Permeability of edible coatings

The permeabilities of water vapour, O-2 and CO2 were determined for 18 coating formulations. Water vapour transmission rate ranged from 98.8 g/m(2). day (6% beeswax) to 758.0 g/m(2). day (1.5% carboxymethyl cellulose with glycerol). O-2 permeability at 14 +/- 1 degrees C and 55 +/- 5% RH ranged from 1.50 to 7.95 cm(3) cm cm (2)s Pa-1 (1), with CO2 permeability 2 to 6 times as high. Permeability to noncondensable gases (O-2 and CO2) was higher for hydrophobic (peanut oil followed by beeswax) coatings as compared to hydrophilic (whey protein concentrate and carboxymethyl cellulose).