Emulsifier Concentration Research Articles

Sapote gum as a new biopolymer suitable emulsion stabilizer: Grapeseed oil ultrasonic emulsification

Sapote gum (SG) is a new biopolymer with promissory functional properties. This study aimed to determine if SG is a suitable emulsifier for obtaining stable grape seed oil (GSO) emulsions. In the first stage, coarse emulsion concentrations of SG and grapeseed oil - GSO were evaluated, applying the Central Composite Rotational Design (0.59% to 3.41% of SG and 12.93% to 27.07% GSO). For the second stage, using a Centered Face Design – CFD, the resulting emulsion was sonicated at 90, 270, and 450 Watts at 5, 10, and 15 min. Finally, a validation was made. Emulsions were evaluated through microstructure, droplet size, kinetic stability, heat stress, and rheology. Micrographs of the first-stage emulsions showed droplets up to 3.8 μm diameter and a creaming index between 0.00% and 28.39% after 24 h. Optimization indicates that the higher the concentration of gum (3.5%) and GSO (25%), the more kinetically stable emulsions are produced. Ultrasonic emulsions showed no significant difference in droplet size and kinetic stability before 14 days of rest. Ultrasonic validation was made at 450 W for 6 min, resulting in emulsions stable for 20 days and with rheological characteristics interesting for food or cosmetic industries.

INVESTIGATION OF THE EFFICIENCY OF DIESEL FUEL EQUIPMENT IN NON-TRADITIONAL CONDITIONS

To date, Russian and foreign scientists have proposed many different compositions of MMF, as well as methods of high-temperature forcing. It is known that poor-quality tuning of the FSE leads to an increase in costs up to 30 ... 35%, reduces the resource of the internal combustion engines themselves by 1.5 ... 2 times, and worsens their performance. In general, a mixture of diesel fuel, rapeseed oil and ethanol is characterized as a microheterogenic coarse-dispersed concentrated emulsion of the reverse type - "water in oil", in which the polar dispersed phase is in a non-polar dispersion medium. The fragmentation of the dispersed system can significantly affect the performance characteristics of the FSE. High-temperature heating of DF (over 100 ° C) will undoubtedly have an impact on the value of the cyclic fuel supply and the unevenness of its supply when changing the speed mode of operation due to a decrease in kinematic viscosity. An increase in the thermal stress of the parts of the power supply system can cause abnormal situations, mechanical failures and breakdowns and, as a result, a decrease in the service life of the FSE. The study of the operation of FSE on unconventional fuels and under conditions of thermal forcing of diesel fuel is of particular interest.

Emulsifying properties of quinoa protein fibrillar aggregates and their influence on quinoa protein emulsion gel formation

Fibrillization is a potential way to improve functionality of seed storage proteins. Herein, the solubility, morphology, wettability, interfacial adsorption and emulsifying properties of quinoa protein fibrillar aggregates were compared with those of quinoa protein isolate (QPI). Effect of fibrillar aggregates on the formation of heat-induced QPI emulsion gels was investigated in the presence 0 or 100 mM NaCl. The results showed that fibrillization enhanced relative solubility of QPI by ~10 %, and reduced contact angle from 130.5° to 83.4°. Both QPI and fibrillar aggregates exhibited outstanding emulsifying capacity and emulsion stability against flocculation/coalescence. The interfacial protein concentration of fibrillar aggregate-stabilized emulsions was higher than that of QPI-stabilized emulsions, ranging from 16.3 to 33.4 vs. 12.4 to 29.2 mg/m2 at emulsifier concentrations of 0.5–3 % w/w. The self-standing emulsion gels were formed by heating 10 % w/w QPI emulsions with the storage modulus of 1886 Pa and the fracture stress of 582 Pa. Fibrillar aggregates acted as active fillers in QPI emulsions gels (8 % w/w QPI + 2 % w/w fibrillar aggregates) with the storage modulus of 2566 Pa and the fracture stress of 741 Pa. The addition of 100 mM NaCl destructed the gel network, leading to a reduction of gel strength.

