Development of Agricultural/Food Waste-derived Cellulose Nanofibers as Pickering Emulsion Stabilizers

Abstract

Pickering emulsions stabilized with nanoparticles attract attention as environmentally friendly emulsification technology. Cellulose nanofibers (CNFs), downsized from highly crystalline cellulose in plant cell walls to the nanometer scale, can be used as natural stabilizers for oil-in-water Pickering emulsions. While wood pulp is commonly used as a CNF source, CNFs derived from agricultural/food waste offer the compatible quality as wood-derived CNFs, enabling upcycling waste materials. This paper evaluates the long-term stability of Pickering emulsions stabilized with agricultural/food waste-derived CNFs and elucidates instability mechanisms through relaxation and diffusion measurements using magnetic resonance imaging. The development of sustainable Pickering emulsions using CNFs from agricultural/food waste contributes to establishing a circular economy.

graphical abstract