Emulsion Viscosity Research Articles

Enhacing emulsification of meat broth system mixed with myofibrillar proteins and type I collagen: The role of NaCl and heat

A mixed system with a 5:1 ratio of beef myofibrillar protein to type I collagen was prepared to mimic meat broths. The study aimed to determine the combined effects of various NaCl concentrations (0, 0.2 M, 0.4 M, 0.6 M) and heat treatment on solubility, emulsifying properties (EAI, ESI), viscosity, and particle size of the mixed protein system. Mechanistic changes were examined through molecular interactions, intrinsic fluorescence, protein molecular weight, and Raman spectroscopy. The results showed that, without heat treatment, NaCl enhanced solubility, EAI, ESI, emulsion viscosity, and hydrogen bonding. After heating (90 °C, 30 min), elevated 0.4–0.6 M NaCl created an unstable, crowded environment, resulting in protein aggregation and reduced solubility and emulsifying performance. The results indicated that heating at 90 °C with 0.2 M NaCl was beneficial for meat emulsification, providing valuable production guidance for optimizing the formulation of meat products with low salt and high emulsifying properties.

Effect of ultrasonic treatment on the structure and emulsification properties of soybean isolate protein-hyaluronic acid complexes and the stability of their loaded astaxanthin emulsions

The purpose of this work was to prepare an astaxanthin emulsion stabilized by a soybean isolate protein (SPI)-hyaluronic acid (HA) complex and to investigate its protective effect on astaxanthin. In order to examine the impact of various ultrasonic energies (0 W–300 W) on the structural characteristics of the complex and the stability of the emulsion, the SPI-HA complex was created via ultrasonography. The findings demonstrated that ultrasonication may had an impact on the hydrophobic, electrostatic, and hydrogen bonding interactions between SPI and HA, which caused the protein structure to unfold and reveal the interior hydrophobic amino acid residues. Moreover, ultrasonication enhanced the emulsification qualities of SPI-HA complexes by lowering their average particle size. The rheological findings demonstrated that the emulsion's viscosity and energy storage modulus (G′) were considerably decreased by the ultrasonic treatment. The appearance of the emulsions and optical microscopy results further indicated that the emulsions prepared from SPI-HA had superior storage stability, pH stability, and light stability compared to pure SPI. SPI-HA exhibited superior emulsion stability and lower particle size at 150 W ultrasonic power. The AST incorporated in the emulsion was also well protected. The emulsion effectively slows down the degradation of AST. The findings of this study may help create more robust and natural emulsion delivery systems that guarantee the continuous or regulated release of lipophilic bioactive compounds.

Using data-driven models to simulate the performance of surfactants in reducing heavy oil viscosity.

There is a substantial body of literature exploring the challenges associated with exploring and exploiting these underground resources. Unconventional resources, particularly heavy oil reservoirs, are critical for meeting ever-increasing global energy demand. By injecting surfactants into heavy oil, chemically enhanced oil recovery (EOR) may enable emulsification, which may reduce the viscosity of heavy oil and facilitate extraction and transportation. In this work, a large experimental dataset, containing 2020 data points, was extracted from the literature for modeling oil-in-water (O/W) emulsion viscosity using machine learning (ML) methods. The algorithms used pressure, temperature, salinity, surfactant concentration, type of surfactant, shear rate, and crude oil density as inputs. For this purpose, five ML algorithms were selected and optimized, including adaptive boosting (AB), convolutional neural network (CNN), ensemble learning (EL), artificial neural network (ANN), and decision tree (DT). A combined simulated annealing (CSA) method was utilized to optimize all algorithms. With AARE, R2, MAE, MSE, and RMSE values of 8.982, 0.996, 0.004, 0.0002, and 0.0132, respectively, the ANN predictor exhibited higher accuracy in predicting O/W emulsion viscosity for total data (train and test subsets combined). A Monte-Carlo sensitivity analysis was also performed to determine the impact of input features on the model output. By using the proposed ML predictor, expensive and time-consuming experiments can be eliminated and emulsion viscosity predictions can be expedited without the need for costly experiment.

