Emulsion Phase Research Articles

Contributions of Colloidal Forces to the Heterogeneous Separation of Stable Oil-In-Water Emulsions.

We use theory to study the distribution of spherical emulsion oil droplets in water near a lipophilic surface as a guideline for designing membranes for oil/water phase separation. Heterogeneous phase separations are shown in our laboratory using hydrophilic and hydrophobic membrane designs, where the affinity of the membrane surface to one of the phases in the mixture locally increases its concentration. Considering a colloidal emulsion (nano- to microemulsions) of spherical and noncoalescing droplets, we assess the contribution of colloidal forces, i.e., van der Waals, electrical double layer, and hydrophobic interactions and the finite size of the droplets to the accumulation of spherical emulsion droplets near a surface. We use our theory to study an experiment-inspired case study and find that an isolated lipophilic membrane surface in contact with an oil-in-water emulsion supports the oil-enriched emulsion phase in a thin layer near the membrane surface, suggesting that a membrane pore size comparable to this thickness should support oil-enriched emulsion in the membrane pores and hence past the membrane.

Localizing Anaerobic Microbial Cultivation and Recovery Through Intelligent Pickering Emulsion Phase Inversion

Localizing Anaerobic Microbial Cultivation and Recovery Through Intelligent Pickering Emulsion Phase Inversion

Photo-responsive Pickering emulsions triggered by in-situ pH modulation using a photoacid generator

HypothesisPickering emulsions that respond to changes in pH by the addition of acid or alkali have been extensively studied, but the development of photo-responsive Pickering emulsions has been more challenging. This study attempts to demonstrate a novel approach to achieve photo-responsiveness in Pickering emulsions by incorporating a photoacid generator (PAG) into the oil phase. Upon UV irradiation, the PAG is expected to release protons (H+), which can then regulate the pH of the emulsion system and control its stability. ExperimentsAmphiphilic colloidal particles obtained by modifying silica particles with poly (2-(dimethylamino)ethyl methacrylate) (SiO2-PDMAEMA) are used to stabilize the Pickering emulsions. The protonation and deprotonation of the SiO2-PDMAEMA particles at different pH values allow for the tuning of emulsion stability. By introducing the PAG into the stable Pickering emulsion system and applying UV irradiation to trigger the in-situ release of H+, the pH of the emulsion is systematically decreased, and the corresponding changes in emulsion stability are investigated. FindingsThe results show that UV irradiation alone cannot induce emulsion instability. However, when PAG is added to the oil phase, the Pickering emulsions exhibit a significant decrease in pH under UV irradiation, ultimately leading to emulsion destabilization and phase separation. At a UV intensity of 20 mW/cm2 for 2 min, the H+ release from the PAG significantly lower the emulsion’s pH, causing the SiO2-PDMAEMA particles to detach from the oil–water interface and resulting in emulsion instability. Higher concentrations of SiO2-PDMAEMA particles in the emulsion require more PAG to induce instability, as confirm by confocal laser scanning microscopy (CLSM) image. This study presents a versatile approach to develop photo-responsive Pickering emulsions which can have potential applications in areas such as drug delivery, cosmetics, and responsive materials.

Deep learning assisted characterization of bubble behavior in a gas-solid fluidized bed with binary particle mixtures

Gas-solid fluidized beds are widely applied as chemical reactors, and the fluidization quality in the bed is closely related to bubble behavior. Digital image processing is a commonly used non-invasive method for bubble behavior analysis, but it is usually constrained by experimental conditions such as lighting, making identification of bubble and emulsion phases still challenging. Herein, deep learning is applied in this study to optimize traditional digital image processing techniques. By evaluating different deep learning models (FCN, DeepLab V3, U-Net), rapid and accurate identification and segmentation of bubble images can be achieved, and the U-Net model performs best, achieving an identification accuracy of 99.05 %. Further application of U-Net to analyze bubble behavior demonstrates that deep learning methods enable efficient and accurate identification of bubbles and real-time analysis of bubble behavior, highlighting the significant potential application of deep learning in the field of complex hydrodynamics in fluidized beds.

