Emulsion Research Articles

Edible jammed deep eutectic solvent-in-oil emulsions for 3D food printing

Concentrated emulsions, when their volume fractions exceed a critical value, tend to adopt a jammed structure and exhibit solid-like behavior. In this work, we develop a novel, edible high internal phase emulsion that incorporates an edible deep eutectic solvent (DES) as the dispersed phase, along with sunflower oil and Span 80 as the continuous phase, to formulate DES-in-oil emulsions. The rheological properties of the resulting DES-in-oil emulsions are thoroughly examined, focusing on the yield stress and storage modulus, which are indicative of solid-like characteristics. Additionally, the emulsion’s microstructure is analyzed using optical microscopy to determine the size distribution of the DES droplets. Our study further explores the impact of agitation time on the emulsion’s formation, revealing that prolonged agitation strengthens the emulsion’s mechanical properties by reducing droplet sizes. This innovative emulsion showcases potential applications in 3D food printing, where it can be used to directly form predefined solid structures. Such printed food can assume various shapes without requiring post-processing, maintaining shape integrity and self-sustainability for up to four months.

Modified PVDF ultrafiltration membrane with host–guest supramolecular trapping for efficient separation of multiple organic contaminants

In our modern lifestyle, the cocktail of organic pollutants from everyday items, such as hair dyes, cloth dyes, food colours, hair oils, cooking oils, and agricultural proteins, enters water streams through household pipelines. This unnoticed contamination, growing alarmingly, poses a serious challenge beyond the scope of conventional separation techniques, calling for a comprehensive solution. While membrane technology offers a promising solution, it grapples with persistent surface fouling issues. This study introduces a novel approach through the development of extraordinary Polyvinylidene fluoride-Montmorillonite-Cucurbit[6]uril (PVDF-M-CB[6]) mixed matrix membranes, presenting a potential breakthrough in overcoming surface fouling challenges and offering a versatile solution for the separation of an array of organic contaminants. Powered by the synergistic host–guest supramolecular complexation of CB[6] onto montmorillonite (M) clay support, these membranes demonstrate swift and selective encapsulation, leading to superior cationic dye rejection. Adding to the allure, CB[6]’s structure encourages favorable carbonyl interactions with bovine serum albumin (BSA), effectively repelling the protein away from the membrane, while also promoting seamless oil–water emulsion separation with an underwater oil contact angle of 150 ± 3°, displaying its superoleophobic nature and enhancing remarkable antifouling properties. The PV-M-CB[6] membranes showcased 2x removal of cationic dyes, 1.3x removal of anionic dyes, 1.4x oil–water emulsion separation, and 2x BSA separation compared to the pristine polyvinylidene fluoride (PVDF) membrane. These membranes displayed 98.3 % efficiency in oil–water emulsion separation and sustained a flux recovery ratio of over >75% after seven cycles. Overall, PV-M-CB[6] membranes represent an innovative solution with heightened hydrophilicity, remarkable antifouling performance, and exceptional proficiency in delivering one-stop organic foulant separation.

Nanoformulations containing rosemary oil for gray mold control in strawberries

Gray mold, caused by Botrytis cinerea, affects strawberry crops (Fragaria x ananassa) and can cause major losses. Managing the disease with fungicides can harm health and the environment and can lead to the selection of pathogens resistant to their active ingredients. The use of essential oils (EOs) represents an alternative control method due to their richness in antimicrobial compounds, such as rosemary EO (Rosmarinus officinalis). However, the high volatility of several components of these oils makes commercial use difficult, and nanoencapsulation presents a technology to increase stability. In the present study, three formulations containing rosemary EO—nanoemulsion (NE), nanostructured lipid carrier (NLC), and nanocapsules with chitosan (NC)—were evaluated on strawberry fruits and against the fungus. The nanoformulations retained their characteristics (mean values: size 142 nm; polydispersity index 0.131; pH 4.99; zeta potential -20.2 mV for NE and NLC, and 19.1 mV for NC) when stored at 40 °C for 60 days. All nanoformulations had a direct effect on spore germination and mycelial growth of B. cinerea, possibly due to damage caused to the cell wall and plasma membrane, and changes in the pathogen's oxidative balance. NE containing 2 % EO, when applied by immersion, reduced the incidence and severity of the disease by around 40 % and 70 %, respectively, 6 days after treatment. The fruits treated with this formulation maintained their physicochemical characteristics for longer. Thus, the use of rosemary oil from NE can be an option for managing gray mold and increasing the shelf life of the fruits.

