Investigation of the Formation and Analysis of Gum Arabic/Poly(vinyl alcohol) Nanoparticles through Electrospraying

Abstract

Gum Arabic (GA), renowned for its natural, biodegradable, and non-toxic properties, holds considerable promise in encapsulation, despite its natural form having limited capacity to form particles or fibers. This study delves into the electrospraying of GA and GA/PVA solutions, aiming to optimize process and solution parameters. Characterization of the electrosprayed solutions was conducted through viscosity, conductivity, and surface tension measurements. Additionally, solvent concentrations, polymer types, and total feed rates were thoroughly investigated as part of this optimization process. Their impact on nanoparticle formation was observed through SEM images for morphological analysis. Some findings suggest that the combination of GA and PVA facilitated the formation of electrosprayed nanoparticles, rather than relying solely on GA. Optimal blending concentrations were achieved by avoiding extremes of high or low PVA concentrations in solutions containing up to 50 % GA. The study comprehensively examines the properties of the resulting nanoparticles, demonstrating successful acquisition in the nano size range and monodispersity, highlighting the potential of the electrospraying method for producing nano-sized Gum Arabic and PVA particles, as well as encapsulating other materials and agents in future textile finishing applications.