The Synergic Effect of Brine Salinity and Dispersed Clay Particles on Water-in-Heavy Oil Emulsion: Insight into Asphaltene Structure and Emulsion Stability

Summary The research on enhancing oil recovery in sandstone reservoirs through low-salinity waterflooding (LSWF) has been well-documented, while there have been few studies conducted on the impact of emulsion formation in heavy oil due to the incompatibility between the injected brine, clay particles, and heavy oil components. In this study, we explored the synergic role of asphaltene and clay in the process of LSWF by introducing an innovative and thorough experimental approach. Our findings presented new insights into how LSWF in clay-rich sandstone reservoirs can influence the behavior and properties of the water-in-heavy oil emulsions. In this regard, we contacted the heavy oil and brine (with and without clay) for 20 days at 90°C. Then, the emulsion was centrifuged to separate the oil and brine phases. The oil phase was examined by conducting the viscosity, interfacial tension (IFT), Fourier transform infrared spectroscopy (FTIR), and asphaltene onset point (AOP) precipitation experiments. Significant decreases in viscosity and asphaltene precipitation values were observed when crude oil was exposed to clay solutions, as indicated by viscosity and IP-143 results. Furthermore, the zeta potential of clay particles suspended in various brines was determined to assess the electrostatic aspects of rock-oil interactions. The analysis of the emulsion phase indicated that the emulsion stability in the presence of clay increased because of the improvement of asphaltene contribution in the interface. This trend aligns with the zeta potential measurement results. In addition, after examining the pH and conductivity of aged brine in the presence and absence of clay, it was observed that the clay caused the release of hydrogen ions in the brine and then bonded with the dissolved cations, leading to improvement in the emulsion stability. Ultimately, the asphaltene molecular structure was compared via scanning electron microscopy (SEM) and attenuated total reflection analysis before contact with the brine and after separation from the emulsion phase. The results indicated a decrease in the concentration of aliphatic groups in the molecular structure of the remaining asphaltene following the aging of the oil bulk. These new findings can potentially mitigate unwanted emulsion damage in the LSWF in heavy oil recovery.

Comparing Low-Dose Carvedilol Continuous Manufacturing by Solid and Liquid Feeding in Self-Emulsifying Delivery Systems via Hot Melt EXtrusion (SEDEX)

Background/Objectives: This study compared two pilot scale continuous manufacturing methods of solid self-emulsifying drug delivery systems (SEDDSs) via hot melt extrusion (HME). Methods: A model poorly water-soluble drug carvedilol in low dose (0.5–1.0% w/w) was processed in HME either in a conventional powder form or pre-dissolved in the liquid SEDDS. Results: HME yielded a processable final product with up to 20% w/w SEDDS. Addition of carvedilol powder resulted in a non-homogeneous drug distribution in the extrudates, whereas a homogeneous drug distribution was observed in pre-dissolved carvedilol. SEDDSs were shown to have a plasticizing effect, reducing the HME process torque up to 50%. Compatibility between excipients and carvedilol in the studied ratios after HME was confirmed via DSC and WAXS, demonstrating their amorphous form. Solid SEDDSs with Kollidon® VA64 self-emulsified in aqueous medium within 15 min with mean droplet sizes 150–200 nm and were independent of the medium temperature, whereas reconstitution of Soluplus® took over 60 min and mean droplet size increased 2-fold from 70 nm to 150 nm after temperature increased from 25 °C to 37 °C, indicating emulsion phase inversion at cloud point. Conclusions: In conclusion, using Kollidon® VA64 and pre-dissolved carvedilol in SEDDS has shown to yield a stabile HME process with a homogenous carvedilol content in the extrudate.

