Emulsion Formation Research Articles

РАЗДЕЛЕНИЕ ВОДОНЕФТЯНЫХ ЭМУЛЬСИЙ ИЗ НЕФТЕЙ ВОСТОЧНО-СИБИРСКИХ МЕСТОРОЖДЕНИЙ

The article deals with the problem of the formation of oil-water emulsions. It is shown that some chemical compounds in crude oil - asphaltenes, resins, organic acids, chloride salts, mechani-cal impurities and solid paraffins have an emul–gating ability due to their surface activity. The regulatory requirements for crude and incoming oil for deep processing are analyzed. The data on the physical properties and component composition of the oils extracted in the fields of East-ern Siberia are given, on the basis of which it is concluded that these oils belong to the category of resinous and paraffin and can give stable emulsions in a mixture with water. For dehydration and desalination of oil, it is proposed to use special chemical reagents - demulsifiers. The meth-odology and results of an experimental comparison of the effectiveness of surfactants for the de-tection of a demulsifier suitable for the separation of oil-water emulsions from the oils of East Siberian fields are presented

Multi-scale ultrasound induced composite coacervates of whey protein and pullulan polysaccharide on emulsion forming and stabilizing mechanisms

A non-destructive technique known as multi-scale ultrasound (MSU) was employed to modify the emulsion consisting of glycosylated bovine whey protein (WP) and pullulan (Pu). To assess the effect on the structural and emulsifying properties of the WP-Pu, the formulated emulsion, was treated with divergent MSU at (single: 20 kHz, 40 kHz, and 60 kHz; dual: 20–40 kHz, 40–60 kHz, and 20–60 kHz; and tri: 20–40-60 kHz) frequency for a duration of 30 min. The tri-frequency, treated emulsion showed improved emulsifying stability compared to the control and MSU-treated single, and dual-frequency samples, as indicated by the particle size, structural morphology, and adsorbed protein. The molecular docking and numerous spectral analysis provided evidence that WP can undergo successful phenolation. This modified form of WP then interacts with Pu through various forces, including H-bonding and other mechanisms, resulting in the formation of a composite emulsion. The rheological properties revealed that both the control emulsion and the MSU-treated emulsion exhibited non-Newtonian pseudoplastic flow behavior. This behavior is characterized by shear thinning, where the viscosity decreases with increasing shear rate. The shear rates tested ranged from 1 to 300 1/s, additionally, the degree of crystallinity increased from 18.2° to 19.4°. Overall, the tri-frequency effect was most pronounced compared to single and dual-frequency. Ultrasonication, an emerging non-thermal technology, proves to be an efficient approach for the formulation of WP-Pu composites. These composites have significant potential for use in drug delivery systems and functional foods.

Adjuvant effects of novel water/oil emulsion formulations on immune responses against infectious bronchitis (IB) vaccine in mice

Vaccines have long made use of adjuvants to boost the immune response of the body and reduce the amount of vaccine needed as well as the expense of producing the vaccine. Many vaccine adjuvants are in development, but their application in veterinary vaccinations is restricted due to their lack of efficacy or undesirable side effects. For this reason, it is essential to develop novel adjuvants. To address the issue that the currently available infectious bronchitis (IB) vaccine often fails to produce sufficient immune responses, Coral Biotechnology tested two of their newly developed water-in-oil (W/O) type emulsion adjuvants (Coralvac RZ 528 and Coralvac RZ 506) in the IB vaccine. These adjuvants were tested in a mouse model to determine whether it worked with an inactive IBV H120 vaccine. Vaccine formulations were prepared by combining a virus concentration of 1 × 106 EID50/0.1 ml with an emulsion of the W/O type in a specific ratio. Once the formulations were ready, it was injected intramuscularly as a single dosage, and the mice were monitored for 21 days afterwards. The results showed that anti-IB antibody titer (IgG and IgG1), CD3+ CD8+ T cell responses as well as IFN- γ cytokine production, and splenocyte proliferation were all considerably higher in the IBV H120 with Coralvac RZ 528 and IBV H120 with Coralvac RZ 506 formulation groups than in the viral control group. According to our findings, the humoral and cellular immune responses of mice were significantly enhanced by these novel vaccine adjuvants. Thus, our results provide evidence that the W/O type emulsion adjuvants developed by Coral Biotechnology may be a useful adjuvant in IBV vaccines.

