Pomelo (Citrus grandis L.) peels as effective sorbents for diverse gel matrices: The influence of particle size and powder concentration
Haoxin Wang, Peng Wang, Stefan Kasapis, Tuyen Truong
Abstract
This study demonstrated a robust methodology to upcycle plant waste into diverse gels as promising fat replacers. Pomelo peel (Citrus grandis L.; PP) was valorised to create gel-like sorbents resembling hydrogels and oleogels. PP were dried and ground into 125, 250, and 500 μm particles. The PP powder (10–40% w/w) was mixed with oil or distilled water for 2 min without heating. Self-sustaining gels were formed from 125 to 250 μm particles. Analyses revealed that the driving forces behind the gelling rely on the substantial fibre component within PP powder and the interactions between powder particles and solvent droplets. Larger particles exhibited higher antioxidant properties and formed gels through particle interaction, resulting in hard yet brittle sorbents with minimal oil/water loss. In contrast, smaller particles formed uniform gels due to solvent interaction but with higher water/oil loss. Increasing the powder concentration led to stiffer gels due to the filling effect.