Facile production of water-in-oil emulsions stabilized by unmodified cellulose nanocrystals using transient double emulsions technique

For hydrophilic biomacromolecules like cellulose and cellulose nanoparticles, creating water-in-oil emulsions poses significant challenges, particularly in controlling the size distribution and the interfacial composition simultaneously. Here, we introduced a simple transient double emulsion microfluidic approach for fabricating cellulose nanocrystals (CNCs) stabilized water-in-oil emulsions. It requires no chemical modifications or extra surfactants. Moreover, it allows control over the droplet size and surface coverage by simply adjusting the flow rates and particle concentration of the middle phase of the initial double emulsion. With the increase of the outer phase flow rate from 5000 μL h−1 to 8000 μL h−1, the diameter of the droplets significantly decreased from 236.0 ± 3.0 μm to 130.2 ± 2.2 μm. Moreover, the minimum CNC concentration required for emulsion stabilization using this method was lowered to only 0.1 wt%.This work demonstrates the feasibility of combining microfluidic techniques and double emulsion methods for producing unmodified CNCs-stabilized emulsions.

High-throughput generation of monodisperse double emulsions via controllable symmetric splitting in Y-shaped microchannels

To achieve high-throughput generation of monodisperse double emulsions via controllable symmetric splitting, the splitting dynamics of double emulsions in Y-shaped microchannels are systematically investigated by the combination of experimental study and numerical simulation. Four distinct breakup flow patterns of double emulsions splitting are initially identified, namely non-breakup, once uneven breakup, twice uneven breakup and twice even breakup, and the underlying hydrodynamic mechanisms of each flow pattern are further elucidated through the flow field structures and pressure distributions. The results show that the upstream pressure created by the flow obstruction of continuous phase governs the stable and symmetric splitting of double emulsions in Y-shaped microchannels. Effects of the flowrates of continuous phase, the outer and inner diameters of double emulsions, the physical properties of all the inner, middle and outer fluids as well as the angle of Y-shaped microchannel on the flow pattern transition laws are systematically clarified, and the corresponding universal flow pattern diagrams for predicting the critical boundary for the transition of flow patterns are established. Based on controllable symmetric splitting of double emulsions, three-level splitting microfluidic networks are rationally designed to achieve high-throughput generation of monodisperse double emulsions as well as monodisperse microcapsules via template synthesis. The results in this study not only advance the deep understanding of the breakup dynamics of double emulsions in Y-shaped microchannels, but also offer valuable guidance for the rational design of microfluidic devices for mass production of monodisperse double emulsions, thus providing a significant contribution to the fields of micro-chemical engineering and droplet microfluidics.

Regulating emulsion properties through tannin acid-mediated gelatin/cellulose nanocrystal complexes: From low-oil emulsion to high internal phase emulsion gel for 3D printing

In this study, a stabilized low-oil emulsion and high internal phase emulsion gels (HIPE gels) integrated preparation method is proposed. Highly stable low-oil emulsions, prepared using tight ternary complexes formed by incorporating tannic acid (TA) into gelatin/cellulose nanocrystals (GLT/CNC) complexes mainly through strengthening hydrogen-bonding interaction. The subsequent heating-centrifugation process was used to enable the conversion of GLT/CNC/TA stabilized low-oil emulsions to stabilized HIPE gels, and systematically investigated the regulation of emulsion properties by TA concentrations. The ternary complexes formed by appropriate concentration of TA (0.6 %) can form stable low-oil emulsions with smallest average particle (36.1 ± 0.25 μm) size and best rheological properties, while the rheological properties of HIPE gels were similarly regulated by the TA concentration (0 %, 0.2 %, 0.6 %, 1.0 %, 1.2 %). Heating induced flocculation of low-oil emulsions without causing demulsification, allowed for the subsequent centrifugation to yield stable HIPE gels, significantly superior to the GLT/CNC/TA-stabilized HIPE gels prepared by conventional methods that typically exhibit thermal instability. TA effectively promoted the interfacial adsorption of GLT/CNC and tight stacking of oil droplets to build a more stable network structure in the continuous phase. HIPE gels with 0.6 % TA demonstrated excellent 3D printability with optimal dimensional resolution and surface quality, presenting a novel strategy for HIPE gel preparation and versatile emulsion applications.