Enhancing Immunogenicity of a Thermostable, Efficacious SARS-CoV-2 Vaccine Formulation through Oligomerization and Adjuvant Choice.

Currently deployed SARS-CoV-2 vaccines all require storage at refrigerated or sub-zero temperatures. We demonstrate that after month-long incubation at 37 °C, solubilization, and formulation with squalene-in-water emulsion adjuvant, a stabilized receptor binding domain retains immunogenicity and protective efficacy. We also examine the effects of trimerization of the stabilized RBD, as well as of additional adjuvants, on both B and T-cell responses. The additional emulsion or liposome-based adjuvants contained a synthetic TLR-4 ligand and/or the saponin QS-21. Trimerization enhanced immunogenicity, with significant antibody titers detectable after a single immunization. Saponin-containing adjuvants elicited enhanced immunogenicity relative to both emulsion and aluminum hydroxide adjuvanted formulations lacking these immunostimulants. Trimeric RBD formulated with liposomal based adjuvant containing both TLR-4 ligand and saponin elicited a strongly Th1 biased response, with ~10-fold higher neutralization titers than the corresponding aluminum hydroxide adjuvanted formulation. The SARS-CoV-2 virus is now endemic in humans, and it is likely that periodic updating of vaccine formulations in response to viral evolution will continue to be required to protect vulnerable individuals. In this context, it is desirable to have efficacious, thermostable vaccine formulations to facilitate widespread vaccine coverage, including in low- and middle-income countries, where global access rights to clinically de-risked adjuvants will be important moving forward.

Spray-Dried Powder Containing Cannabigerol: A New Extemporaneous Emulgel for Topical Administration.

Cannabigerol (CBG), a cannabinoid from Cannabis sativa L., recently attracted noteworthy attention for its dermatological applications, mainly due to its anti-inflammatory, antioxidant, and antimicrobial effectiveness similar to those of cannabidiol (CBD). In this work, based on results from studies of in vitro permeation through biomimetic membranes performed with CBG and CBD in the presence and in the absence of a randomly substituted methyl-β-cyclodextrin (MβCD), a new CBG extemporaneous emulgel (oil-in-gel emulsion) formulation was developed by spray-drying. The powder (SDE) can be easily reconstituted with purified water, leading to a product with chemical-physical and technological characteristics that are comparable to those of the starting emulgels (E). Thermogravimetric analysis (TGA), attenuated total reflection-Fourier transformed infrared spectroscopy (ATR-FTIR), x-ray powder diffraction (XRPD), and high-performance liquid chromatography (HPLC) analyses demonstrated that the spray-drying treatment did not alter the chemical properties of CBG. This product can represent a metered-dosage form for the localized treatment of cutaneous afflictions such as acne and psoriasis.

Preparation of ovarian fluid (caviar sol) of sturgeons for the use as physiological and functional ingredients in new generation food products

The development of the modern market for food functional ingredients involves the search for new raw materials, increasing efficiency and developing innovative technological processes for their production and introduction into fortified products, and the development of marketing promotion strategies. Considering this, we have conducted the research to assess physical, chemical and technological properties of secondary resources for the production of black caviar of sturgeon fish grown in the conditions of sturgeon farms in the Krasnodar Territory. It has been shown that ovarian fluid (caviar sol) has a high biological value, which is confirmed by the presence of all essential amino acids in caviar proteins. Caviar sol also contains a complex of basic macro- and micronutrients. The results obtained confirm that this product is a physiologically functional ingredient for the production of new generation food products. A technology has been developed for disinfecting caviar sol to increase its shelf life and of the products obtained from it. The processing of ovarian fluid (caviar sol) in the anode zone during electrolysis of an aqueous solution of table salt was carried out followed by its placement in the structure of a multiple emulsion sauce. Analysis of microbiological indicators has indicated that the processing of caviar sol and the production of sauce in the form of a multiple emulsion makes it possible to ensure microbiological indicators of the finished product that meet the requirements of TR CU 021/2011.