Divergence of Critical Fluctuations on Approaching Catastrophic Phase Inversion in Turbulent Emulsions.

Catastrophic phase inversion, the breakdown of a concentrated emulsion characterized by the most puzzling sudden feature, is crucial in numerous industrial applications. Here we combine well-controlled experiments and fully resolved numerical simulations to study the critical dynamics of catastrophic phase inversion in oil-water emulsions under turbulent flow as the phase-inversion volume fraction is approached. We reveal that the phase inversion is characterized by the critical power-law divergence of fluctuations in the global drag force. We determine the enhanced dynamical heterogeneity in the local droplet structures at approaching the phase inversion, and tightly connect it to the diverging drag fluctuations. Moreover, we show that near to the critical point the phase inversion is triggered as a stochastic process by large fluctuations at both large and small scales. Our findings pave the way to modeling the phase inversion process as an out-of-equilibrium critical-like phenomena.

Hyaluronic acid-solid lipid nano transporter serum preparation for enhancing topical tretinoin delivery: skin safety study and visual assessment of skin.

The use of nanosized particles is becoming more popular for the topical treatment of skin conditions. In this research work, we created and investigated the effects of solid lipid nanoparticles (SLN) containing hyaluronic acid and tretinoin. Solvent emulsification diffusion method was used to prepare the SLN formulation and characterized for their physicochemical properties. Fourier transform infrared spectroscopy was used to confirm that hyaluronic acid and tretinoin were incorporated in the SLN. Furthermore, X-ray diffractogram, thermal analysis including DSC and TGA and in vitro dissolution, permeation tests were also performed along with microbial assessment. Clinical studies in human were performed to evaluate the effect of the SLN on skin wrinkles. The SLN was 750 ± 31.29nm in size, with a zeta potential of 13.07 ± 0.75mV and a narrow polydispersity index of 0.24 ± 0.12. The entrapment efficiency of tretinoin was found to be 90.07 4.79%. Clinical studies in healthy human volunteers demonstrated that 90% of the tested individuals had improved skin conditions (reduction in wrinkles), by at least one grade after 4weeks of treatment. Regarding the development on SLN, it was found that the internal phase concentration did not considerably affect the physicochemical and microbiological properties. Therefore, Hyaluronic acid has potential for the development of SLN applicable to cosmetic formulations, especially for skin. These findings show that the developed SLN have potential for use as cosmetics in the future.

Effect of fat replacement in high internal phase emulsions constructed by high temperature saccharification of grafted proteins on gel properties and flavor profiles of sausages

In order to mitigate the risk of cardiovascular diseases associated with excessive saturated fatty acid intake, utilizing high internal phase emulsions (HIPEs) as a substitute for animal fat in producing high-quality fat-substituted meat products is an ideal approach. This study involves the preparation of glycosylation products of egg white protein (EWP) through saccharification at high temperatures in the presence of fructooligosaccharides (FO). The resulting glycation products of EWP were employed to create colloidal particles, forming HIPEs, which were further utilized to induce the formation of HIPEs gels (HIPEs-Gs). The study investigated the effects of substituting different ratios (25%, 50%, 75%, and 100%) of animal fat with HIPEs and HIPEs-Gs on the gel properties and flavor characteristics of sausages. Results showed that, compared to the control group, substituting fat with HIPEs significantly improved the gel properties, cooking yield, and G' of sausages, while excessive HIPEs-Gs substitution yielded negative effects. Low-field nuclear magnetic resonance results also demonstrated that adding HIPEs improved water and oil distribution in the sausage batter, enhancing protein's binding capacity with water. Scanning electron microscope revealed that HIPEs substitution led to a denser gel network with smaller pores, effectively "locking in" more water. Analysis of volatile compounds indicated accelerated release of aromatic compounds, alkanes, sulfides, and lipids when fat was substituted with HIPEs and HIPEs-Gs. Electronic tongue analysis suggested that HIPEs-Gs substitution reduced response values for umami and saltiness. In conclusion, compared to HIPEs-Gs, using HIPEs as a fat substitute improves the quality of sausages.

