Preparation and Characterization of Emulsifier-free, Submicron-sized Monodisperse Rice Bran Wax Particles and their...

Area of Science:

• Materials Science
• Colloid and Surface Chemistry
• Biomaterials Science

Background:

• Optimal material design is key for advancing value-added byproducts from rice bran wax (RBW).
• Developing stable, submicron-sized particles from RBW is challenging due to its inherent properties.

Purpose of the Study:

• To prepare emulsifier-free, submicron-sized, monodisperse RBW particles.
• To investigate the properties and potential applications of these novel RBW particles.

Main Methods:

• Melt emulsification using a combination of high-HLB (decaglycerin stearate, Tween 20) and low-HLB (glyceryl stearate, Span 20) emulsifiers.
• Surface cleaning with ethanol to remove adsorbed emulsifiers.
• Characterization using zeta-potential, X-ray diffraction, and differential scanning calorimetry.

Main Results:

• Successfully produced monodisperse, submicron-sized RBW particles with high dispersibility due to zeta-potential.
• Achieved emulsion-free particles after ethanol washing, confirming effective emulsifier removal.
• Demonstrated high solvent repellency and formation of colloidal assemblies like liquid marbles and W/O Pickering emulsions.

Conclusions:

• Rice bran wax (RBW) is a promising material for creating emulsifier-free submicron-sized particles.
• High crystallinity of RBW facilitates efficient emulsifier elimination.
• The developed RBW particles show potential for use in cosmetic formulations.