Development and Application of High-Internal-Phase Water-in-Oil Emulsions Using Amphiphilic Nanoparticle-Based Emulsifiers

High-internal-phase water-in-oil (W/O) emulsions generated in situ have garnered considerable attention as novel profile control systems. However, conventional emulsifiers are unreactive and poorly dispersed in water, necessitating large dosages and resulting in poor injectivity. In this study, we synthesized amphiphilic nanoparticles (SiO2–NH2–DAC NPs) containing amine and long-chain alkyl groups using a one-pot method and investigated the stabilized emulsion properties. Our results indicated that W/O emulsions with a water-to-oil ratio (WOR) of 7:3 to 8:2 could be prepared with just 0.1 wt% of SiO2–NH2–DAC NPs under neutral and basic conditions, with demulsification occurring under acidic conditions (pH = 2.1), demonstrating the pH-responsiveness of the W/O emulsions. The emulsion viscosity increased from 150 to 2555 mPa·s at different WORs. An additional 18.7% oil recovery was achieved using SiO2–NH2–DAC NPs in a heterogeneous core, highlighting their potential as a promising profile control candidate.

Dynamic production optimization for offshore Electric Submersible Pump oilfields based on oil-water two phase virtual flow metering

Enhancing offshore oilfield production is critical, but optimizing production equipment parameters presents significant challenges due to the difficulty in obtaining accurate fluid properties and the necessity for precise equipment models. Multiphase flow calculations depend on preset fluid parameters, which are particularly challenging to determine in offshore environments. This paper proposes a virtual measurement method tailored for reservoir, well, and pipeline network models in offshore oilfields. The approach involves calibrating the Electric Submersible Pump (ESP) model and calculating the viscosity of oil-water emulsions to assess phase separation and fluid water content within the well. By utilizing revised data and production efficiency indicators, the optimal ESP operating frequency is determined to enhance offshore oilfield production. Adjusting the operating parameters based on these calculations enables continuous production optimization until the discrepancy between real-time data and computed results falls within the acceptable accuracy range. This method conserves substantial capital investment, enhances operational efficiency, and significantly boosts enterprise profitability.

Comparison of lab-produced asphalt emulsions by manufacturing equipment type

Asphalt emulsions can be produced with colloid mills and high-speed shear mixers, but effects of equipment type on emulsion properties are largely unknown. The study objective was to assess the impact of different manufacturing equipments on emulsion properties. Particle size, viscosity, residue, sieve and storage stability properties were observed after production on three emulsion manufacturing devices. For each device, three emulsions were manufactured by three operator pairs. Median particle size was as small as 2.0 microns on recirculating and in-line equipment, but only 5.3 on high-speed shear mixer. Recirculating equipment also produced emulsion with better storage stability than high-speed shear mixer and in-line equipment. In-line manufactured emulsions had the highest viscosity while the shear-mixed emulsion viscosity was below specification. Sieve was significantly affected by the operator. These results demonstrate that emulsions produced by different laboratory equipment are not identical, and caution must be exercised when comparing and manufacturing lab-produced emulsions.

Study on Preparation and Properties of Pickering Emulsions Prepared by Carboxymethyl Starch‐Xanthan Gum Nanoparticles

AbstractIn this work, carboxymethyl starch‐xanthan gum nanoparticles (CXN) with different ratios are prepared by ethanol precipitation method. The effects of different ratios, NaCl content, and pH on the particle size and zeta potential of the nanoparticles are investigated, as well as the rheological properties and stability of the CXN emulsions. The results show that with the increase of xanthan gum (XG), the particle size, and zeta potential of the nanoparticles decrease and the prepared emulsions have higher shear stress and viscosity, as well as greater thermal and storage stability. Changes in pH and NaCl concentration significantly affect the particle size and zeta potential values of the nanoparticles. Excess acids or bases increase the viscosity of the emulsions. At low salt concentrations (0.05 M), the emulsion viscosity increases significantly, after which the emulsion viscosity decreases with increasing salt concentration. Neutral pH conditions at room temperature are not conducive to the stability of the emulsions. At high temperatures (100 °C), high salt concentrations, excessive acids or bases can destabilize emulsions. This study provides a new way to reduce the particle size of nanoparticles and a feasible strategy for developing long‐term stable Pickering emulsion.

