CNPEM creates alternative with nanocellulose to replace petroleum derivatives Researchers at the National Center for Research in Energy and Materials (CNPEM), in Campinas (SP), developed a new technology to produce multiple emulsions — used in cosmetic, pharmaceutical and food products — using only components of plant origin. The study showed that it is possible to replace synthetic emulsifiers with nanocellulose and oleic acid, a compound naturally present in vegetable oils. The technique overcomes traditional challenges for these structures, such as instability and dependence on petroleum derivatives. ? But what does this mean? In practice, scientists have developed a more sustainable alternative to keep ingredients that normally do not combine together, such as water and oil. Instead of using synthetic additives, they used materials such as nanocellulose and oleic acid, present in nature. ? These mixtures, called emulsions, function as a kind of "vehicle" capable of keeping water, oil and other components integrated into products such as ointments, creams, medicines and some foods. Mayonnaise, for example, is an emulsion. ? Join the g1 Campinas channel on WhatsApp The results were published in the scientific magazine Food Hydrocolloids and present a method that forms water-oil-water emulsions in a single manufacturing step. The research involved the collaboration of scientists from CNPEM, Ilum Escola de Ciência, Unicamp, the Federal University of ABC (UFABC) and the Center for Research in Molecular Engineering for Advanced Materials (CEMol), with funding from the São Paulo State Research Support Foundation (Fapesp). In this report you will understand: What are multiple emulsions? How does the emulsion developed at CNPEM work? Where can it be applied and what are the next steps? And how to produce nanocellulose on a large scale? What are multiple emulsions? Multiple emulsions: small drops of water are trapped inside drops of oil, which in turn are dispersed in water. In the microscope image on the right, the black color represents water and the red color represents oil. CNPEM | Bárbara Camilotti/g1 So-called multiple emulsions work as encapsulation systems. In them, small drops of water are trapped inside drops of oil, which in turn are dispersed in water (image above). The difference is that they can store different substances in the same structure, which can be useful for protecting sensitive ingredients and controlling the gradual release of compounds used in cosmetics and medicines. How does the emulsion developed at CNPEM work? According to Maria Clara dos Santos Oliveira, a doctoral student at Unicamp and first author of the study, the objective was to create emulsions using only raw materials of renewable origin. She highlighted that the team managed to produce a multiple emulsion in just one step, using only "environmentally friendly" ingredients. Researcher Elisa Silva Ferreira explained that one of the main challenges was understanding what allowed the structure to form. "We imagined that nanocelluloses would stabilize oil-in-water emulsions, but there would have to be another component to stabilize the water droplets inside the oil droplet," he said. In the microscopic image it is possible to observe cellulose nanofibrils - known as nanocellulose. CNPEM | Bárbara Camilotti/g1 The solution combines cellulose nanofibrils — known as nanocellulose — with oleic acid found naturally in almond oil. The research found that each component plays a different role in the structure: While nanocellulose stabilizes the external oil droplets, oleic acid acts between water and oil inside the emulsion. Computational simulations showed that the compound reduces the tension between the liquid phases, favoring the formation and stability of the system. It was also observed that the type of nanocellulose used influences characteristics such as droplet size and structure durability. Solution combines nanocellulose, oleic acid and water to create multiple emulsions. Bárbara Camilotti/g1 According to Ferreira, the stability achieved is one of the most relevant results of the study. "The stability itself tells us how long this product will be available in that format for the consumer. It indicates how long the shelf life it can be used for," he stated. The researcher added that more stable systems may also require fewer components in the formulation. Where can it be applied and what are the next steps? The main motivation for the research, according to Oliveira, was to find alternatives to the compounds currently used by the industry. "We are looking for viable alternatives that have similar or even better performance than the surfactants that are currently used," he stated. According to the research authors, the technology can be used in controlled release systems for active ingredients, allowing greater efficiency in cosmetics and medicines. Replacing synthetic emulsifiers with biodegradable materials can also reduce environmental impacts and meet industry demand for more sustainable products. CNPEM creates alternative with nanocellulose to replace petroleum derivatives in cosmetics and medicines CNPEM Now that the formation mechanisms have been understood, researchers intend to study new applications for the system. "What we may be working on now is encapsulating both hydrophilic and lipophilic molecules within this emulsion and checking whether we can have a controlled release of these molecules or even protect these molecules within the emulsion", said Juliana da Silva Bernardes, a CNPEM researcher. And how to produce nanocellulose on a large scale? Although it was developed in another study, a second line of CNPEM research could help expand the industrial use of the technology. The researchers created a process to produce nanocellulose on a larger scale from sugar cane bagasse, a residue from agricultural production. Instead of using multiple chemical steps and high-intensity mechanical treatments, the researchers performed the oxidation directly on the biomass, reducing steps and energy consumption. The group managed to: produce cellulose nanofibrils directly from sugarcane bagasse, an abundant residue from the Brazilian agroindustry; simplify the production process; reduce the need for more energy-intensive equipment; expand the production scale by up to 500 times, moving from the laboratory to a pilot scale closer to industrial reality. According to the CNPEM, nanocellulose is considered a promising material because it is renewable, biodegradable and has applications in areas ranging from sustainable packaging to drug delivery systems. VIDEOS: Everything about Campinas and the region VIDEOS: Everything about Campinas and the region | in G1 / SP / Campinas and Region See more news about the region on the g1 Campinas page.