Optimization, Formulation, and Stability of Topical Rapamycin Used for Rare Tuberous Sclerosis Disease: from Ointment to Liposomes

IntroductionTopical rapamycin has been established as an effective and safe therapy for facial angiofibromas in tuberous sclerosis. Different formulations have been tested for this skin disease, most using an ointment as a vehicle.PurposeTo improve the classical formulation of topical rapamycin and to determine the validity period of the proposed options based on chemical, physical, and microbiological stability studies.MethodsFour different 0.4% rapamycin formulations were prepared (ointment, emulsion, gel, and liposomes). The stability studies for each formulation over 56 days were as follows: (1) chemical: extraction with different solvents and high-performance liquid chromatography assay; (2) physical: pH, uniformity, extensibility, absence of crystals, absence of phase separation, and only for liposomal formulation, particle size, zeta potential, and encapsulation efficiency were determined; and (3) microbiological: culture samples in blood-agar media.ResultsOnly liposomes were chemically, physically, and microbiologically stable after 8 weeks. Ointment, emulsion, and gel formulations lost their chemical or physical stability before 56 days.ConclusionsThe authors describe four new formulations to improve the previous treatment for facial angiofibromas in tuberous sclerosis. The liposome-based formulation was the most appropriate according to chemical, physical, and microbiological stability studies. However, it would be necessary to carry out clinical studies to ensure the effectiveness and safety of this formulation and also guarantee an improvement in the quality of life of patients.

Interface coupling and droplet size under various flow-focusing geometry dimensions in double emulsion formation

The application performance of droplets, including the size and core-shell volumetric ratio of a double emulsion droplet, is investigated under various geometric sizes and flow rates in a flow-focusing capillary device. This study uses three-dimensional (3D) printing to create a novel substrate to assemble capillaries and make the inner dimension of the device tunable. Droplet generation is separated into two regions (uniform or non-uniform) based on the interface coupling shapes, where different generation modes are classified based on the rupture form of the multilayer interfaces. A map of the generation modes is established based on geometric size and flow conditions. In the dripping mode, interface coupling and its effect on generation are analyzed by the interface necking process for the two generation sub-modes (with/without a ball). The local capillary number of the double emulsion droplet is established for these sub-modes to analyze variations in the inner droplet volume, which helps propose the volume predictive model of inner and outer droplets.

Candida krusei M4CK Produces a Bioemulsifier That Acts on Melaleuca Essential Oil and Aids in Its Antibacterial and Antibiofilm Activity.

Surface-active compounds (SACs) of microbial origin are an active group of biomolecules with potential use in the formulation of emulsions. In this sense, the present study aimed to isolate and select yeasts from fruits that could produce SACs for essential oil emulsions. The Candida krusei M4CK was isolated from the Byrsonima crassifolia fruit to make SACs. This emulsification activity (E24) was equal to or greater 50% in all carbon sources, such as olive oil, sunflower oil, kerosene, hexane, and hexadecane. E24 followed exponential growth according to the growth phase. The stability of emulsions was maintained over a wide range of temperatures, pH, and salinity. The OMBE4CK (melaleuca essential oil emulsion) had better and more significant inhibitory potential for biofilm reduction formation. In addition, bioemulsifier BE4CK alone on Escherichia coli and Pseudomonas aeruginosa biofilm showed few effective results, while there was a significant eradication for Staphylococcus aureus biofilms. The biofilms formed by S. aureus were eradicated in all concentrations of OMBE4CK. At the same time, the preformed biofilm by E. coli and P. aeruginosa were removed entirely at concentrations of 25 mg/mL, 12.5 mg/mL, and 6.25 mg/mL. The results show that the bioemulsifier BE4CK may represent a new potential for antibiofilm application.