Stability of electrostatically stabilized Pickering emulsion of silica particles and soy hull polysaccharides: Mechanism of pH and ionic strength.

To enhance the surface hydrophobicity and emulsification capacity of silica colloidal particles, a natural surface modification of soy hull polysaccharides (SHP) was conducted. Here, the effects of pH and ionic strength on the stability, microstructure and rheological properties of concentrated Pickering emulsions were investigated. Experimental results show emulsions gelled at pH2, with increasing pH (2-10), SiO2-SHP absolute zeta potential (from -19.6 to -44.7mV) and interfacial tension (from 15.2 to 25.09 mN/m) increased, and viscosity, viscoelasticity and storage stability decreased. Additionally, at low NaCl concentrations (<150mM), SiO2-SHP interfacial tension remained low (21.3 mN/m), promoting stable emulsions (TSI<1.5). In this case, the electrostatic interaction was slightly affected by ions, facilitating the occurrence of composite coagulation. However, as ionic concentration increased (150-300mM), interfacial tension increased (from 20.5 to 27.6 mN/m). Thus, our study presents important insights into the pH and salt ions dependent mechanism of emulsion stabilization by SiO2-SHP.

Bacterial Nanocellulose Grafted in Yeast Films: The Influence of Plasticizer and Emulsifier Concentration on Film Properties

A new generation of food packaging materials, centered on green solutions, is currently being developed in labs basing these materials on underused secondary industrial food by-products which have the ability to reduce the amount of petroleum-based packaging generated in order to minimize environmental harm and food by-products while ensuring food quality and safety. This study presents a sustainable biopolymeric combination based on bacterial nanocellulose grafted in yeast films, its potential to improve matrices properties, and the influence of plasticizer and emulsifier concentrations on mechanical properties, volatile fingerprint, and antimicrobial activity of films. Yeast films with 1.00% glycerol and 1.00% Tween 80, functionalized with a 2.00% mixture of cinnamon–lavender essential oils and with 2.00% bacterial cellulose produced from SCOBY presented improved mechanical properties compared to the control and exerted antipathogenic activity against Listeria monocytogens, Staphylococcus aureus, and Escherichia coli. Yeast films with grafted bacterial cellulose could be a sustainable food packaging solution for future applications.

Developing High-Coloring Natural Systems Using Double Emulsions with Daucus carota L. Extract to Meet High-Performance Requirements.

Daucus carota L. extract is attracting interest as a natural colorant alternative. However, the presence of anthocyanins (ACNs), which are sensitive to pH changes, limits its application. To tackle this issue, water-in-oil-in-water (W1/O/W2) double emulsions are emerging as innovative solutions. Nevertheless, the problem of reaching robust colorant systems for industrial use still needs to be overcome. One important target is to reach a high coloring power, minimizing its impact on the final product. In this context, the effect of colorant concentration and the volume of the primary emulsion, two routes to increase the colorant power, on color attributes and stability, an important feature to reach a marketable product, was studied. The optimal experimental design was conducted to two optimal solutions, whether through heightened colorant concentration or primary emulsion volume: a 41/59 (W1/O)/W2 ratio with 11 wt.% colorant, and a 48/52 (W1/O)/W2 ratio with 6 wt.% colorant, respectively. A subsequent assessment of color and physical emulsion stability over 30 days pointed out the solution with the lower colorant concentration (6 wt.%) as the one with better performance (L*: 44.11 ± 0.03, a*: 25.79 ± 0.01, D4;3: 9.62 ± 0.1 µm, and CI: 14.55 ± 0.99%), also minimizing the permeability of the colorant to the outer aqueous phase. Overall, these optimized emulsions offer versatile coloring solutions suitable for various industrial applications, such as food matrices and functional cosmetics.

