Oxidative stability of water/oil mixtures as influenced by the addition of free Cu2+ or Cu-alginate gel beads

► Copper binds to alginate and forms Cu-alginate complexes; copper binding capacity of alginate increases with copper concentration. ► Low copper concentrations (<10 mM) will not form alginate beads with sufficient strength to withstand mechanical forces during mixing.► Encapsulation of copper in alginate beads: effective in controlling the lipid oxidation of water/corn oil mixtures. ► Encapsulation of copper in alginate beads: less effective in controlling the lipid oxidation of water/sunflower oil mixtures.