Crude oil-water emulsions formed by nozzle type inflow control device

Conventional water-in-oil emulsion studies where shear energy intensity and duration are applied to achieve ‘equilibrium’ emulsion droplet properties may not represent partial emulsion conditions observed in single pass flow through Inflow Control Device (ICD) orifices. Our experiments provide data expected to improve emulsion transport models for partial emulsification processes expected in well completion and production tubulars. Development of a novel flow adaptor apparatus is described together with a laboratory homogeniser enables independent control of shear intensity and duration together with input water volume fraction. The emulsions formed are characterised with a benchtop Nuclear Magnetic Resonance spectrometer for water content and droplet size, viscosity by a rotating bob viscometer and free water/emulsion proportion by optical photography. Experimental results confirmed partial emulsification above 30% V/V, as observed in both previous ICD flow experiments and field observations. Electrical conductivity measurements of the emulsions produced indicated that partial emulsification comprising an oil external emulsion phase together with free water, rather than emulsion inversion, occurs in this system.

Exploring the hydrodynamics of dense beds of Geldart B and D gas-fluidized particles through the analysis of capacitance probe signals

The hydrodynamics of Geldart B and D solids dense fluidized beds, of spherical/irregular morphology, have been characterized using capacitance probes at ambient temperature and 500 °C. A statistical approach applied to the time series of local bed voidage reveals, at specific experimental conditions, a characteristic bimodal distribution in the emulsion phase voidage: a more expanded, high-voidage, phase can be distinguished from a low-voidage phase with values close to minimum fluidization condition. Quantitative and qualitative differences among tested materials can be associated to different particles morphology. Emulsion phase voidages for the tested samples collapse on the same characteristic value once normalized with the voidages at incipient fluidization condition. The Richardson-Zaki equation proves to effectively correlate also in the bubbling fluidization regime the voidage and gas superficial velocity in the emulsion phase. The influence of hydrodynamics of fluidized bed dense phase on mass transfer in the emulsion phase is clearly highlighted.

W/O/W Pickering emulsions stabilized by complex modified phycocyanin.

A water-in-oil-in-water (W/O/W) double emulsion can simultaneously load hydrophilic and hydrophobic substances due to its unique two-membrane, three-phase structure. However, thermodynamic instability greatly limits the application of double emulsions in food processing. Further development of Pickering emulsions based on proteins, etc., can improve the stability and loading capacity. It is of great significance to promote their practical application. Herein, we prepared ultrasound pretreatment complex glycation-modified phycocyanin (UMPC) to stabilize a W/O/W Pickering emulsion for the codelivery of vitamin B12 (VB12) and vitamin E (VE). First, an inner water phase and oil phase containing polyglycerin polyricinoleate were homogenized to prepare a W/O emulsion. Subsequently, the W/O emulsion was homogenized with an outer water phase containing UMPC to obtain a W/O/W Pickering emulsion. A gel-like inner phase emulsion with excellent storage and thermal stabilities was obtained under the condition that the W/O emulsion volume ratio was 80% and the UMPC was stabilized by 10 g kg-1. The double emulsion after loading VB12 and VE showed good encapsulation effect during the storage period, the encapsulation rate could reach more than 90%, it also showed excellent protection effect under long-time storage and UV irradiation and the retention rate increased by more than 65%. In addition, the bioavailability of VB12 and VE significantly increased during simulated gastrointestinal digestion and reached 46.02% and 52.43%, respectively. These results indicate that the UMPC-stabilized W/O/W Pickering emulsion is an effective carrier for the codelivery of hydrophilic and hydrophobic bioactive molecules and also provides a means for useful exploration of an efficient and stable emulsion system stabilized by biological macromolecules. © 2024 Society of Chemical Industry.

