Hygroscopic, structural, and thermal properties of essential oil microparticles of sweet orange added with cellulose nanofibrils

Abstract

Different types of nanoscale components are being tested in the food microencapsulation process, in order to ensure better barrier properties. Thus, this study aimed to evaluate the properties of spray‐dried microparticles containing sweet orange essential oil produced using gum Arabic and maltodextrin as wall materials incorporated with cellulose nanofibrils. Therefore, both cellulose nanofibrils (morphology) and microparticles (load capacity, moisture adsorption isotherms, X‐ray diffractometry, thermogravimetry, and morphology) were characterized. The treatments containing gum Arabic and cellulose nanofibrils showed better results regarding load capacity (17% w/w). The moisture adsorption isotherms showed that replacing gum Arabic by maltodextrin the equilibrium moisture of the microparticles with and without cellulose nanofibrils were decreased. The presence of cellulose nanofibrils increased the thermal stability of the microcapsules, while higher maltodextrin concentration decreased thermal stability. The microparticles had spherical morphology and roughened surface for all treatments. Therefore, cellulose nanofibrils have potential use for application in the spray‐drying process. Practical applications With the development of new technologies, there is great potential for encapsulation of blended polymeric formulations with an innovative approach in presence of nanoscale components. Cellulose nanofibrils offer structural and mechanical properties and act as a thickener and a physical barrier allowing stabilization of the interface oil/water, what contributes to the improvement of the properties of the essential oil microparticles.

Improving the oxygen barrier of microcapsules using cellulose nanofibres

“…Although de Souza et al . (2020) did not observe any crystallinity in GA/MD microcapsules containing CNF, the microcapsules composed of 1% (dry microcapsule) of CNF, which would not be recognised using X‐ray diffraction. Furthermore, Peng et al .…”

“…CNF has also demonstrated amphiphilic nature and has been applied as a surfactant to create Pickering emulsions which prevent coalescence and have high kinetic stability (Gestranius et al ., 2017). However, only a few studies have assessed the application of CNF for the encapsulation of lipids (de Souza et al ., 2018; de Souza et al ., 2020). These studies assessed the thermal, structural and controlled release properties of CNF microcapsules.…”

Biocontrol Potential of Essential Oils in Organic Horticulture Systems: From Farm to Fork

“…Polymeric particles such as methacrylate polymer ( 269 ), poly(D,L-lactic-co-glycolic acid) (PLGA) ( 270 ), poly-ε-caprolactone (PCL) ( 271 ), poly (lactic acid) (PLA) ( 272 ), poly (L-lactide-co-ε-caprolactone)/silk fibroin (PLCL/SF) ( 273 ), β-cyclodextrin ( 274 ), cellulose nanofibrils ( 275 ), alginate ( 276 ), starch ( 277 ), chitosan ( 278 ), gum arabic, maltodextrin, and inulin ( 279 ), were commonly used as wall materials individually or as a mixture. For EO encapsulation in polymeric particles, spray drying, coacervation, nanoprecipitation, and rapid expansion of supercritical solutions (RESS) are widely used technologies ( 263 ).…”

Recent developments in extraction and encapsulation techniques of orange essential oil

“…used N-Lok modified starch for encapsulating OEO in a ratio 1:4 with high retention and encapsulation efficiencies (>75%) (Rojas-Moreno, Cardenas-Bailon, Osorio-Revilla, Gallardo-Velazquez, & Proal-Najera, 2018). Souza et al (2020) used Arabic gum and maltodextrin as wall materials incorporated with cellulose nanofibrils. They showed that the presence of cellulose nanofibrils increases the thermal stability of the microcapsules apart from acting as a physical barrier allowing stabilization of the interface oil/water, what contributes to the improvement of the properties of the essential oil microparticles.…”