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Properties of Cellulose Nanofibers Extracted from Eucalyptus and their Emulsifying Role in the Oil-in-Water Pickering Emulsions

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Abstract

In this work, nanocellulose particles were obtained from eucalyptus fibers by high-pressure homogenization (CNF) and by high-intensity ultrasound (SCNF). The nanocellulose was applied as a solid emulsifier for soybean oil in water (O/W) emulsions. The adding of 0.25–1 wt.% of both CNF and SCNF produced stable O/W emulsions without conventional surfactants. SCNF emulsions showed the highest stability and displayed the narrowest size distribution. Zeta potential values (− 40 to − 70 mV) indicated an electrical barrier to the droplet coalescence. The rheological behavior of O/W emulsions stabilized with CNF and SCNF was described by the Herschel-Buckley model. O/W emulsions produced with nanocellulose particles behave as shear thinning fluid, and their behavior index ranged from 0.33 to 0.68. Both CNF and SCNF emulsions displayed maximum yield stress at a particle concentration of 0.5 wt.% and 0.75 wt.%, respectively. Besides, the prepared O/W emulsions using 0.5 to 1.00 wt.% CNF or SCNF did not showed phase separation until 30 days of rest. The data point out to the feasibility of using nanocellulose as a natural emulsifier, which can replace conventional surfactants.

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Funding

This work was supported by The Coordination of Superior Level Staff Improvement, CAPES (Grant Number 1751838), the São Paulo Research Foundation, FAPESP (Grant Numbers 2010/17804-7, 2011/00156-5) and the National Council for Scientific and Technological Development, CNPq (Grant Number 310410/2010-0).

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  1. Center of Natural and Human Sciences, Federal University of ABC, Av. dos Estados, 5001, Bangu, Santo André, SP, 09.210-170, Brazil

    Lilian S. Martins & Márcia A. Silva Spinacé

  2. Department of Chemical Engineering, Centro Universitário FEI, Rua Humberto de Alencar Castelo Branco, São Bernardo do Campo, SP, 3592, 09771-220, Brazil

    Ronaldo Gonçalves dos Santos

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Martins, L.S., dos Santos, R.G. & Spinacé, M.A.S. Properties of Cellulose Nanofibers Extracted from Eucalyptus and their Emulsifying Role in the Oil-in-Water Pickering Emulsions. Waste Biomass Valor 13, 689–705 (2022). https://doi.org/10.1007/s12649-021-01498-8

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