Oleogel production from canola oil with mixture of ethylcellulose and polyglycerol polyricinoleate

Oleogelation (organogelation) is a novel method to structure edible oils. In the last decade, much research has been done in this case. Oleogelation provides the possibility to remove trans fatty acids and reducesaturated fatty acids in structured oil. The aim of this study was to investigate the production of oleogels from canola oil using ethylcellulose and polyglycerol polyricinoleate as oleogelator and surfactant,respectively. For this purpose, six different formulas of oleogels were prepared. The oleogels were made with 80 to 90% w/w oil, 7.5 to 20% w/w ethylcellulose and 0 to 5 % w/w PGPR. Atomic force microscopy was utilized to image the microstructure of oleogels.Images showed an increase in diameter of ethylcellulose strands by increasing ethylcellulose concentration. Decreases in diameter of ethylcellulose strands were observed upon PGPR addition.Fatty acid profile of the canola oil and itsoleogels was analyzed by gas chromatography. Prepared oleogels were stored at two different conditions (ambient temperature and refrigerator), for 60 days. Peroxide and thiobarbitoric acid values of oleogels were determined after production and once every 30 days. Results showed no significant differences between fatty acid profile of canola oil and its oleogels. Oxidative stability of oleogels was improved by increasing ethylcellulose concentration. The oleogels stored at refrigerator had better shelf life than others at ambient temperature. Generally, by increasing ethylcellulose concentration from 10 to 20%, and adding PGPR, increase in gel strength and uniformity was observed which allows to use oleogels in texturized fats and margarine formulation.