Preparation and Characterization of Oleogels Based on Cellulose Modified by High-Pressure Microfluidization and Rubber Seed Oil Body

This study aimed to minimize the amount of gelator used in oleogel preparation and enhance the valorization of rubber seeds. Cellulose extracted from rubber seed shells was modified via high-pressure microfluidization (HPM), which significantly enhanced its specific surface area from 0.92 m²/g (CL) to 6.47 m²/g (MCL), along with markedly improved water-holding capacity (WHC increased from 4.92 to 29.37 g/g) and swelling capacity (SC increased from 0.65 to 3.38 mL/g). The modified cellulose (MCL) served as the gelator, while rubber seed oil bodies (OBs), isolated through sucrose-assisted extraction, functioned as the oil phase. A series of OB emulsions containing 0% to 0.75% MCL were prepared and subsequently converted into oleogels by freeze-drying and shearing. Oleogels containing ≥0.45% MCL exhibited excellent oil binding capacity (OBC > 98.6%) and strong gel strength (storage modulus G' > 10⁵ Pa). Texture profile analysis further confirmed significant improvements in the textural properties of the oleogels with increasing MCL content. These findings demonstrate that MCL, combined with rubber seed OBs, enables the development of high-performance oleogels with minimal gelator requirements. This approach not only reduces gelator usage but also provides a novel strategy for the upcycling of rubber seed shells, offering valuable insights for the design of nutrient-rich functional oleogels.