Modified soy protein and thermoplastic articles therefrom

摘要

The invention relates to a process of chemically modifying soy protein to produce a thermoplastic material. An aqueous alkaline solution of soy protein is mixed with an organic solution of an alkyl or alkenyl succinic anhydride to acylate the protein's amine and hydroxyl groups. The acylated proteins behave as materials capable of forming films with controlled water solubility water vapor permeability. Useful acylating agents include octenyl succinic anhydride (OSA), dodecenyl succinic anhydride (DDSA), and octadecenyl succinic anhydride (ODSA).