Prediction of permeation fluxes of small volatile components through starch-based films

Simple formulas for estimating the Maxwell–Stefan diffusion of trace volatile compounds through polymeric films in multicomponent mixtures are developed based on free-volume theory and Flory–Huggins–Maxwell–Stefan (FHMS) equation. The model includes the solution-diffusion theory, and predicts the order of magnitude of the permeation fluxes of diacetyl and carvone through starch films. The permeability of volatile components within starch films was dominated by the swelling of the matrix. The methodology required only some physical properties of the components sorption equilibrium.