Delayed yielding of oil/water emulsions in presence of stabilizing biopolymer

Journal article (2020)

Authors

S. El Asjadi Latexfalt B.V., ChemE/Advanced Soft Matter - AS
V. Lakshminarayanan ChemE/Advanced Soft Matter - AS
N.A.M. Besseling OLD ChemE/Organic Materials and Interfaces
S.J. Picken ChemE/Advanced Soft Matter - AS
E. Mendes ChemE/Advanced Soft Matter - AS
Research Group
ChemE/Advanced Soft Matter (AS) (TU Delft)
Copyright: © 2020 S. El Asjadi, V. Lakshminarayanan, N.A.M. Besseling, S.J. Picken, E. Mendes
DOI: https://doi.org/10.1002/app.49626
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Published Date

2020

Language

English

Faculty

Applied Sciences

Department

ChemE/Chemical Engineering

Research Group

ChemE/Advanced Soft Matter

Abstract

This study investigates the stabilization of oil/water emulsions as a function of addition of a biopolymer (scleroglucan) which acts as an emulsion stabilizer. Rheological characterization in the form of controlled stress creep measurements has been carried out and it reveals the colloidal gel exhibiting a delayed yielding in a certain applied stress window. The delay time and stresses that an emulsion can withstand depend strongly on the concentration of added scleroglucan. Increasing polymer concentration, however, is limited to a maximum value, above which a limited effect on the delay time is observed. Investigating of the emulsion under study was visualized by means of cryo transmission electron microscopy which shows adsorption of scleroglucan onto the surface of the oil particles and a gel-like structure that connects the oil phases. The results mentioned in this study support that scleroglucan-surfactant interactions play a key role in the stabilization of the oil/water emulsion.