Determination of the Real Influence of the Addition of Four Thickening Agents in Creams Using Rheological Measurements

This study aimed to characterize different emulsions obtained by the addition of four thickening agents, using rheological measurements, beyond analyzing the emulsions by polarized light microscopy looking for liquid crystals on them. The addition of these four thickening agents did not modify the base emulsion rheology, only an improvement in the sensory of the formulation was verified. The polarized light microscopy showed the formation of liquid crystalline structures in all the formulations, thus, the thickening agents did not influence in this parameter too. However, the emulsions could be considered appropriated for cosmetic purposes, probably being highly physically stable.     

Janus Emulsion Drops: Equilibrium Calculations

Experimental results indicated the contact angles in the drops of Janus emulsions formed in a one-step mixing process to be invariant within a significant range the oil volume ratios, similar to the results from microfluidics emulsification. Since this result points to a connection between the kinetically formed emulsions and the local equilibrium topology of emulsion drops, the effect of interfacial tensions on the morphology of Janus emulsions was estimated from the equilibrium interfacial tensions at the line of contact. Realistic values of the tensions revealed the limited range of these to obtain Janus drops and also offered correlation between the equilibrium entities and the curvature of the interface between the two oils.     

Solid Particle Distribution in Centrifugal Impeller Contactors

The recently developed centrifugal impeller is examined to investigate the solid–liquid mixing in a mechanically agitated contactor. Using the sample withdrawal method, the effects of impeller geometrical parameters, impeller rotational speed (200–700 rpm), solid particle size (500–1100 µm), and solid loading (2–10 vol%) on the degree of homogeneity are studied. The axial and the radial solid concentration profiles and the minimum impeller speed for the complete homogenization are also determined. In comparison with a widely used propeller impeller, considerably higher homogeneity values in lower impeller speeds are obtained (90% homogeneity against 16% homogeneity at 200 rpm at the same conditions). Having also lower power consumption makes this a superior impeller in solid–liquid mixing processes especially in shear-sensitive systems.      

Experimental Design Approach to Investigate the Effects of Operating Factors on the Surface Tension,Viscosity, and Stability of Heavy Crude Oil-in-Water Emulsions

In this article, the effects of various operating factors on the surface tension, viscosity, and stability of two heavy oil types in water emulsions for pipeline transportation are studied using the Taguchi experimental design approach. The surface tension of heavy crude oil-in-water emulsion is decreased by increasing the emulsifier concentration while the stability of emulsions is increased. The viscosity and stability are increased by an increase in oil content. An increase in the salinity and mixing speed leads to an increase in the stability of emulsion.     

Removal of Mercury by Emulsion Liquid Membranes: Studies on Emulsion Stability and Scale Up

Emulsion liquid membranes (ELM) have received significant attention in the separation of various metal ions from industrial wastewater. Still efforts are needed to get the desired level of stability to overcome the hindrance in the application of ELM at industrial scale. In this paper, the effects of various parameters such as emulsification speed, concentration of cosurfactant, surfactant, carrier and impeller speed during extraction on the stability of an emulsion liquid membrane are studied. Dispersion destabilization of w/o emulsion is checked by Turbiscan. Drop size distribution and photomicrographs of the emulsions are also analyzed to evaluate stability of the emulsion. Instability of emulsion liquid membrane during extraction process is measured in terms of membrane breakage. A stable emulsion is used for the extraction of mercury from aqueous solution in small scale as well as in large scale.     

Factors in the Single-Step Bulk Process Preparation of a Triple Janus Emulsion

Some factors in the preparation of triple Janus emulsions in a single-step bulk process were investigated using optical microscopy. The emulsions consisted of water, O.097 weight fraction, a commercial surfactant, Tween 80, 0.03 weight fraction, a vegetable oil (VO), 0.18 weight fraction, and a silicone oil (SO), 0.72 weight fraction. A surprising connection was found between the state of the compounds prior to mixing and the final morphology as well as stability of the emulsion. Separately adding the compounds or with the surfactant dissolved in the vegetable oil, prior to mixing, did not result in a Janus emulsion. Instead, simpler emulsions with limited stability were attained even with prolonged mixing. Storing the compounds together without mixing for two days followed by mixing resulted in a Janus emulsion in which the (VO + SO)/W/VO drops were more sparsely populated with Janus drops, and emulsion stability was limited. Finally, preparing the emulsion from the aqueous surfactant solution and the two oils gave a (VO + SO)/W/VO/SO emulsion with the W drops heavily populated by Janus drops and with improved stability.      

