Oil Powders and Gels from Particle-Stabilized Emulsions

We report on the use of silica particle-stabilized oil-in-water emulsions as a template for the preparation of oil powders and gels obtained in a single step by either slow or rapid evaporation of water using freeze-drying or spray-drying, respectively. Using olive oil and partially hydrophobic fumed silica nanoparticles, an oil powder containing nearly 90 wt % oil can be formed by spray-drying, which shows no sign of oil leakage over several months. Upon slow evaporation of water by freeze-drying, a transparent oil gel with oil content as high as 98 wt % can be formed, in which the silica particles form a space-filling network thickening the oil. Comparisons are made throughout with a typical surfactant-stabilized emulsion which does not produce oil powders or gels.