Inversion for offshore oil-water emulsion concentration based on a six-flux model of laser-induced fluorescence

Oil-water emulsions, as one of the momentous weathering forms of the marine oil-spill, have caused more severe detriment to the marine environment. Laser-induced fluorescence (LIF) is an extremely influential technique for monitoring spilled oil at sea. However, the evaluation of offshore oil-water emulsion concentration based on LIF detection technology has been rarely discussed. Simultaneously, a scientific low-flux model including fluorescence flux has not been established and applied to detect oil spill at sea. In view of this, a six-flux model of laser-induced fluorescence is proposed to invert the concentration of oil-water emulsions at sea. On the cornerstone of laser flux, fluorescence flux is introduced. Utilizing the absorption, scattering, and other characteristics of flux in the medium, differential equations of various flux are established, and the solution framework of the differential equations is afforded. Thereafter, a formula of the fluorescence radiation transfer factor of the oil-water emulsions and their concentration is derived. Furthermore, the validity and availability of the proposed model are proved by experiments. The experimental results reveal that the proposed model has high accuracy in inverting the concentrations for oil-water emulsions, and the average error is within 6%. Meanwhile, this model consumes a short time, not exceeding 60 s at most. Utilizing the model, the concentration of oil-water emulsions can be evaluated in real time.

Influence of Repeated Wetting-Drying Process on Strength of Cement Admixed Soil Improved by Natural Liquid Latex Rubber

This study investigated the impact of wet-dry cycling on the unconfined compressive strength of compacted cement-soil mixed with latex rubber. The objective was to simulate the fluctuating moisture conditions in the soil caused by alternating rainy and dry seasons over multiple years. The experiments compared cement-soil samples to rubber-cement-soil samples. The amount of cement used was equivalent to 8 percent of the dry soil mass, while the latex emulsion content was 8 percent by cement mass. The wet-dry cycling process was performed on the samples cured for 28 days. The results indicated that the rubber-cemnet-soil samples consistently exhibited enhanced compressive strength compared to the cement-soil samples. During the initial two cycles of the wet-dry process, the rubber-cement-soil samples demonstrated a greater rate of compressive strength improvement than the cement-soil samples. This indicates that the rubber particles contribute to strengthening the soil during the wetting-drying process. It is worth noting that the rate of compressive strength increase for both sample sets becomes comparable after the second cycle of the wetting-drying process.

Influence of Surface Wettability of Nonhomogeneous Proppant on Hydraulic Fracture Inflow Performance.

Quartz sand proppant is widely used in hydraulic fracturing and the extraction of low-permeability reservoirs to prevent fracture closure and enhance reservoir recovery effectively. The influence of proppant size and type on well productivity has been widely studied, but the mechanism of proppant surface wettability on the hydraulic fracture inflow performance has not been thoroughly investigated. To further understand the influence of proppant wettability on fracture inflow performance, in this work, a hydrophobic quartz sand proppant was prepared by a simple dip-coating method using silane solution with a static water contact angle of 136.8° in air, and three types of filtration layer models were prepared according to the mass ratio of hydrophilic/hydrophobic particles, hydrophilic (4:0), hybrid (2:2), and hydrophobic (0:4), to analyze the effects of quartz sand proppant wettability on the oil/water distribution and conductivity performance in the three filter layers. The preliminary results show that (1) under different mesh sizes of quartz sand, different emulsion concentrations, and high-viscosity oil samples, the hydraulic performance of the hydrophobic quartz sand filter layer is generally better than that of the hydrophilic quartz sand filter layer; and (2) the hydraulic performance of the hydrophobic quartz sand filter layer decreases as the concentration of the emulsion increases, the hybrid quartz sand filter layer is basically unaffected and its hydraulic performance is relatively stable, and the hydraulic performance of the hydrophilic quartz sand filter layer is more fluctuating. The flow conductivity of the hydrophilic quartz sand filter layer fluctuates greatly. In addition, the mechanism of the influence of proppant wettability on the flow-conducting performance is proposed through the microscopic percolation experiment of an oil-water emulsion. This study is of some guiding significance for engineers to better design the surface wettability of proppant and the selection and matching of proppant in hydraulic fracturing construction design to improve the recovery rate of low-permeability reservoirs.

