Production of oil-containing crosslinked poly(vinyl alcohol) microcapsules by phase separation: Effect of process parameters on the capsule size distribution

Abstract

Oil-containing poly(vinyl alcohol) (PVA) microcapsules in the size range of 5–20 μm were prepared by the simple coacervation of PVA followed by chemical crosslinking of the coacervated PVA membrane with glutaraldehyde. Coacervation of the aqueous polymer solution was achieved by the addition of a phase separation inducer (e.g., sodium sulfate). PVA of different grades (e.g., molecular weight and degree of hydrolysis) was utilized both as stabilizer and wall-forming material. Dispersion of the oil phase in the aqueous PVA solution was effected by a homogenizer. The effects of the various process parameters, such as the agitation speed, the type and concentration of PVA, the volume ratio of the internal oil phase to the external aqueous phase, the viscosity of the oil phase as well as the electrolyte concentration in the aqueous solution, on the stability and the size distribution of the emulsion droplets and microcapsules were experimentally investigated. It was shown that high agitation rates and low interfacial tension (e.g., high PVA concentrations) resulted in a significant reduction of the size of the emulsion droplets and microcapsules. On the other hand, as the viscosity and the amount of the dispersed oil phase increased, the capsule size increased. Finally, it was found that the concentration of the electrolyte significantly affected the stability of the (o/w) emulsion, the size and concentration of coacervated PVA colloidal aggregates, as well as the morphology of the polymer wall membrane formed by the adsorption of the polymer-rich phase to the oil/water interface. © 1996 John Wiley & Sons, Inc.