Preparation of O/W Emulsions with Poly(oxyethylene) Hydrogenated Castor Oil by using SPG Membrane Emulsification Method

Abstract

The preparation of oil-in-water (O/W) emulsions by the Shirasu porous glass (SPG) membrane emulsification method was investigated with poly (oxyethylene) hydrogenated castor oil (EC-n) as emulsifier and methylphenylpolysiloxane as an oil.
Very fine and monodispersed O/W emuls ions were prepared over a wide range of HLB (Hydrophilelipophilebalance) in comparison with the phase inversion method. The rate of oil phase penetration depended on HLB or the number of oxyethylene unit of EC-n. The rate of the emulsification process was delayed in the case of the surfactant concentration of 0.5 wt%. However, both the penetration of the oil phase and the emulsification process were promoted by the pretreatment of SPG membrane (dipping the membrane in surfactant solutions or circulating the solutions around membrane).
From these results, some other unidentified factors are considered to exist in the SPG membrane emulsification method.