Date of Defense
4-6-2025 10:00 AM
Location
F1, 2119
Document Type
Thesis Defense
Degree Name
Master of Science in Food Science
College
College of Agriculture and Veterinary Medicine
Department
Food Science
First Advisor
Dr. Akmal Nazir
Keywords
Premix emulsification, Electrospinning, Electro spun membranes, Surfactant.
Abstract
This thesis focuses on manufacturing electrospun fibrous membranes from a blend of poly (ethylene terephthalate) (PET) and poly (ethylene furanoate) (PEF) and using in premix emulsification. PEF, which is a 100% bio renewable polymer being blended with synthetic PET for membrane fabrication contributes towards sustainability in the production of food and pharmaceutical emulsions. The primary objective of this research is to optimize the fabrication conditions of PET/PEF porous membranes, characterize their properties, and evaluate their performance in emulsification. This study compares PET/PEF blend membrane with individual PET and PEF electro-spun membranes, demonstrating that the PET/PEF blend membrane exhibits superior thermal and mechanical stability. Results of emulsification demonstrated that PET/PEF blend membranes emerged as a promising alternative to pure PET membranes, combining improved performance with enhanced sustainability. Furthermore, small size emulsions prepared using the premix emulsification method using the electrospun membranes exhibited excellent stability for up to 14 days at 4°C, even with minimal surfactant concentrations (0.5% Tween 20). Furthermore, the blend membranes also demonstrated superior flux performance under increased pressure and high stability against thermal degradation across all formulations. These findings highlight the potential of PET/PEF electrospun membranes as a high-performing, sustainable solution for sub-microemulsion applications, offering both environmental and functional advantages. This development offers a viable alternative to petroleum-based membranes, such as pure PET, contributing to a more sustainable solution for emulsification processes while mitigating the environmental impact associated with petroleum-derived materials.
Included in
ELECTROSPUN MEMBRANES FROM BIO-RENEWABLE POLY (ETHYLENE FURANOATE)/POLY (ETHYLENE TERAPHTHALATE) (PEF/PET) BLEND FOR EMULSIFICATION APPLICATION
F1, 2119
This thesis focuses on manufacturing electrospun fibrous membranes from a blend of poly (ethylene terephthalate) (PET) and poly (ethylene furanoate) (PEF) and using in premix emulsification. PEF, which is a 100% bio renewable polymer being blended with synthetic PET for membrane fabrication contributes towards sustainability in the production of food and pharmaceutical emulsions. The primary objective of this research is to optimize the fabrication conditions of PET/PEF porous membranes, characterize their properties, and evaluate their performance in emulsification. This study compares PET/PEF blend membrane with individual PET and PEF electro-spun membranes, demonstrating that the PET/PEF blend membrane exhibits superior thermal and mechanical stability. Results of emulsification demonstrated that PET/PEF blend membranes emerged as a promising alternative to pure PET membranes, combining improved performance with enhanced sustainability. Furthermore, small size emulsions prepared using the premix emulsification method using the electrospun membranes exhibited excellent stability for up to 14 days at 4°C, even with minimal surfactant concentrations (0.5% Tween 20). Furthermore, the blend membranes also demonstrated superior flux performance under increased pressure and high stability against thermal degradation across all formulations. These findings highlight the potential of PET/PEF electrospun membranes as a high-performing, sustainable solution for sub-microemulsion applications, offering both environmental and functional advantages. This development offers a viable alternative to petroleum-based membranes, such as pure PET, contributing to a more sustainable solution for emulsification processes while mitigating the environmental impact associated with petroleum-derived materials.