Formation and stability of emulsion in the presence of nano particles in the modified smart aqueous phase: Effect of ultrasonic, salt, and surfactant

Synergistic effects of nanoparticles (NPs) and smart water flooding are new methods for enhanced oil recovery (EOR). One of the vital issues, in this case, is the formation and stability of emulsion. Therefore, investigating the role and performance of NPs and ions during the processes of EOR, which are based on smart water injection and natural reservoir production, is of significant importance. Previous studies have investigated various factors (i.e., compounds present in oil and water) that affect emulsion stability mainly at ambient temperatures. In this research, the effect of various factors, including the effect of surfactants, salts, and NPs, on the dynamics and thermodynamics of this phenomenon, has been studied through the visual analysis of emulsion droplets under high pressure (HP) and high-temperature (HT) conditions. Based on the results obtained from the experiments, the rate of formation and stability of emulsions increases by increasing the pressure, and after a certain pressure level, it decreases. On the other hand, in general, the rate of emulsion stability follows a decreasing trend by increasing the system temperature. Additionally, in this study, three salts, namely MgCl2, CaCl2, and NaCl, and two surfactants, AOS (alpha olefin sulfonate) and CTAB (cetrimonium bromide), were used. After finding the optimal weight percentage of these salts and surfactants in the formation and emulsion stability, they were combined with nanoparticles of silica oxide in different volume percentages, and the effect of these nanoparticles on the emulsion stability was investigated. The effect of ultrasonication on solutions containing NPs was also investigated from the point of view of emulsion formation and stability. Based on the results obtained, as the power consumption of the ultrasonic device increases to form an emulsion, the rate of rotation for its separation will also increase.

Formulation, characterization, and applications of organic Pickering emulsions: A comprehensive review

Pickering emulsions are suspensions of droplets of one liquid in another immiscible liquid which are stabilized by solid particles adsorbed at the droplet-liquid interface. The stabilization of emulsion is done by the solid particles that physically prevent droplets from coalescing. It is possible to alter the emulsifying capabilities of starch by expanding its surface area or changing its charge. Pickering emulsions are stabilized by components such as starch, cellulose, or chitosan. Starch based Pickering emulsions are highly biodegradable and have low toxicity. The inclusion of starch assists in the development of more stable and long-lasting emulsions, extending the shelf life of the developed products. Starch stabilized Pickering emulsions can be utilized to encapsulate pharmaceuticals or nutrients for systemic or targeted administration. The potential for controlled release of Pickering emulsions is highlighted in this review when behavior varies in response to environmental factors like temperature, pH, or light. The investigation emphasized Pickering emulsions with biocompatible and biodegradable particles and focused on numerous environmentally friendly and sustainable techniques for making Pickering emulsions, such as using waste or renewable resource-derived particles. The review focuses on the development, characterization, and applications of Pickering emulsions based on biological macromolecules of starch.

The effect of essential oil of Zataria multiflora incorporated chitosan (free form and Pickering emulsion) on microbial, chemical and sensory characteristics in salmon (Salmo trutta)

