The role of hydrogen bonds in TAG derivative-based oleogel structure and properties

Abstract

Glycerol monosterate (GMS) and stearic acid (SA) share a similar carbon chain structure while SA has a carboxyl head group and GMS has two free hydroxyl groups. The current research focuses on the relationship between GMS and SA chemical structure, nano and mesoscale crystal structure, and the oleogel macroscopic characteristics. Molecular analysis revealed the formation of different types of hydrogen bonds, which disappear upon temperature increase at different temperatures. Nano-structural analysis exhibited tight and ordered lamellar structures for SA compared with loosely packed short lamellar structures in GMS oleogel, presumably due to its larger hydrophilic head group. Microstructure imaging revealed ordered anisotropically orientated needle-like crystals in SA and isotopically ordered braid-like crystals in GMS oleogels. Mechanical analysis revealed that gel strength is enhanced when crystal structure is isotropically oriented, similar behavior seen is composite materials, where the structuring agent crystals behave like a reinforcing agent within the oil matrix.