Minimum Evaporation Model of Dermatological Delivery Systems. Lamellar Liquid Crystal Formulations Containing Brazilian Nut (Bertholletia excelsa HBK) Vegetable Oil and Guarana Glycolic Extract

Formulations with lyotropic liquid crystals were prepared from a Brazilian nut vegetable oil, guarana extract and combination of sorbitan monooleate (Span 80) and sorbitan monolaurate ethoxylate EO 20 (Tween 20) in the ratio 1:3 (surfactant component) and their physical–chemical aspects and rheological properties were determined. Compositions with liquid crystals were found in the pseudoternary diagram in a surfactant range of 70–90% and polarized light microscopy, small-angle x-ray scattering (SAXS) showed them to be lamellar. The preparations were furthermore characterized rheologically by shear stress shear rate sweeps finding plastic and pseudoplastic behavior without thixotropy. Electric conductivity and pH measurements demonstrated a potential for future application as dermatological delivery system of the active compounds in the Bertholletia excelsa and Paullinia cupana.      

Electrochemical Studies on De-Emulsification: Effect of a Biosurfactant Produced by Bacillus subtilis MO-1

Model emulsions were de-emulsified using a biosurfactant produced by Bacillus subtilis MO-1 mixed with chemical de-emulsifiers. The speed and efficiency of de-emulsification by polyether type de-emulsifier (G-17) were enhanced by combined use of a biosurfactant produced by B. subtilis MO-1 (BS); this effect was more apparent at low concentrations. Polyether/biosurfactant synergy was confirmed by electrochemical measurement of the interfacial film electrical resistance (R _m ) and capacitance (C _m ) during de-emulsification. These values were closely related to the rate of water removal, demonstrating that electrical techniques are suitable for studying de-emulsification phenomena.     

A DOE Approach to Investigate the Influence of Process-Parameters and Composition on the Stability of Emulsions Stabilized by Marine Polysaccharides Prepared by High-Pressure Homogenization

The influence of pre-homogenization conditions (speed and duration at a rotor–stator system), homogenization pressure, and quantitative composition of the emulsions on the droplet size and stability of the resulting emulsions is investigated using design of experiments. A mix of marine polysaccharides (e.g., alginate and fucoidane) from Ascophyllum nodosum is used as emulsifier to form O/W-emulsions with medium-chained triglycerides. It was found that the amount of emulsifier is the most relevant parameter for emulsions' stability whereas the influence of the homogenization pressure is more distinct at low polysaccharide contents. In contrast, the parameters of pre-homogenization do not influence the droplet size significantly.      

Effect of Water Fraction on Rheological Properties of Waxy Crude Oil Emulsions

This article discusses the effect of water fraction on the rheological properties of waxy crude oil emulsions including gel point, yield stress, viscosity, and thixotropy. The experimental results reveal that the rheological behaviors of the w/o emulsion samples all intensify with the increase of water volume fraction within 60%. Of more significance is that a correlation for w/o emulsions between yield stress and water volume fraction is put forward with an average relative error of 6.75%. In addition, some mainstream viscosity prediction models of w/o emulsions are evaluated, and Elgibaly model is the best-fit for the emulsions in this study.     

Optimization of Process Parameters of Osthole-Loaded PLGA Microparticles Prepared Using Emulsification–Solvent Extraction

Osthole-loaded poly(d,l-lactic-co-glycolic) acid (PLGA) microparticles were prepared by oil-in-water (o/w) emulsification. The organic phase in emulsions was extracted by conventional evaporation and supercritical fluid extraction of emulsions. A Box–Behnken experimental design was used to evaluate the effects and to optimize the variables. Results indicated that the effects from two variables, that is, the emulsification stirring speed and the ratio of osthole to PLGA, had statistically significant on the encapsulation efficiency, while another variable, that is, the volume ratio of o/w, has no independent impact on the encapsulation. The interactions exist between the ratio of osthole to PLGA and the stirring speed, and between the volume ratio of o/w and the stirring speed. A second-order polynomial model was well adjusted to predict response variables, and 90.9% encapsulation efficiency could be realized at optimized conditions. The encapsulation efficiency of microparticles obtained with conventional evaporation was higher than that with supercritical fluid extraction of emulsions. The release curve of osthole from the microparticles could be nicely fitted by the Weibull equation and the release follows Fickian diffusion.     