Oil-in-water emulsion stabilized by hydrolysed black soldier fly larvae proteins: Reproduction of experimental data via phase-field modelling

A phase field model based on the Cahn-Hilliard equation was validated experimentally by comparison of the numerical data with experimental data of emulsions of oil in water stabilized with Black Soldier Fly Larvae Proteins (BSFLP) and protein hydrolysates. Among the model parameters, the surface tension was determined by the pendant drop method, and the mobility by two different experiments, one based on the Turbiscan Stability Index, and another one based on the history of the average d3,2, both of them throughout a 48 h period. The initial condition was built from an experimental droplet size distribution measured prior to phase separation. Results show that the model is able to quantitatively reproduce the phase separation kinetics, and provide an intuitive graphical representation of the droplet growth. Application of this procedure to other systems will allow the generalization of phase field modelling as a predictive tool for food applications.

Candle soot-modified rPET electrospun nanofibrous membrane for separating on-demand oil-water mixture and emulsions

The CS-rPET electrospun nanofibrous membrane is fabricated from recycled polyethylene terephthalate (rPET) through electrospinning and enhanced with candle soot (CS) to separate oil-water mixtures and emulsions when pre-wetted by oil or water. Using rPET polymers and CS waste reduces the environmental impact of plastic bottle waste and improves its value. The CS-rPET electrospun nanofibrous membrane showed excellent separation performance in oil-water mixtures, achieving over 81.18 % and 71.38 % of separation efficiency through 40 separation cycles after pre-wetting by oil and after washing with ethanol and pre-wetting by water, respectively. The membrane maintained high separation performance after being pre-wetted by oil for water-in-oil emulsions with efficiencies above 99 % and flux exceeding 12,200 L m−2 h−1. Similarly, the efficiencies remained above 98 % for oil-in-water emulsions after being pre-wetted by water, with a flux over 8000 L m−2 h−1. Additionally, the CS-rPET electrospun nanofibrous membrane exhibited high separation efficiencies above 97 % and flux over 14,000 L m−2 h−1 after pre-wetting by oil and 7700 L m−2 h−1 after pre-wetting by water in harsh environmental conditions. Its adaptability of switchable wettability on-demand after pre-wetting by oil or water highlights its potential for a wide range of challenging oil-water separation applications. However, multiple separation cycles, separation efficiency and flux were reduced, indicating the necessity to improve the membrane's efficiency and reduce the chance of water accumulation in multicycle separation.

A Novel Feedforward Scheme for Enhancing Dynamic Performance of Vector-Controlled Dual Active Bridge Converter with Dual Phase Shift Modulation for Fast Battery Charging Systems

This paper proposes a novel feedforward control scheme to achieve a very smooth transition from Constant Current (CC) to Constant Voltage (CV) charging modes, the commonly used method for electric vehicle charging applications. Furthermore, a three-loop model-independent Linear Active Disturbance Rejection Control (LADRC)-based system is proposed, replacing the traditional two-loop Proportional-Integral (PI) control system. The extra loop performs a decoupled dq vector control of the inductor current, which is typically not used in single-phase Dual Active Bridge (DAB) systems. This additional loop not only facilitates the optimal determination of both internal and external phase shift angles of a Dual-Phase Shift (DPS) modulator but also lowers the peak input current of the converter, allowing for lower-rated switches. Numerical simulations using MATLAB/Simulink demonstrate the robustness of the proposed control strategy against both input voltage disturbances and load disturbances during the transition from CC to CV charging modes. Hence, the dynamic performance of the charging system is significantly improved with minimal controller effort.