Dissipation Kinetics of Trinexapac Acid in Paddy Leaves, Grain, Straw and Soil Using Liquid Chromatography Tandem Mass Spectrometry.

Field experiments were conducted to investigate the dissipation and persistence residues of trinexapac acid in paddy crop. The treatments consisted of one control and two different concentrations of Trinexapac-ethyl 25% EC (Emulsifiable concentrate) at 30 and 60g a.i. ha- 1(recommended and double the recommended dose). Leaf samples were collected at random in each plot separately at 0, 1, 3, 5, 7, 10 and 15 days after foliar application and grain, straw and soil samples were collected at harvest. The mean recovery of trinexapac acid (@ 0.01, 0.05 and 0.1mg kg- 1 was more than 75%. At application rate of 30 and 60g a.i. ha- 1 (gram of active ingredient per hectare), initial trinexapac acid residues on leaves were 0.29 and 0.44mg kg- 1, respectively. Residues were observed even after 15 days of spray. At harvest time, the residues of trinexapac acid in grains were below LOQ (limit of quantification) at 30g a.i. ha- 1 treatment whereas, at 60g a.i.ha- 1, the residues were found to be 0.02mg kg- 1. In straw, trinexapac acid residues were detected to be 0.05 and 0.08mg kg- 1 at 30 and 60g a.i. ha- 1 treatments, respectively. The soil samples showed 0.04 and 0.08mg kg- 1 residue at 30 and 60g a.i. ha- 1, respectively. The half life calculated for trinexapac acid came to be 10.10 and 9.09 days revealed the slow dissipation of trinexapac acid in paddy crop. The residue of trinexapac acid reached below LOQ at harvest time. Therefore the recommend dose of trinexapac ethyl is considered safe from consumption point of view.

Rheology and magnetorheology of ferrofluid emulsions: Insights into formulation and stability

The integration of surfactants and nanoparticles in emulsion formulations has attracted significant attention due to their potential synergistic effects, improving stability and enabling the development of stimuli-responsive materials. The objective of this study was to investigate the stability, bulk rheological, and magnetorheological properties of oil in water (o/w) emulsions, composed of Fe3O4 kerosene-based ferrofluids dispersed in surfactant solutions (hexadecylpyridinium chloride, and nonylphenol polyethoxylate—ethylene oxide = 40, known as Tergitol NP-40), as a function of concentration and nature of the emulsifying agents. The results demonstrated the formation of stable systems (&amp;gt;2 months), featuring an average droplet size below 4 μm, with the primary stabilization mechanism attributed to the reduction of interfacial tension by surfactant activity. The emulsions exhibited shear thinning and viscoelastic solid-like behavior, which were enhanced by increasing the concentrations of both emulsifiers. Emulsions stabilized with hexadecylpyridinium exhibited a higher structural rigidity, with dynamic moduli an order of magnitude higher than Tergitol formulations. In the presence of a perpendicular magnetic field, it was demonstrated that incorporating ferrofluid as a dispersed phase in an o/w emulsion potentiates the magnetoviscous effect, compared to that observed with neat ferrofluid at the same concentration. A maximum relative increase in viscosity of up to 17-fold was observed in emulsions stabilized with 2.5 w/v% of hexadecylpyridinium and 10 000 ppm of nanoparticles when exposed to a linearly increasing magnetic field up to 796.73 mT at 1 s−1. The observed magnetoviscous effect remained reproducible for up to one year after formulation, highlighting the potential of these systems for multiple applications.

