Preparation of a two-phase gel system based on gelatin hydrogel and beeswax/rice bran wax oleogel and eutectic phase behavior of beeswax and rice bran wax in soybean oil

In the preparation of bigels, wax is commonly used to create oleogels. However, oleogels made with wax typically have high melting points, which restrict their applicability and performance in practical applications. This study investigates the eutectic phase behavior of beeswax (BW) and rice bran wax (RBW) in bigels after ultrasonic treatment by varying their ratio. A bigel with a lower melting point was also prepared. The results indicated that eutectic phase behavior occurred between beeswax (BW) and rice bran wax (RBW) at a 6:4 ratio, reducing the gel's melting point to 53.4 °C. This was approximately 13.07 °C lower than that of wax mixtures with other ratios. X-ray diffraction (XRD) results showed that the β′-type crystal structure in the oleogels was often used in the food field. Fourier transform infrared spectroscopy (FTIR) analysis showed that the eutectic phase behavior enhanced the formation of intermolecular hydrogen bonds. Rheological analysis revealed that the bigel exhibited shear thinning behavior and gel network characteristics during the frequency sweep. Notably, the eutectic phase behavior significantly enhanced the gel strength and stability.