Rheology of zein solutions in aqueous ethanol.

Aqueous ethanol solutions prepared with commercial zein exhibited Newtonian behavior. Temperature, zein concentration, and ratio of water to ethanol affected viscosity of the zein solutions. The influence of temperature on zein solution viscosity was expressed by an Arrhenius-type equation. As zein concentration increased, solution viscosity exponentially increased. Generally speaking, viscosity decreased when the ethanol concentration increased. Parameters were estimated for an Arrhenius-type equation to describe the viscosity as a function of temperature, zein concentration, and ethanol concentration.