Encapsulation of Monascus pigments in gel in oil in water (G/O/W) double emulsion system based on sodium caseinate and guar gum

In this study, a gel in oil in water (G/O/W) double emulsion system was developed with the objective of effectively encapsulating Monascus pigments and enhancing its stability. To this end, various formulations were prepared using guar gum co-dissolved with Monascus pigments in the internal phase and sodium caseinate as an outer phase surfactant. Different parameters were examined, including emulsion stability, encapsulation efficiency, rheological and tribological properties, as well as the light and thermal stability of the encapsulated Monascus pigments. The results demonstrated that Monascus pigments were effectively encapsulated in the G/O/W, with an encapsulation efficiency exceeding 90 %. The formulated system exhibited a relatively small particle size, which decreased with increasing guar gum and the external emulsifier contents. This resulted in an increase in viscosity accompanied by the formation of a gel-like structure and improved tribological properties, thereby enhancing the system's stability. The system with 1–1.25 % guar gum and 2.5 % sodium caseinate exhibited the highest stability for Monascus pigments, making them more resistant to heat and light. These findings have the potential to expand applications of Monascus pigments by providing a stable and effective encapsulation and delivery system that can also be utilized in the development of healthier food products.

Antifeedant effect of emulsifiable concentrate formulation of Ageratum conyzoides (L.) (Asteraceae) extracts against Plutella xylostella (L.) (Lepidoptera: Plutellidae)

The diamondback moth (DBM), Plutella xylostella, is a highly destructive cosmopolitan pest of cruciferous crops, causing severe economic losses worldwide. The research work aimed to evaluate the antifeedant activity of methanolic extracts of Ageratum conyzoides leaves and its emulsifiable concentrate (EC) formulations against diamondback moth larvae in both no-choice and two-choice bioassays under standard laboratory conditions. In both no-choice and two-choice bioassays, a concentration-dependent reduction in feeding was observed when cauliflower leaf discs were treated with methanolic extract and its EC formulation was offered to the fourth-instar DBM larvae. The antifeedant index (AFI) values were positively correlated with different concentrations of crude extracts (R² = 0.992) and EC formulations (R² = 0.941). Moreover, the EC formulation of foliar extracts showed a substantial deterrent effect on the feeding behaviour of diamondback larvae compared to crude extracts. Our results provide environment-friendly substitutes to synthetic chemical-based insecticides for the management of diamondback moth.

Preparation of Low-Fishy Microencapsulated DHA-Rich Algal Oil Powder Using Infant Rice Powder.

Commercial DHA-rich algal oil has some issues, such as an unpleasant odor and susceptibility to oxidation. The main fishy odor compounds in commercial DHA-rich algal oil powder and DHA-rich algal oil microcapsules are hexanal and (E, E)-2,4-heptadienal. To address this issue, a microencapsulation process was designed for DHA-rich algal oil using infant rice powder (IRP), maltodextrin (MD), and whey protein concentrate (WPC) as wall materials, with sodium starch octenyl succinate (SSOS) and monoacylglycerol (MAC) as emulsifiers. The spray-drying method was used for microencapsulation. The experimental data showed that microcapsules with wall materials in a ratio of IRP/MD/WPC = 1:3:1 and an emulsifier content of 3.5% (SSOS and MAC) had the highest encapsulation efficiency (85.20 ± 6.03%) and the lowest aldehyde content (65.38 ± 3.23%). This microcapsule showed a good appearance and better oxidation stability compared with the crude oil, with a water content and average particle size of 1.69 ± 0.57% and 631.60 ± 23.19 nm, respectively. The results indicated that DHA-rich algal oil microcapsules prepared with infant rice powder had a lower fishy odor and better sensory acceptability compared to commercial DHA-rich algal oil powder.

Recyclable Amphiphilic Magnetic-responsive Mixed-Shell Nanoparticles With High Interfacial Activity Comparable to Janus Particles for Oily Water Purification.

