| Chemical Properties | White to slightly yellow powder; odorless; tasteless. Free of cystine, lysine, and tryptophan. A resinous material dispersible in water with neutral sulfonated castor oil; soluble in dilute alcohol; insoluble in water, dilute acids, anhydrous alcohols, turpentine, esters, oils, fats. Nontoxic protein of the prolamine class, derived from corn; contains 17 amino acids. Combustible. |
| Chemical Properties | Zein is a prolamin obtained from corn (Zea mays Linne' (Fam. Gramineae)). It occurs as a granular, straw- to pale yellow-colored amorphous powder or fine flakes and has a characteristic odor and bland taste. |
| Uses | Paper coating, grease-resistant coating, label varnishes, laminated board, solid-color prints, printing inks, food coatings, microencapsulation, fibers. |
| Uses | Zein is a corn protein produced from corn gluten meal. it lacks the amino acids, lysine and tryptophan, so it is not suitable as a sole source of dietary protein. it is insoluble in water and alcohols but is soluble in aqueous alcohols, glycols, and glycol ethers. it functions as a film and coating to provide a moisture barrier for nuts and grain products. it also functions as a coating for confections and a glaze for panned goods. |
| Production Methods | Zein is extracted from corn gluten meal with dilute propan-2-ol. |
| Pharmaceutical Applications | Zein is used as a tablet binder in wet-granulation processes or as a tablet-coating agent mainly as a replacement for shellac. It is used primarily as an enteric-coating agent or in extended-release oral tablet formulations and other delivery systems. Zein is also used in food applications as a coating agent. |
| Safety Profile | When heated to decomposition it emits acrid smoke and irritating fumes. |
