Process Of Emulsification. An emulsifier is an additive which helps two liquids mix. For example, equal amounts of water and oil when poured in a glass tend to separate after some time, but adding an emulsifier will help these liquids mix. This process of mixing two immiscible phases like oil and water using an additive to form one phase after mixing is called emulsification. Two liquids can form different types of emulsions. For example, oil and water can form, first, an oil-in-water emulsion, in which the oil is the dispersed phase, and water is the continuous phase. Secondly, when water is the dispersed phase and oil is the continuous phase they can form a water-in-oil emulsion.Basically an emulsifier consists of two parts one is a hydrophilic head (simply called water-loving) and the other a hydrophobic (or oil-loving) tail. The hydrophilic head being water loving associates with the aqueous phase. While the hydrophobic tail being water repellent associates more towards the oil phase (see figure 2). Accordingly, the emulsifier envelopes the water or oil molecules and improves the solubility of each other giving stable emulsions. Stable emulsions need the use of functional emulsifiers, to stabilize the suspension of small droplets (of either water or oil depending on the type of emulsion desired) and prevent them from coalescing to larger droplets. The reduction of interfacial area is the driving force for coalescence, which can reduce the thermodynamic energy level of the entire system. Therefore, emulsifiers create a physical barrier to prevent these small droplets from coming together. The emulsifier positions itself at the interfaces of oil/water or air/water depending on its structure. Then the reduction of the surface tension, has a stabilising effect on the emulsion.
4/17/2023The natural source and biodegradable nature of lauryl alcohol ethoxylates prompts their use in shampoo and liquid detergent formulations for personal care segments. Several lauryl alcohol ethoxylate find use in personal care and cosmetics as emulsifiers in creams, cleansing agents in shampoos and liquid detergents, solubilizers for fragrances. lauryl alcohol ethoxylate function as a foaming agent in personal care products such as shampoos and bath gels as it reduces the surface tension in liquid. The effective wetting property of lauryl alcohol ethoxylates finds use in household cleaning products including detergents, laundry pre-spotters and hard surface cleaners. While in industrial settings like textile and leather processing the wetting property effectively helps, reduce surface tension.
9/14/2022Glycerol monostearate or monostearin, is a monoglyceride commonly used as an emulsifier in foods. Chemically it is the monoglycerol ester of stearic acid. Glyceryl stearate is a food additive used as a thickening, emulsifying, anticaking, and preservative agent, an emulsifying agent for oils, waxes, and solvents a protective coating for hygroscopic powders, a solidifier and control release agent in pharmaceuticals, and a resin lubricant. Glyceryl stearate is also used in cosmetics and hair-care products. It is generally a white, odorless, and sweet-tasting flaky powder that is hygroscopic.
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