The ULTRA-OLEO project developed an effective technology for mechanical-structural manipulation of oleogels in volumes up to 100 mL, paving way for ultrasonic standing wave treatments of large-scale lipid-based materials. The first part of the project designed and developed three different experimental chambers. Through computer simulations and experimental work, the final chamber design that allowed extraction of sonicated samples with little to no damage was developed. The internal structure of the treated oleogel was imaged and the formation of band-like structures was used as feedback for successful development of chambers. Following, the effect of process parameters on oleogel formation was examined by analyzing the mechanical properties of treated oleogels through uniaxial-compression, oscillatory rheological measurements, and acoustic microscopy. The results revealed that treated oleogels present different mechanical properties compared to untreated samples, and ultrasound treatment led to the formation of locally responsive mechanical structures. Mechanical changes can be linked to the ability of oleogel to retain their large oil fraction, which in turn indicates the stability of oleogels after treatment. To understand the stability of oleogels after ultrasonic treatment, an automated method to determine oil release based on automated image analysis was developed in-house. This analysis demonstrated that the oil release of treated oleogels depends significantly on the process parameters and under certain processes conditions it can be reduced, leading to more stable oleogels. Finally, to elucidate the micro- and nanostructure of oleogels after ultrasonic standing wave treatment, microfocused X-ray beam scanning was performed at the Diamond synchrotron facility (UK). The analysis seemed to indicate that lipid crystals in oleogels after treatment have a modified orientation compared to the untreated samples and the effect appears to be dependent on the concentration of the gelator used.
The results obtained during the ULTRA-OLEO project were disseminated in two conferences (Edible Soft Matter, The Netherlands; Nordic LipidForum, online, invited talk), during an invited lecture (LipidForum Academy, Norway), and were pitched during YScience 2021 and Slush (big international startup conference in Helsinki, Finland). Both events gather scientists and investors from all over the world, giving a global exposure to the project and results obtained. After the project was concluded, the results were further disseminated at two conferences (International Ultrasonics Symposium, Italy; Food Structure and Functionality Symposium, Ireland). At the Food Structure and Functionality Symposium, the results obtained in the ULTRA-OLEO project together with results of other projects, allowed me to obtain the 2022 Young Scientist Award (sponsored by Elsevier). Currently, I am exploiting the potential commercialization of the technology obtained in the ULTRA-OLEO project as a part of a research-to-business project that I am leading.