Multifunctional electrospun membranes incorporated with metal oxide nanoparticles, cellulose acetate, and polyvinylpyrrolidone for wastewater treatment: Oil/water separation, dye adsorption, and dye degradation

Multifunctional membranes have gained considerable attention as useful materials for the treatment of complex wastewater that contains dye and oil substances. Electrospun nanofiber membranes (ENM) have substantial advantages and potential for complex wastewater remediation, owing to their unique properties. In this study, an environmentally compatible ENM is fabricated by incorporating photocatalytic metal oxide nanoparticles of zinc oxide (ZnO) or silver-zinc Oxide (Ag-ZnO) into cellulose acetate (CA)/polyvinylpyrrolidone (PVP) nanofibers using electrospinning. Composite membranes ZnO/CA/PVP, Ag-ZnO/CA/PVP, ZnO/DCA/PVP (DCA: deacetylated cellulose acetate), and Ag-ZnO/DCA/PVP (deacetylated) were employed for oil–water emulsion separation, owing to their superhydrophilic and underwater superoleophobic nature, photocatalytic dye degradation due to the presence of ZnO or Ag-ZnO, and dye adsorption resulting from their high surface area. The composite membranes showed more than 95% efficiency for oil/water separation, malachite green adsorption, and photocatalytic methylene blue degradation. These membranes displayed simultaneous oil–water and dye separation efficiency, as well as antibacterial properties. The membrane we present here provides a simple and effective platform for wastewater remediation with a low energy consumption.

Improving multifunctional properties of the polyvinylidene fluoride (PVDF) membrane with crosslinked dialdehyde-starch (DAS) and polyethyleneimine (PEI) coating

Dialdehyde-soluble starch (DAS) and polyethyleneimine (PEI) were used to coat the polyvinylidene fluoride (PVDF) membrane for improving its antifouling and multifunctional properties through a combination of dip-coating and spray-coating techniques. The resulting membrane demonstrated excellent hydrophilicity and underwater oleophobicity due to hydrophilic DAS and PEI on its surface. The membrane achieved an impressive oil removal rate of 99.8 % and a flux 1420.8 ± 26.5 L·m−2·h−1 when it was used for oil-water emulsion separation. The hydration layer formed by the DAS and PEI greatly enhanced the membrane antifouling property, and its flux recovery rate was up to 96.6 % in BSA filtration experiments. The positive charge PEI and the negative charge DAS contributed to high separation efficiency of 99.1 % for the anion dye MO with the membrane D10P20, and high separation efficiency of 88.3 % for the cation dye RhB with the membrane P5D20. In addition, the coating layer was stable due to the cross-linked DAS and PEI. This research contributes greatly to the preparation of antifouling and multifunctional membrane using environmentally friendly material including polysaccharide derivatives and water soluble polymer.

Nanocarrier-Based Delivery Approaches of Mangiferin: An Updated Review on Leveraging Biopharmaceutical Characteristics of the Bioactive.

