Effect of esterified oligosaccharides on the formation and stability of oil-in-water emulsions

• Esterified oligosaccharides (EO) are capable of producing emulsions.
• EO formed polydisperse O/W emulsions with particle sizes between 12 and 70 μm.
• Emulsion droplet size and rate of coalescence decreased as EO concentration increased.
• Creaming index also decreased and creaming was not observed at high concentrations.

Hydrophobically modified oligosaccharides were prepared by an enzyme-catalyzed reaction of maltodextrin/xylo-oligosaccharide and palmitic acid. Maltodextrin with dextrose equivalent (DE) of 16 palmitate (DE16_P) and 9 palmitate (DE9_P), as well as xylo-oligosaccharide palmitate (Xylo_P), were used. The effect of the concentration (10–50% (w/w)) and type of esterified oligosaccharides on the Sauter mean diameter and droplet-size distribution, the rate of coalescence (Kc), and the creaming properties of O/W emulsions were investigated. Esterified oligosaccharides (EO) adsorbed to the surface of the oil droplets. EO formed polydisperse O/W emulsions with particle sizes between 12 and 70 μm, depended on concentration of EO. The Sauter mean diameter, Kc, and the creaming index decreased markedly, with increasing concentration of EO. The type of ester minimally affected the Sauter mean diameter at each ester concentration. DE9_P inhibited coalescence and creaming more efficiently than other EO, mainly due to the higher viscosity of the continuous phase.