Deep eutectic solvent in water pickering emulsions stabilised by cellulose nanofibrils

Area of Science:

• Materials Science
• Colloid and Surface Chemistry
• Green Chemistry

Background:

• Deep eutectic solvents (DES) are gaining attention as sustainable alternatives to volatile organic compounds.
• Emulsion stabilization is crucial for applications ranging from drug delivery to chemical reactions.
• Cellulose nanoparticles (CNPs) are biodegradable and abundant nanomaterials with potential as Pickering stabilizers.

Purpose of the Study:

• To investigate the stability and properties of deep eutectic solvent-in-water emulsions stabilized by partially oxidized cellulose nanoparticles.
• To explore the potential of these novel Pickering emulsions in non-aqueous reaction systems, chemical extraction, and controlled release applications.
• To compare the performance of polysaccharide-stabilized Pickering emulsions with conventional surfactant-stabilized emulsions.

Main Methods:

• Preparation of deep eutectic solvent (menthol:dodecanoic acid) in water (30:70) emulsions.
• Stabilization of emulsions using partially oxidized cellulose nanoparticles.
• Assessment of emulsion stability over 200 days at room temperature.
• Evaluation of potential applications in non-aqueous reactions, extraction, and controlled release.

Main Results:

• The deep eutectic solvent-in-water emulsions stabilized with partially oxidized cellulose nanoparticles demonstrated remarkable stability, remaining intact for 200 days at room temperature.
• The developed Pickering emulsions exhibit potential for use in non-aqueous reaction media, chemical extraction processes, and controlled release formulations.
• Polysaccharide-stabilized Pickering emulsions showed enhanced stability and reduced toxicity compared to traditional surfactant-stabilized systems.

Conclusions:

• Partially oxidized cellulose nanoparticles are effective stabilizers for deep eutectic solvent-in-water emulsions, offering a sustainable and stable Pickering emulsion system.
• These novel emulsions present a promising platform for green chemistry applications, including reaction media, extraction, and controlled delivery.
• The findings highlight the advantages of using biopolymer-based nanoparticles for emulsion stabilization over conventional surfactants.