Fabrication and characterization of electrospun core-shell nanofibers of bilayer zein/pullulan emulsions crosslinked by genipin

In this study, the electrospun core-shell nanofibers of zein/pullulan stabilized bilayer emulsions before and after genipin crosslinking were fabricated. The experimental results indicated that the addition of pullulan increased the apparent viscosity and elastic modulus of the bilayer emulsions, which was further increased after the chemical crosslinking of genipin. The nanofiber diameter increased from 102.9 nm to 169.9 nm with the increasing ratio of pullulan, but increased significantly to a range of 405.6–708.0 nm after genipin crosslinking. The electrospun nanofiber films of crosslinked emulsions had higher thermal stability and stronger water stability. The FTIR result proved the existence of hydrogen bond interaction between the zein, pullulan, and genipin molecules. In addition, before and after crosslinking, the encapsulation efficiency of electrospun fiber films for camellia oil was >77.68 %, and the maximum encapsulation efficiency could reach 87.94 %, and there was no significant change during the 7-day storage period, showing good stability. These research results can provide a theoretical basis for the encapsulation of hydrophobic active substances in zein-based emulsion electrospun core-shell nanofibers.

Study on Mechanism and Effect of Different Viscosity Reducing Methods on Offshore Heavy Oil

Abstract Bohai is rich in heavy oil. And its efficient development is significant. In this essay, ordinary heavy oil and extra one were selected, and the viscosity characteristics was also investigated referring to its internal composition. And so as the reducing viscosity effects of steam, oil-soluble viscosity reducer, diesel, emulsifier, flue gas and carbon dioxide. The experimental results show that resin and asphaltene content have positive effect on the viscosity of heavy oil. Compared with ordinary heavy oil, the drop is significantly greater when the temperature increases by 10°C. For ordinary heavy oil, the inflection point temperature is from 50°C to 70°C, and for extra-heavy oil, it is above 100°C. For ordinary heavy oil, its flow effect can be better improved without too high temperature, while it’s totally different for super heavy oil. For which, higher temperature and other auxiliary viscosity reduction methods are needed to achieve better flow performance. Diesel oil reduce viscosity of heavy oil by similar solubility principle, but the demand for diesel oil is large. At 50°C, the viscosity of super heavy oil with 0.5% emulsion viscosity reducer added is 36 mPa·s, but the water content needs to reach above 30%.Oil-soluble viscosity reducer reduces viscosity by dissolving asphaltenes and resins and dismantling aggregate structure of heavy oil aromatic flakes.However, the dosage should reach about 20 %, so that the viscosity of super heavy oil can be reduced to the level of dilute oil. Overall, for developing super heavy oil, steam compound with oil soluble viscosity reducer can be taken into account at the early production stage, and the emulsion viscosity reducer can be used in the middle development stage and wellbore viscosity reduction and lifting process. Finally, for ordinary heavy oil, flue gas’s viscosity reduction effects, nitrogen and carbon dioxide are investigated. It is found that the viscosity reduction effect of carbon dioxide is the best, followed by flue gas and nitrogen. Considering the offshore gas source, cost and carbon emission requirements, it is recommended to use flue gas in the field. The research provides theoretical guidance and technical reference for development of different types of offshore heavy oil.

Inline estimation of volume fraction in Newtonian emulsions based on ultrasonic velocity profiling viscometry

Abstract We propose a method for estimating volume fraction of emulsions based on ultrasonic velocity profiling viscometry and validate its feasibility through a series of experiments. The experiments involve emulsions composed of silicone oil as continuous phase and tap water with volume fractions ranging from 10vol% to 30vol%. We introduce the viscosity model for this emulsion to establish the mathematical relationship between volume fraction and viscosity. Subsequently, we calibrate this relationship using ultrasonic spinning rheometry (USR). The identified equation is then applied in estimating the inline volume fraction using ultrasonic velocity profiling combined with pressure drop measurement. The key idea is that by measuring the viscosity in a pipeline the volume fraction is then indirectly estimated employing the identified equation. Through the collection and analysis of experimental data, we confirmed that the USR can capture the characteristics of the emulsion viscosity accurately. Moreover, we found that this method demonstrates applicability and accuracy in measuring volume fractions of emulsions. The results indicate that the mean relative error for this estimation is 24.06% at a volume fraction of 10vol%, and 4.78% at a volume fraction of 30vol%.

