The influence of surfactant mixing ratio on nano-emulsion formation by the pit method

Abstract

The formation of O/W nano-emulsions by the PIT emulsification method in water/mixed nonionic surfactant/oil systems has been studied. The hydrophilic–lipophilic properties of the surfactant were varied by mixing polyoxyethylene 4-lauryl ether ( C ¯ 12 E ¯ 4 ) and polyoxyethylene 6-lauryl ether ( C ¯ 12 E ¯ 6 ). Emulsification was performed in samples with constant oil concentration (20 wt%) by fast cooling from the corresponding HLB temperature to 25 °C. Nano-emulsions with droplet radius 60–70 nm and 25–30 nm were obtained at total surfactant concentrations of 4 and 8 wt%, respectively. Moreover, droplet size remained practically unchanged, independent of the surfactant mixing ratio, X C 12E 6 . At 4 wt% surfactant concentration, the polydispersity and instability of nano-emulsions increased with the increase in X C 12E 6 . However, at 8 wt% surfactant concentration, nano-emulsions with low polydispersity and high stability were obtained in a wide range of surfactant mixing ratios. Phase behavior studies showed that at 4 wt% surfactant concentration, three-liquid phases (W + D + O) coexist at the starting emulsification temperature. Furthermore, the excess oil phase with respect to the microemulsion D-phase increases with the increase in X C 12E 6 , which could explain the increase in instability. At 8 wt% surfactant concentration, a microemulsion D-phase is present when emulsification starts. The low droplet size and polydispersity and higher stability of these nano-emulsions have been attributed, in addition to the increase in the surface or interfacial activity, to the spontaneous emulsification produced in the microemulsion D-phase.