In recent years, bioactive constituents from plants have been investigated as an alternative to synthetic approaches of therapeutics. Mangiferin (MGF) is a xanthone glycoside extracted from Mangifera indica and has shown numerous medicinal properties, such as antimicrobial, anti-diarrhoeal, antiviral, anti-inflammatory, antihypertensive, anti-tumours, and anti-diabetic effects. However, there are numerous challenges to its effective therapeutic usage, including its low water solubility, limited absorption, and poor bioavailability. Nano formulation approaches in recent years exhibited potential for the delivery of phytoconstituents with key benefits of high entrapment, sustained release, enhanced solubility, stability, improved pharmacokinetics, and site-specific drug delivery. Numerous techniques have been employed for the fabrication of MGF-loaded Nano formulations, and each technique has its advantages and limitations. The nanocarriers that have been employed to fabricate MGF nanoformulations for various therapeutic purposes include; polymeric nanoparticles, nanostructure, lipid carriers, polymeric micelles, Nano emulsions, microemulsion & self-microemulsifying drug delivery system, solid lipid nanoparticles, gold nanoparticles, carbon nanotubes, transfersomes, nanoliposomes, ethosomes & transethosomes, and glycethosomes. Different biopharmaceutical characteristics (size, shape, entrapment efficiency, zeta potential, in vitro drug release, ex vivo drug permeation,, and in vivo studies) of the mentioned MGF-loaded nanocarriers have been methodically discussed. Patent reports are also included to further strengthen the potential of MGF in the management of diseases.

Thin film nanocomposite membrane ornamented with Z-scheme heterojunction carbon dot/NiFe–LDH for removal of organic contaminants from industrial wastewater

Removal of organics from wastewater is a tedious process and industries are looking for a facile, energy efficient strategy of wastewater treatment for producing clean water and recycling. Membrane technology is one of the efficient processes for wastewater treatment due to its energy efficient nature, simple operation and excellent performance. But, proneness of membrane fouling often limits its path to triumph. In this work, we have designed a ‘carbon dot/NiFe-layered double hydroxide (CD/NiFe–LDH)’ nanocomposite via in situ approach, which is coated on a poly(ethylene terephthalate) (PET) and cellulose based superhydrophillic membrane. The membrane is found to have excellent separation efficiency. The photocatalytic activity of CD/NiFe–LDH shows high oxidative degradation of the accumulated organics contaminants on the membrane surface providing self-cleaning ability and hence enhances the membrane’s lifetime. The membrane exhibits stable performance for 30 days continuous operation under UV-A light. The membrane flux is found to be ∼42 Lm−2 h−1 and 48 Lm−2 h−1 for crude oil–water emulsion and phenol respectively while rejection around ≥99 % is obtained for the both. The flux recovery ratio (FRR) of the post photo irradiated membrane is found to be 88.07 %. The membrane also shows organic solvent resistance property and prevents bacterial pathogens in wastewater.

Generation of vectorial vortex beams by a coherently combined laser array

With the superpositions of spin and orbital angular momentum, vectorial vortex beams (VVBs) have attracted great attention in recent years. Many approaches have been developed to generate such beams, but high-power output is not supported. Here, we report the coherent beam combining (CBC) for generating VVBs that are compatible with high-power fiber amplifiers. The laser array is composed of two discrete vortex arrays with left-handed and right-handed circular polarization states. The phase and polarization of each beamlet are manipulated simultaneously. Experimentally, the phase noise in the amplifiers is compensated by the all-fiber internal phase control feedback structure. Quarter-wave plates are employed as polarization state converters. When the system is in the closed loop, a distinct and stable VVB can be obtained in the far-field. This work could provide a significant reference for the future implementation of high-power structured beams.

Intranasal Nanoemulsion: A Promising Approach for the Management of Parkinson’s Disease

Parkinson's Disease (PD) is a neurodegenerative syndrome defined by the deterioration of dopamine neurons, showing a loss of motor activity. The treatment of PD is still challenging despite the development of numerous management techniques. Blood-brain Barrier (BBB) provides limited access to drug transport, being a major limiting factor in the treatment of Central Nervous System (CNS) disorders. Further, the major challenges in neurodegenerative diseases are low bioavailability and side effects. Intranasal drug delivery has become increasingly accessible for the treatment of several CNS disorders, including PD. The nasal cavity has direct access to the brain and drugs may be delivered at the site of action by bypassing the blood-brain barrier. Therapeutic molecules could be directly delivered to the brain through the olfactory region in the nasal cavity; further, the first-pass effects of drugs could also be eliminated. Several novel and promising developments in non-invasive approaches have been revealed for brain targeting by the nasal route. Among them, Nanoemulsions (NEs)-based drug delivery has been most widely explored, which can assist in several significant issues, such as limited BBB permeability, limited solubility, poor bioavailability, limited onset of action, and less enzymatic degradation. Several research reports have indicated intranasal NEs to have potential brain-targeting abilities, which may be widely explored for the treatment of PD. Therefore, the present review article has focused on the current scenario of intranasal NEs for the management of PD, with recent outcomes outlined through various research studies.