Amphiphilic magnetic-responsive mixed-shell nanoparticles (Mag-MSNPs) with tailorable compositions are synthesized by electrostatic-mediated cross-linking of core-forming blocks of two diblock copolymers, followed by in situ growth of magnetite in the cross-linked core. The Mag-MSNPs have a magnetic-responsive core and hydrophilic/lipophilic mixed shells, firmly anchoring at the oil-water interface of emulsified oil droplets due to their high interfacial activity (13.1 mN m-1 at a rather low emulsifier concentration of 1.2 mg mL-1 in the n-hexane/water system), outperforming most of Janus particles. Driven by the magnetic field, the emulsified oil droplets with Mag-MSNPs at the interface are drawn to one side for collection. The oil-water separation efficiency reaches 99.5%, manifesting their excellent ability to remove emulsified oil droplets from oily water. After five separation and regeneration cycles, the separation efficiency remains at 98.8%, showcasing their potential for recyclable oily water purification.

Stability and antioxidant properties of freeze-concentrated acerola juice in water-in-oil-in-water emulsions

Acerola, known for its high vitamin C content and bioactive compounds, offers numerous health benefits. Utilizing acerola juice in the formation of water-in-oil-in-water emulsion can enhance its application potential and product diversity. This study employed the block-freeze concentration and spontaneous emulsification methods. Factors affecting emulsion properties, such as emulsifier composition and concentration, water-in-oil emulsion concentration, and stirring speed, were systematically investigated, with each subsequent experiment informed by prior results. The results demonstrated the successful fabrication of water-in-oil-in-water emulsion using Tween 80 as the emulsifier at a concentration of 25%, an optimal concentration of 21%, and stirring at 700 rpm for 15 min. The resultant emulsion exhibited a small droplet size of 0.35 ± 0.01 µm with a polydispersity index of 0.33 ± 0.04. The amounts of total phenolic content, total flavonoid content, and vitamin C, along with DPPH free radical scavenging, indicated significant antioxidant capacity, with values of 5.65 ± 0.05 mgGAE/g, 8.27 ± 0.25 mgQE/100g, 9.17 ± 0.07 mgAAE/g, and 62.78% ± 0.33, respectively.

Preparation and evaluation of gelatin-based films with colorimetric/fluorescent response, enhanced hydrophobicity and stability for smart fish packaging

Smart packages based on natural pigment and macromolecular exhibited great potential in fresh meat but were limited by their poor stability and hydrophobic properties. Herein, we designed a stable smart packaging consisting of a series of preservation films (GPEF series) and smart labels (GPEF-C series), through emulsification and polyelectrolyte complexation. Cinnamic acid-chitosan nanoparticles (CC NPs) were used to prepare gallic acid-garlic essential oil W/O/W emulsions (EC) and emulsions loaded with curcumin (EC-Cur). The added emulsions and in-situ generated calcium CaHPO4 nanoparticles significantly improved the hydrophobicity of films (WCA 111.3°–124.8°). As the emulsion concentration increased, films exhibited significant enhancement in antioxidant activity (50.2%–97.6%), antimicrobial properties (12.4%–99.8% against E. coli, 89.9%–100% against S. aureus) and UV shielding properties (transmittance 0.7%–5.1%). Moreover, these films were environmentally friendly and degraded in soil after 10 days. GPEF-C3 and GPEF-C5 showed excellent color and fluorescence stability after 4.5 months, as well as pH response between pH 8–13. Compared with PE, GPE5F extended the shelf life of fish at 4 °C from 3 days to 5 days, and the color/fluorescence response of GPEF-C3 exhibited consistency with TVB-N and CFU, which could accurately reflect the freshness of fish in real-time. Smart packaging based on GPE3F and GPEF-C3 was a prospective option for preserving and monitoring fresh meat.