Stability of W/O Emulsions Encapsulating Polysaccharides

In the frame of formulation of W/O emulsions entrapping polysaccharides devoted to agricultural applications, the aim of this work was to study the stability over time of these emulsions, stabilized with either soybean lecithin or polyglycerol polyricinoleate (PGPR) as emulsifiers. Emulsifiers were dissolved in oil phase, and polysaccharides (carboxymethycellulose (CMC), guar, xanthan) in ultrapure water. Emulsions stability was studied through natural aging tests and accelerated aging tests, using bottle tests, microscopy and calorimetry. Experiments showed that PGPR was more efficient than lecithin to stabilize emulsions containing the polysaccharides studied, and that emulsions prepared with CMC showed the best stability.     

Natural Brazilian Raw Material to Develop O/W Emulsions Containing Lamellar Gel Phase (Development and Analysis of Emulsion with Vegetable Oils)

Oil-in-water emulsions were developed employing the HLB system and emulsion phase inversion (EPI) method. X-ray diffraction revealed that the anisotropic structures around the inner phase globules were lamellar gel network phases. The calculated distances between the lamellae made after preparation and 3 month latter showed that there was no swelling of the lamellar gel network indicating good stability and few changes during storage. The developed emulsions were stable and have potential to be employed for cosmetic and pharmaceutical purposes. The gel phase network and vegetal components seemed to be contributing factors.      

Application of a Laser Diffraction Method for Determination of Stability of Dispersion Systems in Food and Chemical Industry

Laser diffraction was used for determination of particle size of various emulsions. Mean particle size, fractions' number, and dispersion coefficients of tested systems are presented. Stability of greasing emulsions in relation to their pH was also tested. It was found out that determination of droplet size distribution in fat emulsions allows prediction of their properties (stability). The parameter may be helpful in selection of appropriate production process parameters, composition, and control of marketed emulsion systems during their storage. The purpose of the study was to determine applicability of a laser diffraction method for evaluation of stability of selected dispersion systems in food and chemical industry.     

Semi-Solid o/w Emulsions Based on Sucrose Stearates: Influence of Oil and Surfactant Type on Morphology and Rheological Properties

Sucrose stearate blends of intermediate lipophilicity are mild surfactants with thermosensitive gelling behavior. Binary systems and emulsions with sucrose stearate S-970 or S-1170 were developed and investigated by thermoanalytical and rheological measurements. The presence of an oil phase promoted the gelling potential of the esters especially at higher production temperatures. Semi-solid emulsions with viscoelastic properties comparable to weak gels were obtained with different dermatologically acceptable oils. The complex internal structure as visualized by fluorescence microscopy exhibited changes during storage in dependence of oil and surfactant type. A combination of S-970 with cetearyl ethylhexanoate-based oil phases led to superior physical stability.     

Multi-Walled Carbon Nanotubes as a Cosurfactant for Highly Concentrated Emulsions

The role of multi-wall carbon nanotubes (MWCNT) as a solid surfactant in highly concentrated water-in-oil emulsions was investigated. MWCNT were dispersed in the oil phase. These suspensions are viscoplastic fluids with the yield stress increasing by more than 1000 times with addition of 2% MWCNT, which demonstrates intensive “structurizing” ability. After emulsion preparation, MWCNT were concentrated at the interface, stabilizing emulsions. The dependence of the inversion point on MWCNT concentration was found. Emulsions containing up to 94 wt% of the aqueous phase can be prepared only when MWCNT is combined with conventional surfactant. Rheological properties of such compositions were measured. It was established that emulsions stabilized by a combined surfactant were more stable in comparison to conventional surfactant stabilized emulsion.     

Oil and Water Separation Using a Glass Microfiber Coalescing Bed

A vertical sleeve separator using glass microfiber with a mean diameter of 4 µm as coalescence medium was explored to remove oil from the oil-in-water (O/W) emulsions. The artificial emulsions were prepared by mixing diesel oil and water to obtain oil droplets with a mean diameter about 7 µm. A series of experiments were performed to investigate the effect of such parameters as bed porosity (0.850–0.925), bed height (2.0–20.0 mm), flow velocity (1.0–20.0 mL/s), and influent oil concentration (200.0–3000.0 mg/L) on the effluent oil concentration and oil removal efficiency. The obtained effluent oil concentration was from 4.98 to 53.04 mg/L, and the oil removal efficiency was 96.4–99.8%. In addition, the article identifies the interaction between bed porosity and height, explains the mutual influences between the emulsion velocity and concentration, and quantitatively derives the appropriate ranges of bed characteristics and operating conditions.