Almond protein as Pickering emulsion stabilizer: Impact of microgel fabrication method and pH on emulsion stability

We evaluated the ability of almond proteins to produce Pickering emulsions (EM) stabilized by microgels (MG) fabricated by three different methods (heat treatment–HT, crosslinking with transglutaminase–TG or calcium–CA), at two pH levels (pH 3 or 7). Compared to pH 7, acidic pH significantly denatured almond proteins (ellipticity ∼0 mdeg), decreased absolute zeta potential values (10.5 to 18.6 mV at pH 3 and − 24.6 to −32.6 mV at pH 7), and free thiol content (114.64–131.60 μmol SH/g protein at pH 3 and 129.46–148.17 μmol SH/g protein at pH 7 – except in CA-crosslinked microgels, p > 0.05). These changes led to larger microgel sizes (D3,2pH3: 26.3–39.5 μm vs. D3,2pH7: 5.9–9.0 μm) with lower polydispersity (SpanpH3: ∼ 1.94 vs. SpanpH7: 2.32, excluding CA-based samples). Consequently, the Turbiscan Stability Index (TSI) was higher in acidic conditions for all emulsions, except for the calcium-containing formulation (EM_CApH3), emphasizing the critical role of calcium binding in maintaining emulsion stability in acidic environments. Microgels prepared via the traditional heat treatment method produced emulsions with intermediate stability (TSI ranging from 3.4 % to 5.1 % at 28 days of storage). Conversely, TG-crosslinked microgels led to unstable emulsions at pH 3, likely due to the lowest zeta potential (+4.2 mV), whereas at pH 7, the greatest stability was attributed to bridging flocculation that created a stable gel-like structure. Indeed, emulsions with lower TSI (EM_CApH3 = 1.8 %, EM_CApH7 = 2.3 % and EM_TGpH7 = 1.0 %, at 28 days of storage) also exhibited higher elastic modulus (G') over frequency sweep, indicating that the strong elastic network was relevant for emulsion stability (up to 28 days). This study, for the first time, demonstrated the production of stable almond-based Pickering emulsions, with properties modulated by the pH and method used to fabricate the microgels.

Chitosan-ginger essential oil nanoemulsions loaded gelatin films: A biodegradable material for food preservation

The alarming issue of food waste, coupled with the potential risks posed by petroleum-based plastic preservation materials to both the environment and human health necessitate innovative solutions. In this study, we prepared nanoemulsions (NEs) of chitosan (CS) and ginger essential oil (GEO) and systematically evaluated the effects of varying NEs concentrations (0, 10 %, 30 %, 50 %) on the physicochemical properties and biological activities of gelatin films. These films were subsequently applied to blueberry preservation. The scanning electron microscopy confirmed that the NEs were well-integrated with the Gel matrix, significantly enhancing the performance of the Gel films, including improvements of mechanical properties (tensile strength from 7.71 to 19.92 MPa; elongation at break from 38.55 to 113.65 %), thermal, and barrier properties (water vapor permeability from 1.52 × 10−9 to 6.54 × 10−10 g·m/Pa·s·m2). The films exhibited notable antibacterial and antioxidant activities due to the gradual release of GEO, thereby extending the storage life of blueberries. Moreover, the prepared composite films demonstrated excellent biodegradability and environmental friendliness, with the majority of the material decomposing within 30 days under soil microbial action. In conclusion, the active films loaded with NEs exhibit superior performance and hold significant potential for developing biodegradable materials for food preservation.

