Biodegradable Pickering Emulsions Stabilized by Cellulose Nanocrystals Derived from Pongamia pinnata Fruit Peel Waste
DOI:
https://doi.org/10.55981/jsmi.2026.16759Keywords:
Cellulose Nanocrystals (CNC), Pongamia pinnata, Pickering emulsion, agricultural waste, biodegradable stabilizersAbstract
Agricultural residues can be used as alternative sources of cellulose for the preparation of functional nanomaterials. In this study, Pongamia pinnata fruit peel was investigated as a cellulose source for the production of cellulose nanocrystals (CNCs) and their application in oil-in-water (O/W) Pickering emulsions. The fruit peel was subjected to alkaline treatment, two-step bleaching, and sulfuric acid hydrolysis. The sequential treatment yielded 63% purified cellulose. Fourier transform infra-red (FTIR) analysis showed the removal of bands associated with non-cellulosic components, while X-ray diffraction (XRD) analysis indicated a cellulose I structure and an increase in crystallinity index from approximately 63% for purified cellulose to 77% for the CNCs. Thermogravimetric analysis-derivative thermogravimetry (TGA/DTG) analysis showed changes in the thermal decomposition behavior after acid hydrolysis. Transmission electron microscopy (TEM) analysis revealed rod-like CNCs with lengths of approximately 200–400 nm, with mean diameters of 9.8 ± 7.6 nm for the hydrogen peroxide–citric acid (HPCA)-derived CNCs and 10.9 ± 6.7 nm for the alkaline hydrogen peroxide–peracetic (AHP–PAA)-derived CNCs. The CNCs were modified with cetyltrimethylammonium bromide (CTAB) and evaluated at concentrations of 0.4%, 0.5%, and 0.6% (w/v) in O/W Pickering emulsions. Among the tested formulations, the 0.6% CNC–CTAB emulsion showed the lowest visible phase separation during seven days of storage. These results indicate that P. pinnata fruit peel can be used as a cellulose feedstock for CNC production and that CTAB-modified CNCs can contribute to Pickering emulsion stabilization.
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