Stable Sunflower Oil Oleogel from Oil/Water Pickering Emulsion with Regenerated Chitin

Abstract Pickering emulsion templating is a versatile technique in formulating highly networked oil-in-water emulsions applicable in foods, cosmetics, and pharmaceuticals areas. In this work, oleogels was prepared by oil-in-water Pickering emulsions using regenerated chitin (RCh) as the stabilizing particles. The effects of RCh concentrations (0.4/100-1.4 g/100g) on the formation, rheology, and log-term stability of the emulsions and oleogles were investigated. It was found that the solid-like oloegel with a high concentration of liquid oil ( ≥ 98 g/100g) could be obtained after evaporating of water from the emulsions. Shear-thinning behavior was observed at lower concentrations of RCh (0.4-0.6 g/100g) and higher frequencies in the emulsions. An increase in the viscoelastic property was achieved. Oleogels containing higher concentrations of RCh (0.8/100-1.4 g/100g) showed excellent resistance against coalescence and Ostwald ripening during the storage time. These oleogels also showed good thermal stability (no sign of oil leakages) when heated to 80 oC for 2 days. This emulsion templating approach is a feasible oil structuring strategy promising to be used in various applications.