Apple leaf-inspired bilayered Janus wood evaporator with decoupled light-vapor interfaces for high-efficiency solar steam generation

Solar-driven interfacial evaporation technology provides a facile and promising strategy for producing clean water from seawater. Wood-based evaporators have recently been extensively explored for solar desalination due to the structural merits and sustainability of natural wood. However, the light absorption and water evaporation functions are commonly integrated at the same surface for a traditional wood-based solar evaporator, which definitely causes mutual interference between the incident sunlight and the generated vapor leading to inevitable energy loss. Herein, inspired by the unidirectional transpiration of hypostomatic apple leaves, a bilayered Janus wood evaporator with decoupled light absorption and water evaporation surfaces was subtly engineered to avoid the sunlight-vapor interference for efficient solar evaporation. The bilayered evaporator consists of a longitudinal wood piece as the water transport layer and a carbonized transverse wood piece infiltrated with polydimethylsiloxane (PDMS) as the photothermal layer. The hydrophilic longitudinal piece with vertically aligned channels can continuously wick water to the evaporation surface, while the hydrophobic transverse piece with horizontal channels enables efficient heat transfer given its high thermal conductivity. Thanks to the unique bilayered configuration, the developed evaporator demonstrates an excellent evaporation rate of 2.12 kg m−2 h−1 with an evaporation efficiency of 92.3 % (1 sun), surpassing most of the traditional wood-based evaporators. Moreover, the bilayered evaporator exhibits good salt resistance and can effectively purify diverse wastewaters including organic dye solutions and oil–water emulsions. This Janus-interface structural design provides a novel strategy for developing high-performance solar evaporator toward clean water production.

PTFE composite membrane with peroxymonosulfate activation self-cleaning for highly-efficient oil-water emulsion separation and dye degradation

Combining membrane separation with advanced oxidation technology can make the membrane self-cleaning, extending its service life. However, the preparation of composite membranes with excellent catalytic ability, self-cleaning performance, and stability remains a key research direction. In this study, a PTFE composite membrane with peroxymonosulfate activation self-cleaning ability was successfully prepared by in-situ growth of CoOOH and ZIF-67 on the surface of a l-DOPA/PEI modified PTFE membrane. The as-prepared membrane is superhydrophilic and has significant superoleophobic surfaces underwater, the separation efficiency of the as-prepared membrane for multiple oil-water emulsions exceeded 98.4 %. Meanwhile, the effective degradation of several organic dyes under visible light was simulated, with still high degradation efficiency (>99 %) after 10 cycles. Overall, this study puts forward a approach towards self-cleaning membranes based on PTFE material; the resulting composite membrane's high separation efficiency, stability under repeated use conditions as well as its self-cleaning ability position it as an attractive candidate for long-term wastewater purification applications.

Preparation and characterization of lactoferrin-polyphenol conjugate with stabilizing effects on fish oil high internal phase Pickering emulsions

The combination of protein and polyphenol is an effective approach to improve the stability of protein emulsions. The lactoferrin (LF)-(−)-epigallocatechin-3-gallate (EGCG) covalent complex (LF-EGCG) was first prepared by alkali-induced reaction, then the structure and physicochemical properties between LF-EGCG and non-covalent complex (LF + EGCG) were compared, and finally the stability of complexes to fish oil high internal Pickering emulsions (HIPPEs) was tested. Results showed that LF-EGCG had stronger antioxidant activity, higher thermal stability, and better surface wettability than LF + EGCG. Meanwhile, the complexes showed no cytotoxicity within the tested concentration range (12.5–200 μg/mL). The HIPPEs stabilized with LF-EGCG possessed smaller droplet size, higher ζ-potential, and more uniform oil/water proton distribution. Covalent treatment also enhanced the storage, thermal, freeze-thaw and physical stability of LF HIPPEs. Furthermore, due to the higher antioxidant activity and denser microstructure, LF-EGCG HIPPE can more effectively inhibit the oxidation of fish oil.