Stabilization of Oil-in-Water Pickering Emulsions by Surface-Functionalized Cellulose Hydrogel

An amphiphilic cellulose (<b>CLH</b>) hydrogel was synthesized via grafting of quaternary ammonium groups onto cellulose. The structural properties of <b>CLH</b> were characterized via Fourier transform infrared (FTIR)/<sup>13</sup>C solid-state NMR spectroscopy,...

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Main Authors: Inimfon A. Udoetok, Mohamed H. Mohamed, Lee D. Wilson
Format: Article
Language:English
Published: MDPI AG 2024-10-01
Series:Gels
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Online Access:https://www.mdpi.com/2310-2861/10/11/685
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author Inimfon A. Udoetok
Mohamed H. Mohamed
Lee D. Wilson
author_facet Inimfon A. Udoetok
Mohamed H. Mohamed
Lee D. Wilson
author_sort Inimfon A. Udoetok
collection DOAJ
description An amphiphilic cellulose (<b>CLH</b>) hydrogel was synthesized via grafting of quaternary ammonium groups onto cellulose. The structural properties of <b>CLH</b> were characterized via Fourier transform infrared (FTIR)/<sup>13</sup>C solid-state NMR spectroscopy, elemental (CHN) analysis, particle size distribution (PSD), thermogravimetric analysis (TGA), and wettability was assessed through contact angle measurements. Pickering emulsions of apolar oils in water were prepared using variable weights of the <b>CLH</b> hydrogel as the stabilizing agent, along with different methods of agitation (mechanical shaking and sonication). The characterization results for <b>CLH</b> provide support for the successful grafting of quaternary ammonium groups onto cellulose to produce hydrogels. Different methods of agitation of an oil/water mixture revealed the formation of an <i>oil-in-water</i> (O/W) Pickering emulsion that was stable to coalescence for over 14 days. The resulting emulsions showed variable droplet sizes and stability according to the dosage of <b>CLH</b> in the emulsion and the agitation method, where the emulsion droplet size is related to the particle size of <b>CLH</b>. The addition of methyl orange (MO), a probe to evaluate the phase partitioning of the dye, had minor effects on the emulsion droplet size, and the emulsion prepared with 0.8 wt.% of <b>CLH</b> and agitated via sonication exhibited the smallest droplet size and greatest stability. This study is anticipated to catalyze further research and the development of low-cost and sustainable biopolymer hydrogels as stabilizers for tunable Pickering emulsion. Grafted cellulose materials of this type represent versatile stabilizing agents for foods, agrochemicals, and pharmaceutical products and technologies.
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spelling doaj-art-e38ee58e973d46a8b1a452555db94fa32025-08-20T01:53:53ZengMDPI AGGels2310-28612024-10-01101168510.3390/gels10110685Stabilization of Oil-in-Water Pickering Emulsions by Surface-Functionalized Cellulose HydrogelInimfon A. Udoetok0Mohamed H. Mohamed1Lee D. Wilson2Department of Chemistry, University of Saskatchewan, 110 Science Place, Saskatoon, SK S7N 5C9, CanadaDepartment of Chemistry, University of Saskatchewan, 110 Science Place, Saskatoon, SK S7N 5C9, CanadaDepartment of Chemistry, University of Saskatchewan, 110 Science Place, Saskatoon, SK S7N 5C9, CanadaAn amphiphilic cellulose (<b>CLH</b>) hydrogel was synthesized via grafting of quaternary ammonium groups onto cellulose. The structural properties of <b>CLH</b> were characterized via Fourier transform infrared (FTIR)/<sup>13</sup>C solid-state NMR spectroscopy, elemental (CHN) analysis, particle size distribution (PSD), thermogravimetric analysis (TGA), and wettability was assessed through contact angle measurements. Pickering emulsions of apolar oils in water were prepared using variable weights of the <b>CLH</b> hydrogel as the stabilizing agent, along with different methods of agitation (mechanical shaking and sonication). The characterization results for <b>CLH</b> provide support for the successful grafting of quaternary ammonium groups onto cellulose to produce hydrogels. Different methods of agitation of an oil/water mixture revealed the formation of an <i>oil-in-water</i> (O/W) Pickering emulsion that was stable to coalescence for over 14 days. The resulting emulsions showed variable droplet sizes and stability according to the dosage of <b>CLH</b> in the emulsion and the agitation method, where the emulsion droplet size is related to the particle size of <b>CLH</b>. The addition of methyl orange (MO), a probe to evaluate the phase partitioning of the dye, had minor effects on the emulsion droplet size, and the emulsion prepared with 0.8 wt.% of <b>CLH</b> and agitated via sonication exhibited the smallest droplet size and greatest stability. This study is anticipated to catalyze further research and the development of low-cost and sustainable biopolymer hydrogels as stabilizers for tunable Pickering emulsion. Grafted cellulose materials of this type represent versatile stabilizing agents for foods, agrochemicals, and pharmaceutical products and technologies.https://www.mdpi.com/2310-2861/10/11/685Pickering emulsionhydrogelsurface functionalizedcellulosesonicationapolar oil
spellingShingle Inimfon A. Udoetok
Mohamed H. Mohamed
Lee D. Wilson
Stabilization of Oil-in-Water Pickering Emulsions by Surface-Functionalized Cellulose Hydrogel
Gels
Pickering emulsion
hydrogel
surface functionalized
cellulose
sonication
apolar oil
title Stabilization of Oil-in-Water Pickering Emulsions by Surface-Functionalized Cellulose Hydrogel
title_full Stabilization of Oil-in-Water Pickering Emulsions by Surface-Functionalized Cellulose Hydrogel
title_fullStr Stabilization of Oil-in-Water Pickering Emulsions by Surface-Functionalized Cellulose Hydrogel
title_full_unstemmed Stabilization of Oil-in-Water Pickering Emulsions by Surface-Functionalized Cellulose Hydrogel
title_short Stabilization of Oil-in-Water Pickering Emulsions by Surface-Functionalized Cellulose Hydrogel
title_sort stabilization of oil in water pickering emulsions by surface functionalized cellulose hydrogel
topic Pickering emulsion
hydrogel
surface functionalized
cellulose
sonication
apolar oil
url https://www.mdpi.com/2310-2861/10/11/685
work_keys_str_mv AT inimfonaudoetok stabilizationofoilinwaterpickeringemulsionsbysurfacefunctionalizedcellulosehydrogel
AT mohamedhmohamed stabilizationofoilinwaterpickeringemulsionsbysurfacefunctionalizedcellulosehydrogel
AT leedwilson stabilizationofoilinwaterpickeringemulsionsbysurfacefunctionalizedcellulosehydrogel