3D printing food flow in different extruders based on crazy and adaptive salp swarm algorithm-deep extreme learning machine improved-lattice Boltzmann method

Extrusion is significant in achieving 3D printing emulsion. The piston and screw extruders are the common structures to achieve the extrusion. The chocolate emulsion is taken for example, two extruders are numerically investigated and compared based on the fluid dynamic analysis. To conduct the simulations, the crazy and adaptive salp swarm algorithm-deep extreme learning machine (CASSA-DELM) is proposed to predict the viscosity of the chocolate emulsion, which is used to replace the traditional fitted model. The built model can avoid non-consistency in the whole shearing rate range. Then, an improved lattice Boltzmann method (I-LBM) is introduced to process the non-Newtonian behavior of the emulsion. In the simulation, the CASSA-DELM model provides the viscosities for each iteration in I-LBM based on the obtained shearing rates. Because the attachment(s) may be generated on the walls, the no-attachment and with-attachment(s) cases are explored, and the necessary results are obtained, which indicate that the piston extruder is more suitable for extruding the single component of food fluid. The screw extruder is recommended for the multiple components of food fluid because the vortex in the X-Y cross-section contributes to further mixing action for the emulsion containing different materials, such as the investigated chocolate emulsion. The indirect experiments are conducted to validate the above conclusions. The current work can contribute to improving the extruding theory of material extrusion technologies.

Exploring the glycoprotein washing fluid-assisted cleanup for the restoration of oil-contaminated shorelines with environmental integrity

Spilled oil in ocean can spread to the shoreline and cause long-term impacts on the shoreline's ecological environment. Therefore, removing oil accumulated on shorelines is crucial. This study proposed an innovative ovalbumin (OVA) fluid-assisted method for the cleanup of oiled shoreline substrates. The oil removal efficiency of OVA fluids was systematically investigated. Higher concentrations of OVA fluids effectively enveloped and immobilized the oil, aiding in its separation from the sand surface. The increased temperature reduced the viscosity of emulsions, facilitating improved flow and oil removal. High salinity promoted the creation of oil particle aggregates molecules and facilitated the release of oil from the sand surface. The factorial analysis demonstrated that a high salt environment significantly enhances the combined impact of temperature and pH on oil removal performance. Different methods for the responsive separation of washing effluents were studied, and the most effective separation method was adjusting the pH of effluents to 4.54 (the isoelectric point of OVA). Separated precipitates exhibited good decomposition efficiency through thermal decomposition and biodegradation. OVA fluids boast advantages, such as low cost, easy recyclability, and non-toxicity, while ensuring high oil removal efficiency and making them a promising eco-friendly technique for the cleanup of oiled shorelines.

Use of modified chitosan as bitumen modifier and its impact on rheological properties in bitumen modification.

Conventional bitumen is a viscoelastic material composed of asphaltene and maltene. It is prepared by air-blowing, but this approach makes the bitumen more brittle and susceptible to temperatures. To decrease the temperature susceptibility, synthetic polymers or additives are used to make polymer-modified bitumens. Polymer-modified bitumens have poor storage stability and phase separation and are costly. Chitosan has free amino and hydroxyl groups. Some studies showed that chitosan can be used as a bitumen emulsifier, increasing emulsion viscosity. This study describes the synthesis of O-carboxymethyl chitosan (OCMC) from chitosan, and the same was blended in base bitumen VG10 and VG30 to improve its constitutive properties. VG10 and VG30 grade bitumen were characterized for penetration, softening point, kinematic and absolute viscosity, and ductility. OCMC-modified bitumens were also characterized by their rheological and mechanical properties. OCMC was used in the concentration range of 0.5 to 4.5 wt%. The study revealed that using sulfur increases the ductility and penetration of modified bitumen with 1.5 wt% of OCMC and meets the specification of VG40-modified bitumen as per BIS specification IS:73:2013. The study showed that blending 1.5 wt% of OCMC in VG30 base bitumen enhances the complex modulus to 76,517Pa (at 42°C) with a minimum phase angle of 68.58° and meets the VG40 bitumen specification. Simultaneously, blending 1.5 wt% of OCMC in VG10 base bitumen enhances the complex modulus to 64,454Pa with a minimum phase angle of 77.39° (at 42°C) and meets the VG30 bitumen specification. Studies showed that using SBS in a small amount of 0.25 wt% along with modified chitosan improves the rutting resistance and shear modulus by more than 67°C at 1.1kPa.

