Effect of chain length distribution on the phase behavior of polyglycerol fatty acid ester in water

The effect of the chain length distribution on the phase behavior, the structure of liquid crystals, and physicochemical properties was investigated in water/ polyglycerol fatty acid ester. Polyglycerol fatty acid esters with sharply distributed polyglycerol (10G*0.7L) and with broadly distributed polyglycerol (10G0.7L) were used. Unreacted polyglycerol in both surfactants was removed. 10G*0.7L forms hexagonal liquid crystals at a higher concentration than 10G0.7L. The effective cross-sectional area of the lipophilic parts in the hexagonal phase of 10G0.7L is smaller than that of 10G*0.7L owing to the difference in the chain length distribution. Evidently, 10G0.7L molecules are tightly packed in aggregates; therefore, 10G0.7L decreased the surface tension more strongly and promoted emulsification. Received: 11 January 2000 Accepted: 8 March 2000