Double Emulsions of Water-in-Oil-in-Water Stabilized by α-Form Fat Microcrystals. Part 1: Selection of Emulsifiers and Fat Microcrystalline Particles

Double emulsions are commonly stabilized by monomeric and/or polymeric emulsifiers. Pickering stabilization by solid particles such as colloidal microcrystalline cellulose has been mentioned only once as a possible technique to stabilize the external interface of the water-in-oil-in-water emulsion. No further work was carried out exploring this option. The present study shows that solid microcrystalline fat particles of α-form are capable of adsorbing at the water-oil interface and, together with other hydrophobic emulsifiers, can stabilize water-in-oil (W/O) emulsions. The crystals must be submicron in size in order to effectively adsorb and arrange at the interface. Large crystals do not fit and were found to flocculate as free crystals in the continuous oil phase. The α-form crystals can be obtained by flash-cooling saturated triglycerides in vegetable oils in the presence of emulsifiers, such as polyglycerol polyricinoleate (PGPR), that stabilize the dispersion and serve as α-tending crystal structure modifiers. It was assumed that PGPR also serves as a cross-linker or bridge between the crystalline fat particles and the water, and facilitates the anchoring of the fat particles in the oil phase in one direction while dangling itself in the water phase. The double emulsion droplets prepared with these W/O emulsions are relatively large in size (6–18 µm), but stable to coalescence. The marker (NaCl) does not seem to release with time, suggesting that the fat particles form microcapsules on the water interface, totally sealing the water from releasing its addenda. The systems seem to have a significant potential for food emulsions.