Rheological properties of model emulsions containing oleosomes

AbstractIn the presented research, oleosomes were obtained from unroasted hazelnuts in an aqueous environment with a pH of 9.5, adjusted using sodium bicarbonate. Model emulsions were then prepared to contain oleosomes in proportions of 15, 25, and 35%. Rheological and viscosity analyses were conducted on these model emulsions, focusing on elastic and viscous modulus values. The results of the analyses, which revealed that an increase in the oleosome content in the model emulsions correlated with a concurrent increase in emulsion viscosity as well as in the elastic (G′) and viscous (G″) moduli, demonstrate the significant impact of oleosome concentration on the rheological properties of the emulsions. All samples exhibited a G′ > G″ relationship, indicating their semi-solid nature. Moreover, an increase in the oleosome content was found to result in a higher consistency index for the product, while the flow index remained largely unchanged.

Effect of ultrasonic pretreatment on the emulsion rheological properties and interface protein structure of epigallocatechin-3-gallate and rice bran protein complex

The effect of ultrasonic pretreatment on the emulsion rheological properties and the structural characteristics of interface-adsorbed protein (IAP) and interface-unabsorbed protein (IUP) of rice bran protein and epigallocatechin-3-gallate complex (RBP-EGCG) were studied. Compared to RBP-EGCG without ultrasonic pretreatment, appropriate ultrasonic pretreatment (ultrasonic power was 425 W) enhanced the IAP trypsin sensitivity (from 3.20 to 3.73), increased the IUP surface hydrophobicity (from 12.59 to 20.87), and decreased the ζ-potential (from −24.93 mV to −36.88 mV) and particle size (from 567.30 nm to 273.13 nm) of IUP, thereby increasing the viscosity and viscoelasticity of emulsion. Compared to appropriate ultrasonic pretreatment, high-power ultrasonic pretreatment (ultrasonic power was 500 W) attenuated the IAP trypsin sensitivity, and increased the ζ-potential and particle size of IUP, thereby decreasing the viscosity and viscoelasticity of emulsion. Overall, ultrasonic pretreatment changed the EGCG-RBP emulsion viscoelasticity by regulating spatial structural characteristics and flexibility of interface protein.

Fabrication and characterization of oleic acid/sesame protein isolate/ poly (vinyl) alcohol core-shell nanofibers: Mitigating lipid oxidation by emulsion electrospinning

Formulated oil-in-water (O/W) emulsions of oleic acid (OA) using sesame protein isolate (SPI) were processed via emulsion electrospinning with poly (vinyl) alcohol (PVA) to fabricate core-shell nanofibers for lipid oxidation prevention. The emulsion droplet size and viscosity increased as the oil volume fraction rose from 5 % to 30 %. The morphology tests and Fourier transform infrared spectroscopy (FTIR) confirmed the uniformity of nanofibers and OA encapsulation with hydrogen bonding. The thermal stability, mechanical properties, and water contact angle (WCA) of the nanofiber films improved with increased OA content. Encapsulation efficiency was 94.76 % and storage stability was maintained for 7 days in 5 % oil fraction nanofibers. The nanofibers showed lower oxidation and superior oxidative resistance to free OA, with the lowest peroxide value (POV, 2.14 mmol/L) and thiobarbituric acid-reactive substances (TBARS, 36.75 μmol/L). In conclusion, the OA/SPI/PVA (PE) core-shell nanofibers via emulsion electrospinning are efficient for fatty acid encapsulation in functional foods.

Selected Soluble Dietary Fibres as Replacers of Octenyl Succinic Anhydride (OSA) Starch in Spray-Drying Production of Linseed Oil Powders Applied to Apple Juice

The aim of the study was to compare two kinds of soluble dietary fibres in a mixture with OSA-starch as wall components of linseed oil capsules. Comparison was made based on emulsion (droplet size, polydispersity index, and viscosity) and powder properties (outer structure, colour, surface oil content, and encapsulation efficiency). Additionally, linseed oil powders were applied to the food model (apple juice) and the colour, physical stability, and volatile compound profile of fortified juice were determined. Although the obtained linseed oil emulsions with different compositions of polysaccharide components showed some variation in droplet size, polydisperse index and viscosity, their encapsulation efficiency by spray-drying was very high (>98%). The powders produced had a similar structure and low surface oil content, and their 2% addition to apple juice did not change its stability and only slightly decreased its colour lightness and yellowness. However, greater differences in the volatile compounds of obtained juices were observed. Overall, the added powders reduced the volatility of aroma compounds typical of apple juice but introduced propanal and hexanal, especially the powders with the highest OSA-starch share.

