Development of aqueous nanocellulose and pectin foams with high kinetic stability

• Grant number: 24/17802-7
• Support Opportunities: Scholarships in Brazil - Scientific Initiation
• Start date: March 01, 2025
• End date: February 28, 2026
• Field of knowledge: Engineering - Materials and Metallurgical Engineering - Nonmetallic Materials
• Principal Investigator: Elisa Silva Ferreira
• Grantee: Giovani Garcia de Souza
• Host Institution: Centro Nacional de Pesquisa em Energia e Materiais (CNPEM). Ministério da Ciência, Tecnologia e Inovação (Brasil). Campinas , SP, Brazil

Abstract

Aqueous foams are highly unstable colloidal dispersions due to the high energy of the liquid-gas interface. Even with the instability, it is possible to reach greater durability by adsorbing amphiphilic colloids at the interface, reinforcing it with a membrane, which is especially resistant when formed with colloidal particles (Pickering foams). Polymeric particles and polymers in solution, such as nanocelluloses and pectins, are excellent candidates for the kinetic stabilization of foams, due to their affinity to the interface, as well as being of plant-based and biodegradable. In this project, highly stable aqueous foams will be developed using two types of nanocelluloses (nanocrystals and nanofibrils) and pectins (low and high degree of methoxylation). Aqueous dispersions of nanocellulose, pectin and surfactants will be prepared at different concentrations and characterized by viscosimetry and transmittance measurements. The foams will be prepared from the dispersions by mechanical agitation and their properties will be evaluated by aging tests, half-life measurements, foamability and bubble size distribution. Thus, this project will contribute to the development of more durable aqueous foams using renewable materials for food and cosmetics applications.