Rheological behaviors of Pickering emulsions stabilized by TEMPO-oxidized bacterial cellulose

The present study assesses the rheological behaviors of TEMPO-oxidized bacterial cellulose (TOBCs) with diverse oxidation degrees to explore the potential relationship between the rheology and stability of the emulsions. The TOBCs with different oxidation degrees were prepared at the NaClO dosages of 2, 6, and 10 mmol/g, designated 2-TOBC, 6-TOBC, and 10-TOBC, respectively. The small amplitude dynamic rheology and diffusing wave spectroscopy results showed that 2-TOBC emulsion had higher storage modulus G' and loss modulus G'' with lower tan δ than 6-TOBC emulsion and possessed the lowest solid-liquid balance among all of the TOBC Pickering emulsions, indicating the highest emulsion stability of 2-TOBC emulsion. Positive correlations existed between the viscoelasticity and stability of the TOBCs Pickering emulsions, with the coefficients of correlation over than 0.6. These results should improve understanding of the relationships between emulsions' stability and rheological characteristics, and lead to a potential application of TEMPO-oxidized bacterial cellulose as an emulsion stabilizer.