Chitosan/Silica Hybrid Nanogels by Inverse Nanoemulsion for Encapsulating Hydrophilic Substances

AbstractA strategy for the preparation of a hybrid chitosan/silica nanohydrogel is reported, which combines the gelation of chitosan in a nanoemulsion system with a sol–gel process to produce silica. Chitosan is used as a biopolymer matrix, while silica acts as a structuring additive. Hydrogel nanocapsules are obtained through the ionic interaction of the cationic groups of chitosan with the anionic groups of sodium triphosphate (STP), which is used as a physical cross‐linker. Two alternative preparation methods are compared in this work: in the first one, STP is added to the continuous phase of an inverse emulsion of chitosan; in the second one, the fusion of droplets of two emulsions containing separate chitosan and STP takes place. The size of the obtained nanocapsules ranges from 50 to 200 nm. The efficiency of the formed hydrogel for entrapping a hydrophilic model substance (erioglaucine disodium salt) is investigated for the two systems by studying the release in a neutral aqueous medium. The results indicate that the hydrophilic cargo is efficiently encapsulated by both preparation methods, although the droplet‐fusion method yields more stable suspensions. As a general observation, the release behavior of erioglaucine is systematically retarded when silica is present in the systems.

Fabrication, characterization, and dihydromyricetin-loaded bioavailability of Pickering emulsions stabilized by Ampelopsis grossedentata polysaccharide -fish collagen peptide composite nanoparticles

A novel strategy was devised to synthesize robust nanocarriers by conjugating fish collagen peptides (FCP) with Ampelopsis grossedentata polysaccharide (AGP), culminating in the creation of FCP-AGP nanoparticles (FCAGPs) for advanced drug delivery systems. The innovative approach entailed the systematic investigation of particle size, zeta potential, and surface hydrophobicity alterations in FCAGPs upon varying AGP concentrations. The optimized FCAGP-4 nanoparticles, boasting a precisely engineered AGP content of 2.0 % (w/v) and an average particle diameter finely tuned to 353.2 ± 10.5 nm, demonstrated outstanding characteristics in dispersibility, stability, and emulsifying capacity. Furthermore, the water contact angle of FCAGP nanoparticles notably increased from 46.3 ± 2.8° to 70.2 ± 5.6°, indicating enhanced surface hydrophobicity. The mechanism by which FCAGP nanoparticles were attached to the surface of oil droplets to stabilize the emulsions was elucidated by confocal laser scanning microscopy (CLSM) and scanning electron microscopy (SEM). Significantly, a modified sample pretreatment technique was employed to demonstrate clearly the emulsion phase interface on the SEM.Innovative FCAGP-stabilized Pickering emulsions achieved 65.39 % in DMY bioavailability, facilitating its slow-release and enhanced bioaccessibility during in vitro digestion. Pickering emulsions loaded DMY demonstrated improved stability and sustained release under simulated digestive conditions, bolstering its therapeutic efficacy. Our findings solidify the theoretical basis for green synthesis of propeptide-polysaccharide nanoparticles and introduce a novel strategy for targeted propeptide Pickering emulsions in drug delivery, highlighting the transformative potential of FCAGP nanoparticles in enhancing lipophilic drug bioavailability and pharmacological impact.