The objective of current research was to prepare a new biodegradable coating containing chitosan (Ch) and zataria multiflora essential oil (ZMEO) (free and Pickering emulsion (PEO) forms), in order to enhance the Salmo trutta shelf life. Our results showed, the mean of films thickness, mechanical properties (elastic modulus (EM) and tensile strength (TS) analysis) and WVP in different treatments were ranged from 0.103 ± 0.003 (for Ch) to 0.109 ± 0.003 (for Ch-PEO (2.5 %)) µm for thickness, from 3.2 ± 1.6 (for Ch) to 8.15 ± 2.3 (for Ch-EO) MPa for EM, from 1.3 ± 0.5 (for Ch-EO) to 1.6 ± 0.06 (for Ch) Mpa for TS and from 0.1 ± 0.02 (for Ch) to 0.8 ± 0.05 (for Ch-EO) (×10 − 11(g m/m2 s Pa) for WVP. In current research, the lowest and highest total viable counts (TVC) was related to Ch-PEO (1.7 log CFU/g) and control treatments (4.65 log CFU/g). The lowest and highest of pH was related to the Ch-PEO (6.45) and the control (7.1), the lowest and highest of PV (peroxide value) was related to Ch-PEO (0.34 meq/kg) and control treatment (1.37 meq/kg), the lowest and highest of TBARS (thiobarbituric acid reactive substances) was related to Ch-PEO (0.37 mg/kg) and control treatment (2.23 mg/kg) and also the lowest and highest of TVB-N (total volatile base nitrogen) was related to Ch-PEO (17.7 mg) and control (59 mg). Also, Ch-PEO showed the best sensory properties after sixteen days. Among all the treatments in all the tests, the best maintenance property was related to the Ch-PEO, therefore, chitosan coatings containing ZM Pickering emulsion should be considered as a potential active coating in the fish industry.

Formation and properties of zein Particle-GMS Co-stabilized pickering emulsions: Insights into the complex interface

The interplay between colloidal particles and surfactant co-adsorption plays a pivotal role in determining interface properties and emulsion stability. This study delves into the influence of the Zp/GMS ratio on the physical stability of Zein particle-GMS co-stabilized emulsions (CPEs) and how co-adsorption and interfacial interactions impact this stability. Results indicated that the preferential adsorption of GMS facilitated the diffusion (Kdiff increased from 0.083 mNm−1 s−0.5 to 0.206 mNm−1 s−0.5) and penetration of Zp (KP increased from −17.0 × 104 s−1 to −23.6 × 104 s−1), triggering interface rearrangement. Consequently, intricate interfaces formed, inducing a synergistic reduction in interfacial tension. Moreover, the decreased Zp/GMS ratio bolstered the lateral molecular interactions between Zp and GMS at the interface, while also enhancing the longitudinal relaxation of GMS during interface deformation. Therefore, the Zp/GMS ratio played a pivotal role in controlling the stiffness, elasticity, and deformability recovery of complex interfaces in both lateral and longitudinal dimensions. Furthermore, in both O/W and W/O CPEs, a decreased Zp/GMS ratio improved the physical stability of CPEs by reducing the rate of droplet coalescence. To summarize, the enhanced stability of CPEs can be attributed to the reduction in droplet aggregation. This reduction is influenced by a combination of improved mechanical properties resulting from lateral molecular interactions at the interface and enhanced deformability recovery due to the longitudinal relaxation of GMS. These findings not only deepen our understanding of particle-surfactant interactions in Pickering emulsions but also pave the way for formulating emulsions with specific textures and stabilities.

Re-Designing Cellulosic Core-Shell Composite Fibers for Advanced Photothermal and Thermal-Regulating Performance.

Flexible fibers and textiles featuring photothermal conversion and storage capacities are ideal platforms for solar-energy utilization and wearable thermal management. Other than using fossil-fuel-based synthetic fibers, re-designing natural fibers with nanotechnology is a sustainable but challenging option. Herein, advanced core-shell structure fibers based on plant-based nanocelluloses are obtained using a facile co-axial wet-spinning process, which has superior photothermal and thermal-regulating performances. Besides serving as the continuous matrix, nanocelluloses also have two other important roles: dispersing agent when exfoliating molybdenum disulfide (MoS2), and stabilizer for phase change materials (PCM) in the form of Pickering emulsion. Consequently, the shell layer contains well-oriented nanocelluloses and MoS2, and the core layer contains a high content of PCM in a leak-proof encapsulated manner. Such a hierarchical cellulosic supportive structure leads to high mechanical strength (139MPa), favorable flexibility, and large latent heat (92.0Jg-1), surpassing most previous studies. Furthermore, the corresponding woven cloth demonstrates satisfactory thermal-regulating performance, high solar-thermal conversion and storage efficiency (78.4-84.3%), and excellent long-term performance. In all, this work paves a new way to build advanced structures by assembling nanoparticles and polymers for functional composite fibers in advanced solar-energy-related applications.

