Interfacial Activity and Self-Assembly Behavior of Dissolved and Granular Octenyl Succinate Anhydride Starches

The mechanisms of granular octenyl succinate anhydride (GOSA) and dissolved OSA (DOSA) starches in emulsion stabilization were investigated. In general, DOSA starch offered better emulsification activity by generating greater ζ-potential, lower particle size as well as long-term stability in comparison to GOSA starch of close degree of substitution (DS). A compact interface in DOSA starches was determined, resulting from an increased surface loading value of 2.37 mg/m2 in comparison to that of GOSA of 1.6 mg/m2. Additionally, the irreversibly adsorbed and predominantly elastic interface of both DOSA and GOSA starches indicated that the DOSA starch may be a Pickering emulsifier rather than a biopolymer surfactant. This assumption was confirmed by transmission electron microscopy. Spherical micelles with average diameters of 100 nm were observed above the critical micelle concentration of 1 mg/mL. Moreover, samples G28 (representing DS of 0.028), D28, G16, and D16 could reach equilibrium interfacial tensions of 19.4, 16.5, 20.0, and 19.3 mN/m, respectively. However, due to the misleading contact angle as a result of rough surfaces and nonignorable gravity of GOSA starch, the energy escape equation failed to be employed in this study.