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Updated: May 31, 2026

Studying Surfactant Effects on Hydrate Crystallization at Oil-Water Interfaces Using a Low-Cost Integrated Modular Peltier Device
Published on: March 18, 2020
Crystallization-interface coupling mechanism governing the freeze-thaw stability of aerated emulsions: A
Xiuhang Chai1, Li Fang1, Qiuling Huangfu1
1State Key Laboratory of Food Science and Resources, School of Food Science and Technology, Jiangnan University, 1800 Lihu Road, Wuxi 214122, Jiangsu, People's Republic of China.
Abstract:
Emulsifiers modulate fat crystallization and interfacial behavior, yet their combined effects on the freeze-thaw stability and functional performance of aerated oil-in-water systems remain incompletely understood. This study investigates the crystallization-interface coupling mechanism governing the freeze-thaw stability of aerated emulsions using emulsifiers with distinct molecular architectures. Thermal and kinetic analyses revealed that high-melting lipophilic emulsifiers (S170, P170) acted as effective heterogeneous nucleation templates. Driven by high fatty acid chain complementarity, they formed dense, nano-lamellar crystal networks (confirmed by SAXS) that mechanically fortified fat globules against ice recrystallization. Conversely, the low-melting L195 acted as a "crystal impurity" due to chain mismatch, delaying nucleation and fostering coarse crystals that pierced interfacial films, leading to catastrophic coalescence. In contrast, hydrophilic emulsifiers (M-7D, SWA10D) compromised stability via aggressive competitive protein displacement. This created thin, surfactant-dominated interfaces lacking the viscoelasticity to withstand freezing stress. A clear structure-function relationship was established: Fatty acid compatibility determines bulk crystallization templating, while interfacial adsorption dictates membrane resilience. These findings provide molecular-level guidance for designing robust freeze-thaw-resistant aerated systems.
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