of corn, has good potential in the specialty food, pharmaceutical, and biodegradable plastics industries. This plant-based protein is used to coat dried fruits and nuts, rice, candies, etc., in the food industry. Furthermore, zein is used as a structural component of packaging materials for its film-forming ability. It is also used in the manufacturing of paper coatings, adhesives, plastics, color print films and laminated boards, shellac substitutes, pharmaceutical applications like capsule coatings, the controlled release and masking of flavors and aromas, etc. Zein is commercially available as a yellowish powder. It is typically separated from corn gluten meal by solvent extraction using isopropanol as the solvent. The structure and properties of zein have great significance because it confers the functional characteristics of flour made from corn. Therefore, it directly affects the processing and manufacturing of various products. This chapter deals with the sources, extraction, and characterization of the corn protein zein.