Zeta potentials of gum arabic stabilised oil in water emulsions

Abstract

The electrostatic contribution to the mechanism by which gum arabic stabilises oil in water has been investigated using laser Doppler electrophoresis. Electrophoretic mobilities of D-limonene emulsion droplets measured in 10-3, 10-2 and 10-1 M NaCl over a pH range from 1 to 10, and 10-3-10-1 M CaCl2 in doubly distilled water, yielded relatively low potentials (less than 28 mV in magnitude). The interpreted zeta potentials are less than those required for electrostatic stabilisation alone. This data supports the postulated steric stabilisation mechanism with a finite electrostatic contribution. A model which suggests the arabino galacto proteins are adsorbed - via the proteins - to the interf..