title: Microstructure characterization of a food-grade U-type microemulsion system by differential scanning calorimetry and electrical conductivity techniques.
abstract: The microstructure transitions of a food-grade U-type microemulsion system containing glycerol monolaurate and propionic acid at a 1:1 mass ratio as oil phase and Tween 80 as surfactant were investigated along a water dilution line at a ratio of 80:20 mass% surfactant/oil phase, based on a previously studied phase diagram. From the water thermal behaviours detected by differential scanning calorimetry, three structural regions are identified along the dilution line. In the first region, all water molecules are confined to the water core of the reverse micelles, leading to the formation of w/o microemulsion. As the water content increases, the water gains mobility, transforms into bicontinuous in the second region, and finally the microemulsion become o/w in the third region. The thermal transition points coincide with the structural phase transitions by electrical conductivity measurements, indicating that the structural transitions occur at 35 and 65 mass% of water along the dilution line.
authors.affiliation: Department of Food Science and Nutrition, Zijingang Campus, Zhejiang University, Hangzhou 310058, China.
authors.forename: Hui
authors.initials: H
authors.lastname: Zhang
authors.forename: Maierhaba
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Taxipalati
authors.forename: Fei
authors.initials: F
authors.lastname: Que
authors.forename: Fengqin
authors.initials: F
authors.lastname: Feng
mesh_terms: D002152:Calorimetry, Differential Scanning / Q000379:methods; D004553:Electric Conductivity; D004655:Emulsions / Q000737:chemistry*; D005503:Food Additives / Q000737:chemistry*; D007848:Laurates / Q000737:chemistry; D050178:Monoglycerides / Q000737:chemistry; D011136:Polysorbates / Q000737:chemistry; D011422:Propionates / Q000737:chemistry; D014783:Viscosity; D014867:Water / Q000737:chemistry
chemical_list: D004655:Emulsions; D005503:Food Additives; D007848:Laurates; D050178:Monoglycerides; D011136:Polysorbates; D011422:Propionates; D014867:Water; C020777:monolaurin; C029658:propionic acid
keywords: Differential scanning calorimetry; Electrical conductivity; Microemulsion; Microstructure