A multi-scale approach to arabinoxylan-based emulsions: From molecular features, interfacial properties to emulsion behaviors

Arabinoxylan (AX) is well-known for its emulsification and beneficial biological activity, but the roles of AX's molecular features and interfacial properties in AX-based emulsion behaviors were unknown. We first used a multi-scale approach to correlate molecular, interfacial, droplet characteristics, and bulk emulsion of AXs from corn and wheat bran (CAXs and WAXs). Our results showed that among CAXs and WAXs solution (1 %, 2 % and 3 %, w/v), 0.25 M NaOH-treated CAX and WAX showed smaller particle sizes (493 nm and 8621 nm), lower interfacial tension and stronger interfacial layer, whose emulsion exhibited smaller initial droplets (541 nm and 660 nm) and better stability. Moreover, WAXs had bigger particle sizes, lower interfacial tension and stronger interfacial layer than CAXs, but CAXs exhibited better emulsifying and emulsion-stabilizing properties than WAXs. There is a satisfactory correlation among CAXs' or WAXs' molecular features, interfacial properties and emulsion behaviors. However, a good correlation from different grains AXs cannot be established.