Engineering ternary systems as non-viral vehicles for transporting floxuridine oligomer

The objective of this study is to evaluate the potential applicability of a ternary drug delivery system, that incorporates chitosan (CHI) into poly(lactic-co-glycolic) acid PLGA nanoparticles (NPs) and Floxouridine (FdU) oligomers with varying lengths to be delivered in cancer cells. Two FdU oligomers containing five (FdU5) and ten (FdU10) residues were used. PLGA NPs were prepared from O/W nano-emulsion templates using the low energy emulsification phase inversion composition (PIC) method. Binary vectors comprised of FdU oligomer/CHI and ternary vectors based on FdU/CHI/PLGA NPs were prepared and fully characterized in terms of size, surface charge, and morphology. The resultant ternary vectors displayed spherical morphology and positive surface charge, with particle sizes in the nanometric range at appropriate FdU5/CHI/PLGA and FdU10/CHI/PLGA ratios. The presence of CHI and FdU10 oligomer in the ternary system significantly reduced the cellular viability leading to greater cytotoxicity values (ca. 60 %) when compared to an unbound FdU10 oligomer. The potential of nano-emulsions as a tool for preparing ternary drug delivery systems and improving the transportation of FdU oligomers into tumor cells is highlighted in this study.

Correlation of Cytotoxicity and Antimicrobial Activity of Alkandiols and Their Impact on Stability in Emulsions

Purpose: This study aimed to contribute to the development of various cosmetic formulations by adding alkanediols of ethyl hexanediol, methylpropanediol, 2-butyl-2-ethyl-1,3-propanediol, and ethylhexylglycerin (mainly 1,2-octanediol and 1,2-hexanediol) to emulsion formulations to determine their emulsion phase stability as well as their preservation against microbial contamination.Methods: The alkanediols were added to the emulsions to assess their preservation effects and phase stability under various storage temperatures for 3 months. In addition, their fibroblast cytotoxicity and anti-bacterial activity against microorganisms were compared.Results: A greater preservation effect was observed with longer linear alkanediol alkyl carbon chain lengths. However, higher formulation content revealed instability in phase stability. Furthermore, evaluation of fibroblast cytotoxicity showed that the relationship between cell membrane disruption and antimicrobial activity was affected.Conclusion: Utilizing the correlation between cytotoxicity and antimicrobial activity because of the carbon number and diol chemical structure, these results are expected to contribute to the development of improved preservative boosters that provide synergistic effects in terms of antimicrobial activity against microbial contamination, human safety, and the phase stability of formulations in the future.

Construction of Pickering emulsion and its application in enzymatic synthesis of phytosteryl oleate

In this study, Janus nanoparticles were prepared and used to construct Pickering emulsion as an emulsifier in presence of lipase. The results showed that Janus nanoparticles could be used to stable water phase in emulsion and the average particle size of emulsion was 60 μm. Phytosterol ester was successfully synthesized in Pickering emulsion catalytic system by using oleic acid as acyl accepter, and the phytosterol conversion reached 91.65 ± 2.07% under the following conditions: emulsifier amount of 1.0 wt%, oil-water ratio of 6:1, phytosterol concentration of 110 mmol/L, lipase dosage of 20 g/L, reaction temperature of 45 °C. Compared with biphasic catalytic system, Pickering emulsion catalytic system could enhance the catalytic efficiency and shorten the reaction time due to large interface area and short molecule diffusion distance. At the end of reaction, Janus nanoparticles could be recovered by simple centrifugation, the relative activity of lipase remained 72.89 ± 1.83% after repeated use for 6 times. Overall, this paper provides a novel and high efficiency interfacial biocatalysis technique for the synthesis of phytosteryl oleate.

New molecular and macroscopic understandings of novel green chemicals based on Xanthan Gum and bio-surfactants for enhanced oil recovery

