Some physicochemical technics which have been developed in the decade of 1980s for preparing fine oil-in-water (O/W) emulsions are summarized in this article. The characteristics of emulsions prepared by HLB temperature methods microemulsion method, phase inversion method, D phase method and liauid crystalline method are reviewed. The emulsification mechanism of these emulsifing technics is also described. Suitable nonionic surfactants for preparing fine emulsions are also discussed.