Waterborne polyurethanes with novel chain extenders bearing multiple sulfonate groups

The anionic chain extenders used in waterborne polyurethane (WPU) generally contain one anionic ion per extender. Increasing its content in WPU makes the WPU emulsion more stable, however also makes the WPU film more water sensitive, which is a dilemma needed to be solved. Herein, a novel class of anionic chain extenders bearing two or foursulfonate groups is rationally designed. The ion strength of chain extender is thus enhanced and the distribution of ionic charges on the resulting WPU is also altered. The relationship between the structure of the chain extenders and the properties of WPU is studied systematically. The results show that the critical percentage of the anionic extender needed to for stable WPU emulsion is reduced in a nonproportional way with the increase of the number of anionic groups per extender. For example, while the critical percentage of the chain extender for stable emulsion formation for aliphatic-type chain extender containing two sulfonates is 6 mol%, that for chain extender containing four sulfonates is only 2 mol%. Hence the overall hydrophilic segments on the WPU backbone is greatly decreased, which make the WPU more water resistant without sacrificing the emulsification capability of WPU. Among them, the threshold to form stable emulsion for WPU made from the ether-type chain extender containing four sulfonates is as low as 1.2 mol%, and the water absorption of the resultant film is only 3.5 %. The resulting WPU films show strong adhesion to various surfances and excellent resistance toward abrasion. This provides a new strategy to balance the emulsification capability and water-resistence property of WPU.

Anthocyanin-Rich Butterfly Pea Petal Extract Loaded Double Pickering Emulsion Containing Nanocrystalline Cellulose: Physicochemical Properties, Stability, and Rheology.

Butterfly pea petal extract (BPE)-loaded water-in-oil-in-water (W/O/W) emulsions were fabricated using nanocrystalline cellulose (NCC) as a hydrophilic stabilizer and polyglycerol polyricinoleate (PGPR) as a hydrophobic emulsifier. The impact of different concentrations of NCC and PGPR in different phase proportions on the emulsion formation, rheology, and stability of an anthocyanin-loaded (pH ≈ 7.0) emulsion was investigated. The mean droplet size of the emulsions increased as the NCC concentration increased, while color intensity (greenness) decreased as the PGPR and NCC concentrations increased. A microscopic examination confirmed that the NCC nanoparticles stabilized the inner W1/O phase, whereas the excess concentration of non-adsorbing NCC nanoparticles was suspended in the continuous aqueous phase. The rheological results showed that robust emulsion networks were formed when the NCC concentration increased. A network structure between the droplets and the development of the NCC network during the continuous phase were attributed to a gel-like behavior. Over the course of seven days, the emulsions with a higher proportion of NCC remained stable, as in samples 3%P-%N, 5%P-2%N, and 5%P@1%N, the total anthocyanin content decreased from 89.83% to 76.49%, 89.40% to 79.65, and 86.63% to 71.40%, respectively. These findings have significant implications for the accurate formulation of particle-stabilized double emulsions for anthocyanin delivery with higher stability.

Interfacial materials and naphthenic acids from Brazilian crude oils: Colloidal characterization and water-in-oil emulsions

Different Brazilian crude oils form stable emulsions, although they have low asphaltenes content. The present study aimed to extract and characterize interfacial materials (IMs) from these oils to understand the factors driving this phenomenon. Polarized microscopy and small-angle X-ray scattering (SAXS) revealed that IMs can self-organize in certain conditions, and the formed aggregates could be related to the emulsification process. IMs promoted the formation of model emulsions of mineral oil and brine, but they were not enough to keep them stable. The original and residual oils from the extraction were also used to form emulsions with brine. SAXS, rheology, time-domain nuclear magnetic resonance (TD-NMR), and interfacial tension measurements allowed the comparison of these emulsions. Removal of IMs promoted self-organization of aggregates present in the oil, increasing the viscosity and stability of the emulsions. One of the crude oils had a significant content of naphthenic acids (NAs), which are known to behave as surfactants in some conditions. This fraction was also investigated, but it did not significantly affect the physicochemical properties of the emulsions in comparison with IMs. Hence, the aggregates formed by IMs combined with other components of the crude oils were probably responsible for the rheological properties affecting stability.

