One-step, highly stable Pickering emulsions stabilized by ZnO: tuning emulsion stability by in situ functionalization
Articolo
Data di Pubblicazione:
2022
Citazione:
One-step, highly stable Pickering emulsions stabilized by ZnO: tuning emulsion stability by in situ functionalization / C. Cionti, G. Vavassori, E. Pargoletti, D. Meroni, G. Cappelletti. - In: JOURNAL OF COLLOID AND INTERFACE SCIENCE. - ISSN 0021-9797. - 628:(2022 Dec 15), pp. 82-89. [10.1016/j.jcis.2022.07.129]
Abstract:
Hypothesis: Oxide-stabilized emulsions generally require a surface functionalization step to tune the oxide wettability, often involving hazardous hydrophobizing agents. Here, we propose the in situ functionalization of ZnO in vegetable oils without the addition of any modifier, resulting in the one-step formation of highly stable Pickering emulsions.
Experiments: The role of ZnO surface features was studied by modifying the particles' wettability through surface functionalization and by comparing different oil phases. The emulsion stability was assessed through aging tests, multiple hot-and-cold cycles, centrifugation, and addition of multiple electrolytes.
Findings: While the wetting features of the functionalized oxide play a crucial role when the oil phase is methyl octanoate, emulsions based on vegetable oils form also using hydrophilic ZnO. During the emulsification, an in situ functionalization of bare ZnO particles takes place due to the fatty acids present in vegetable oil. These in situ-generated systems lead to stable emulsions showing < 2 mu m-diameter oil droplets. The resulting emulsions display excellent stability over time (over seven months) and against temperature variations, mechanical stress and increased ionic strength. Finally, we demonstrate that this approach can be extended to a variety of vegetable oils and oxides with different morphologies.
Tipologia IRIS:
01 - Articolo su periodico
Keywords:
Highly stable emulsion; One step emulsification; Pickering emulsion; Surfactant free; Zinc oxide;
Elenco autori:
C. Cionti, G. Vavassori, E. Pargoletti, D. Meroni, G. Cappelletti
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