Phase transition pathways for the production of 100 nm oil-in-water emulsions

Abstract

Oil/water emulsions can be produced through phase inversion, by adding water to a reverse water/oil microemulsion. According to small angle neutron scattering experiments and visual observations performed during phase inversion, the stages of this process are as follows: (i) upon water addition, the microemulsion gives way to a highly swollen lamellar phase; (ii) the transient lamellar phase breaks up to yield an array of droplets; (iii) the droplets loses the correlations of the lamellar phase. This emulsion is already present less than one minute after the initial addition of water, and it reaches the final size distribution in one hour. The final population of oil droplets is homogenous with a mean diameter below 100 nm.

Recent Developments in Phase Inversion Emulsification

“…We refer our readers to recent articles for detailed information on the application of small angle neutron scattering (SANS) for detection of phase inversion. 123 shown to be dependent on system composition, concentration and nature of surfactants, water-oil ratio and effective alkane carbon number of the oil phase. One of the main applications of PIT method is in the generation of nanoemulsions that are composed of droplets that are smaller than 100 nm.…”

Edible nanoemulsions: fabrication, properties, and functional performance

“…15 Alternatively, water may be added to an organic phase containing non-polar oil, water-miscible organic solvent and surfactant. 76 The watermiscible organic solvent is typically ethanol or acetone, but it may be replaced with a water-miscible surfactant instead.…”

Application of Stable o/w Nanoemulsions with Skin Depigmenting Agent for Integration Type of Cosmetics

“…(phase-inversion composition method, PIC)이라 칭한다 [10,11,12]. 이와는 다르게 일정 조성에서는 온도의 변화 에 의해 달성될 수 있으며 이는 상전이 온도 유화법 이라 칭한다(phase inversion temperature method, PIT) [13,14] [ Fig.…”