Formation Mechanism of Starch-Based Double Emulsions from the Interfacial Perspective.

Double emulsions are of significant practical value in protecting the core material owing to their multicomponent structure and have thus been applied in various fields, such as food, cosmetics, and drugs. However, the mechanism of double emulsion formation by native starch is not well established. Herein, we demonstrate a facile route to develop type-A, type-B, and type-C double emulsions using native starch and develop an innovative design for a carrier. Interfacial interaction, enthalpy changes of starch, and interfacial properties are key factors governing the formation of double emulsions and controlling the type of double emulsions formed. Therefore, the results of this study provide a better understanding of how and what type of starch-based double emulsions are formed.

Effects of soybean β-conglycinin subunits composition on its emulsifying properties and the mechanism

In the soybean β-conglycinin system, subunit composition has an important influence on its emulsification properties. To elucidate the mechanism of subunit action in the emulsification process, the separated and purified β-subunit and the mixture α- and α′-subunits (referred to αα′-subunit) were remixed in varying proportions, and then the physicochemical properties and structural properties of the subunit emulsifying system were characterized. The results demonstrated that when the ratio of αα'-subunit to β-subunit was 5:5, the subunit aqueous dispersion system exhibited a minimum particle size of 47.58 nm, a maximum solubility of 87.21%, and the emulsification stability and emulsification activity were also optimal. Scanning electron microscope (SEM) images revealed excellent cross-linking between αα′-subunit and β-subunit, forming a protein network structure that provided a structural basis for its emulsification. The emulsion with a subunit ratio of 5:5 exhibited the highest fraction of interfacial protein adsorption of 23.43% and the largest interfacial protein concentration of 11.79 mg/m2. Inter-subunit adsorption and emulsion formation were primarily driven by hydrophobic interactions, with the β-subunit exhibiting a higher affinity for adsorption than the αα′-subunit. The action mechanism of the subunits in the emulsion formation was proposed as a “three-stage” process, including establishing an initial weak protein network structure within the aqueous dispersion, followed by developing an emulsion interface layer and ultimately culminating in forming an emulsion gel network structure. Elucidating the emulsifying mechanism at the subunit level is crucial for enhancing the theoretical framework of soybean protein emulsification.

Efficient (Bio)emulsification/Degradation of Crude Oil Using Cellulose Nanocrystals

This study has investigated the influence of cellulose nanocrystals (CNCs) with partially acetylated surfaces on the formation, stability, rheology and biodegradability of the Pickering emulsion in a crude oil/water (co/w) system. In all investigated systems, it was observed that the CNC concentrations of 7 mg/mL led to the emulsions showing stability over time. It was also noticed that the increase in concentration of background electrolyte (NaCl) leds to the droplets of emulsions becoming smaller. It was demonstrated that the rheology of the o/w emulsions of the oil products and crude oil stabilized by CNCs depends, to a large extent, on the colloid chemical properties of nanocellulose particles. Calculations and experimental methods were used to study the changes in the acid–base properties of CNCs on the surface of emulsion droplets, depending on a type of hydrophobic components (crude oil and liquid paraffin). The formation of Pickering emulsions leads to the oxidation of oil by Rhodococcus egvi in aerobic conditions becoming more effective, provided that the environment includes mineral salts of nitrogen, potassium and phosphorus. The results obtained present a scientific basis for the development of technologies for the disposal of oil spills on water surfaces.