Sequential separation of oil-in-water emulsions using integrated hydrophilic and Janus membrane modules

Membrane technologies are extensively employed for the separation of surfactant-stabilized oil/water emulsions due to their high efficiency and selectivity. Either membrane filtration or demulsification experiences performance reduction due to the monotonous increase or decrease in emulsion concentration over time. In this study, we have developed a dual-membrane module that integrates a hydrophilic hollow fiber membrane module with a Janus hollow fiber membrane module. This synergistic approach effectively overcomes the limitations of individual filtration and demulsification processes by dynamically adjusting emulsion concentration within the system. Compared to single-membrane modules, the recoveries of both water and oil increased by 27 % and 280 %, respectively. Additionally, the water content in the permeate oil is less than 0.03 %, and the total organic carbon in the permeate water is less than 12 ppm. Furthermore, this design allows for the concurrent recovery of oil and water from emulsions, offering a promising approach to achieving zero liquid discharge.

High performance emulsifier magnetic Janus nanoparticle for stabilizing the water-in-crude oil Pickering emulsion—application to a new oil recovery method: Viscosity increased-emulsion flooding

When crude oil is in-situ emulsified in reservoir by the injected fluid to form water-in-crude oil emulsion the fluid with higher viscosity than that of the continuous phase is obtained in the displacing front, which results in the decrease of mobility ratio and the increase of sweep volume. This is a new method for enhancing oil recovery via increasing viscosity of crude oil in emulsion flooding. To achieve this result, the high-performance Janus nano-emulsifier (HMJP) has been obtained in this paper, which employs the low-cost, environmental-friendly, and recyclable magnetic nano-Fe3O4 to be the core. Then, the relationship between the emulsifying crude oil performance and the wettability of this Janus nanoparticle has been discovered and the related interfacial stabilization mechanism is discussed by interfacial dilatation rheology. Results show that the synthesized HMJPs have strong magnetic property and can be recyclable. For the given crude oil in this paper, when 0.04% of Q-16 (the carbon number used is equal to 16) is dispersing in 0.08% of LAD-30 surfactant fluid the water content of emulsion has been 90% and the emulsion viscosity is 10732.3mPa•s, which also reached excellent oil recovery. The emulsifying crude oil performance of HMJP is strongly associated with its wettability. The inborn interface-property of HMJP, surfactant, and the active components in crude oil all play a key role to decide the wettability of HMJP in preparing water in crude Pickering emulsion. The wettability of the modified HMJP is more neutral the emulsifying performance is stronger.

Emulsion-filled bulk gels based on alginate and gellan gum: The fabrication, characterization, curcumin delivery, and antioxidative properties

The growing demand for functional foods necessitates the development of advanced delivery systems for hydrophobic bioactive ingredients. To address this need, a stable emulsion-filled gel based on alginate and gellan gum was developed using a mild emulsification and physical gelation approach. The effects of varying emulsion content from 0 % to 100 % on the physical properties and delivery characteristics of emulsion-filled gels were systematically investigated. Scanning electron microscopy (SEM) and universal testing machine (UTM) revealed that increasing emulsion content strengthened the gel network by incorporating more emulsion droplets, reducing void areas, and enhancing mechanical stability. Furthermore, these gels exhibited resistance to acidic and weakly alkaline conditions, with swelling behavior diminishing as the emulsion content increased. The encapsulation of curcumin (Cur) within emulsion-filled gels conferred stability against storage, heat, and ultraviolet radiation, with the encapsulation efficiency of Cur ranging from 69 ± 1.4 % to 78 ± 4.5 %. The antioxidant activity of Cur was effectively retained in emulsion-filled gels after encapsulation. Simulated gastrointestinal digestion indicated that these gels can tolerate the damage imposed by the gastric environment and sustain the release of Cur in intestinal conditions. The release behavior can be tuned for both pH-responded and sustained release by adjusting the emulsion-to-gel ratio. This work provides essential insights into the structure–function relationship of emulsion-filled gels and offers valuable information for designing functional delivery vehicles for hydrophobic functional ingredients.