Technology uses nanocellulose and a natural fatty acid to replace synthetic emulsifiers
Researchers from the Brazilian Center for Research in Energy and Materials (CNPEM) in Campinas, São Paulo have developed a new way to produce multiple emulsions, which can be utilized in the cosmetics and pharmaceutical industries, using only natural and renewable components.
Multiple emulsions are very interesting for industrial applications because they make it possible to encapsulate and release polar and non-polar compounds, protecting sensitive ingredients. The new approach permits the development of controlled ingredient release systems, improving product efficiency.
The study introduces an innovative method that can form water-oil-water (W/O/W) emulsions in a single step, overcoming one of the main challenges of this technology: the instability of the interfaces and the need for complex processes and synthetic additives.
Normally, in order to disperse immiscible liquids like water and oil, surfactants like detergents are used that allow droplets of one liquid to form and disperse in the other.
“In this study we investigated replacing these surfactants with particles, more specifically of nanocellulose, which offers environmental advantages and reduces the use of petroleum-based compounds. We have developed a more complex system, in which there are structures called multiple emulsions. One of the main advances was to produce these emulsions in a single step, while conventional methods require multiple stages of preparation. Furthermore, we only used components from plants, without synthetic additives,” said CNPEM researcher and study advisor Juliana da Silva Bernardes. According to Maria Clara dos Santos Oliveira, a doctoral student at UNICAMP and lead author of the study, “The multiple emulsions we developed are complex systems in which water droplets are encapsulated within drops of oil, which in turn are dispersed in water. The
main goal of the research was to develop a more sustainable system, since these emulsions usually depend on synthetic stabilizers. One of the main challenges was specifically to ensure the stability of these complex structures over time, using only renewable components. Conducting this research at CNPEM was essential, mainly due to the advanced characterization infrastructure and the multidisciplinary environment that allowed us to better understand the stabilization mechanisms by integrating experimental and computational approaches.”
The team’s solution combines cellulose nanofibrils (CNFs), particles derived from biomass, with oleic acid, a compound naturally present in vegetable oils. Together they act as natural stabilizers and eliminate the need for synthetic surfactants, which are often associated with environmental impacts and potential health hazards.
The study found that the emulsions remained stable for over 60 days, with oleic acid significantly reducing interfacial tension (between the two liquids that do not mix) and favoring the formation of the system. Moreover, adding nanocellulose makes it possible to control properties such as droplet size and stability.
The research included collaboration by James Moraes de Almeida, a researcher and professor at CNPEM’s Ilum School of Science, as well as molecular dynamics simulations that made it possible to rapidly analyze multiple chemical combinations in the area of interest.
“The computational simulations performed in this study made it possible to quantify the oleic acid interaction in the interface, considering protonation (when a proton is added to a molecule, changing its load and chemical reactivity), where we demonstrated that interfacial tension is lower for smaller protonations,” he explained.
By replacing synthetic emulsifiers with biodegradable and renewable materials, the technology helps reduce environmental impacts and boost product safety, in line with demands for greener manufacturing solutions.
The research involved collaborations with CNPEM, the Center for Molecular Engineering for Advanced Materials Research Center (CEPID-CeMol), the Ilum School of Science, the State University of Campinas and the Federal University of ABC. The research was funded by the São Paulo State Research Foundation (FAPESP).
About CNPEM ( https://cnpem.br/)
The Brazilian Center for Research in Energy and Materials (CNPEM) is a state-of-the-art, multi-user and multidisciplinary scientific environment with activities on different fronts within the Brazilian National System for Science, Technology and Innovation. A social organization overseen by the Ministry of Science, Technology and Innovation (MCTI) with input from the Ministries of Education and Health, CNPEM is driven by research that impacts the areas of health, energy, renewable materials, and sustainability. CNPEM is responsible for Sirius, the country’s largest scientific research infrastructure, and is currently constructing Project Orion, a laboratory complex for advanced pathogen research. Highly specialized science and engineering teams, sophisticated infrastructure open to the scientific community, strategic lines of investigation, innovative projects involving the productive sector, and training for researchers and students are the pillars of this institution that is unique in Brazil and able to serve as a bridge between knowledge and innovation. Research and development activities at CNPEM are conducted by its National Laboratories in the areas of Synchrotron Light (LNLS), Biosciences (LNBio), Nanotechnology (LNNano), and Biorenewables (LNBR), as well as the Ilum School of Science, which offers a bachelor’s degree program in science and technology.