Influence of wet wire drawing speed on the brass-plated steel cord properties

Steel cords are a reinforcing phase of the rubber-steel-canvas composite, and their properties, including strength, depend on the quality of the wires. The novelty of the work is a multi-parameter analysis of the cord production process, which showed that there is a relationship between the rheological properties of the lubricating emulsion, the friction conditions and deformation of the brass coating, and the properties of the wires and their resistance to cracking when braiding into a steel cord. It was shown that the friction conditions depend on the wire temperature and the rheological properties of the emulsion. As the drawing speed increases, the emulsion viscosity improves. The grease reaches its optimum at a specific drawing speed depending on the type of emulsion and the type of wire. Further increases in drawing speed result in an increase in temperature at the material/tool interface. This leads to a decrease in the viscosity of the emulsion and the breakdown of the lubricant film in the contact zone. Inappropriate selection of wet drawing speed contributes to a decrease in plastic properties and a reduction in the number of twists and bends of the wire, which leads not only to wire breakage at the stage of cord braiding but also to its premature breaking during the tensile test.

Gelatin-nanocellulose stabilized emulsion-filled hydrogel beads loaded with curcumin: Preparation, encapsulation and release behavior

In this study, the curcumin was firstly encapsulated in gelatin (GLT) and/or cellulose nanocrystals (CNC) stabilized emulsions, then further mixed with sodium alginate (SA) to form emulsion-filled hydrogel beads loaded with curcumin (Cur). The Cur-loaded emulsions showed a droplet size of 20.3–24.4 μm with a uniform distribution. Introducing CNC and/or SA increased the viscosity of emulsions accompanied by viscoelastic transition, while the modulus was reduced due to destruction of GLT gel. Cur was doubly immobilized in the hydrogel beads with >90 % of encapsulation efficiency. The results of simulated gastrointestinal tract experiments revealed that the beads possessed a good pH sensitivity and controlled release behavior to prolong the retention of Cur in the gastrointestinal tract. After 6 h of UV irradiation, the Cur-loaded emulsion-filled hydrogel beads showed a higher antioxidant activity than that of pure Cur, effectively delaying the photodegradation of Cur. In addition, the beads had better stability in aqueous and acidic environments, which was favorable for prolonging the release of Cur. These results suggest that the emulsion-filled hydrogel beads have great potential for the delivery of lipophilic bioactive molecules.

CO2-switchable emulsion with controllable stability and viscosity based on chitosans and cetyltrimethylammonium bromide

Emulsions have extensive applications in food, cosmetics, and agriculture, while the requirements for emulsions differ in various fields. It is a challenge for one emulsion to satisfy multiple requirements in different applications. Herein, CO2-switchable emulsions with controllable stability and viscosity were prepared by a mixture of chitosans (CS) and CTAB. After adding low concentrations of CTAB (e.g. 0.5 mM), the viscous Pickering emulsions stabilized by CS alone were converted into moderate-viscous Pickering emulsions due to the competition adsorption between CS aggregates and CTAB at the oil-water interface. The transformation of emulsion types (such as Pickering and conventional emulsions) and the emulsion's stability and viscosity were controlled by CO2/N2 trigger. Furthermore, at high CTAB concentrations (≥ 0.8 mM), a novel long-term stable conventional emulsion was obtained after the CS aggregates at the oil-water interface were entirely replaced by CTAB. Compared with other stimuli, CO2 is recognized as a green trigger that doesn't cause contaminations in the system, which has potential applications in organic synthesis and polymerization. Our strategy provides a simple and effective method to smartly control the properties of the emulsions (such as the emulsion type, stability, and viscosity), obtaining an intelligent emulsion to meet different requirements in many applications.