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    Self-Assembled Networks of Short and Long Chitin Nanoparticles for Oil/Water Interfacial Superstabilization

    Year: 2019

    Journal: ACS Sustain. Chem. Eng., Volume 7, APR 1, page 6497–6511

    Authors: Bai, Long; Huan, Siqi; Xiang, Wenchao; Liu, Liang; Yang, Yang; Nugroho, Robertus Wahyu N.; Fan, Yimin; Rojas, Orlando J.

    Organizations: European Research Commission via the ERC Advanced Grant [78848]

    Keywords: Nanochitin; Superstabilization; Pickering emulsion; Rodlike particles; Deconstruction

    Highly charged (zeta potential zeta = +105 mV, acetate counterions) chitin nanoparticles (NCh) of three different average aspect ratios (similar to 5, 25, and >60) were obtained by low-energy deconstruction of partially deacetylated chitin. The nanoparticles were effective in reducing the interfacial tension and stabilized the oil/water interface via network formation (interfacial dilatational rheology data) becoming effective in stabilizing Pickering systems, depending on NCh size, composition, and formulation variables. The improved interfacial wettability and electrosteric repulsion facilitated control over the nanoparticle's surface coverage on the oil droplets, their aspect ratio and stability against coalescence during long-term storage. Emulsion superstabilization (oil fractions below 0.5) occurred by the microstructuring and thickening effect of NCh that formed networks at concentrations as low as 0.0005 wt %. The ultrasound energy used during emulsion preparation simultaneously reduced the longer nanoparticles, producing very stable, fine oil droplets (diameter similar to 1 mu m). Our findings indicate that NCh surpasses any reported biobased nanoparticle, including nanocelluloses, for its ability to stabilize interfaces at ultralow concentrations and represent a step-forward in efforts to fully replace surfactants in multiphase systems.
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