Physical Stability of Oil in Water Emulsions in the Presence of Gamma Irradiated Gum Tragacanth

Gum tragacanth (GT) exuded from an Iranian Astragalus species was γ-irradiated at 0, 0.75, 1.5, 3, 5, 7, 10 kGy and used to stabilize a model oil in water emulsion system. Stability and physicochemical properties of emulsion samples were investigated with respect to the effect of irradiation treatment on functional properties of gum tragacanth. Particle size distribution, interfacial tension, zeta potential, steady shear and oscillatory rheological measurements were used to characterize and evaluate the emulsion samples and obtain more information about the possible stability mechanism. Emulsions were prepared by homogenizing 10% w/w sun flower oil with 90% w/w aqueous gum dispersions and stored quiescently at 25°C for 120 days. Results indicated that using 1.5 kGy irradiated GT was more effective in providing optimum values of apparent viscosity, number mean diameter, electrosteric repulsion and structure strength for getting maximum emulsion stability. GT significantly reduced the interfacial tension of the oil and water system, but no significant differences were observed among all irradiation treated and non-irradiated samples. This study revealed that, GT acts as a bifunctional emulsifier and irradiation treatment has a great positive influence on its ability to reduce droplets collision frequency and stabilize oil in water emulsion.