This research investigates the interactions between a novel environmentally friendly chemical fluid consisting of Xanthan gum and bio-based surfactants, and crude oil. The surfactants, derived from various leaves using the spray drying technique, were characterized using Fourier-transform infrared (FTIR) spectroscopy, zeta potential analysis, Dynamic light scattering, and evaluation of critical micelle concentration. Static emulsion tests were conducted to explore the emulsification between crude oil and the polymer-surfactant solution. Analysis of the bulk oil FTIR spectra revealed that saturated hydrocarbons and light aromatic hydrocarbons exhibited a higher tendency to adsorb onto the emulsion phase. Furthermore, the increased presence of polar hydrocarbons in emulsion phases generated by polar surfactants confirmed the activation of electrostatic forces in fluid–fluid interactions. Nuclear magnetic resonance spectroscopy showed that the xanthan solution without surfactants had a greater potential to adsorb asphaltenes with highly fused aromatic rings, while the presence of bio-based surfactants reduced the solution's ability to adsorb asphaltenes with larger cores. Microfluidic tests demonstrated that incorporating surfactants derived from Morus nigra and Aloevera leaves into the xanthan solution enhanced oil recovery. While injection of the xanthan solution resulted in a 49.8% recovery rate, the addition of Morus nigra and Aloevera leaf-derived surfactants to the xanthan solution increased oil recovery to 58.1% and 55.8%, respectively.

Cell membrane-inspired regulation of reactant diffusion for active agent microencapsulation via interface engineering

Microencapsulation of hydrophilic amines in nonaqueous emulsions provides opportunities for a variety of applications, such as CO2 absorbents, and adhesives, but also presents challenges due to the intense reactant diffusion and disruptive interfacial reaction kinetics. Drawing inspiration from cellular systems, where cell membranes effectively regulate mass transfer for essential activities, we propose an interface engineering approach to manage interfacial reactant diffusion. This strategy obviates the modification of emulsion phases with additives in literature, which lowered effective core content. To achieve this, a solvent-induced polymer self-assembling method is adopted. The self-assembled polymer effectively formed a stabilizing viscoelastic film, which kinetically traps the microdroplets, serves as a viscous barrier lowering intense amine diffusion and interfacial polymerization kinetics, and provides protection for the microdroplets against the destructive forces from reaction turbulence and emulsion collision. This approach possesses high tolerance against microencapsulation conditions and is technically friendly, laying the groundwork for scalable microencapsulation of amines to meet industrial demands. We successfully synthesized Tetraethylenepentamine (TEPA)-loaded microcapsules with adjustable shell tightness, hierarchical shell structures, high shell strength and high core content. The method's versatility is further evidenced with different species containing reactive hydrogens. The demonstrated potential of TEPA-loaded microcapsules in effective CO2 capture and instant adhesives provides a fresh perspective on the microencapsulation of distinct polar payloads through interface engineering and its wide-ranging applications.

Physicochemical Properties and Functionalities of Food Emulsifiers

Purpose: This study sought to analyze the physiochemical properties and functionalities of food emulsifiers. Methodology: The study adopted a desktop research methodology. Desk research refers to secondary data or that which can be collected without fieldwork. Desk research is basically involved in collecting data from existing resources hence it is often considered a low cost technique as compared to field research, as the main cost is involved in executive’s time, telephone charges and directories. Thus, the study relied on already published studies, reports and statistics. This secondary data was easily accessed through the online journals and library. Findings: The findings reveal that there exists a contextual and methodological gap relating to the physiochemical properties and functionalities of food emulsifiers. Preliminary empirical review revealed that the importance of considering emulsifier properties in food product development. The findings underscored the significance of optimizing emulsifier selection and formulation to meet consumer demands for healthier, more sustainable, and better-performing food products. Continued research in this area promises to drive further innovation and advancements in food technology. Unique Contribution to Theory, Practice and Policy: The Interfacial Tension theory, HLB (Hydrophilic- Lipophilic Balance) theory and Emulsion Phase Inversion theory may be used to anchor future studies on the physiochemical properties and functionalities of food emulsifiers. The study made significant contributions to theoretical understanding, practical application, and policy considerations in the field of food science and technology. It advanced theoretical knowledge by exploring molecular mechanisms and integrating principles from colloid and interface science. In practice, the study recommended systematic approaches for emulsifier selection and process optimization to enhance product quality and consistency. From a policy perspective, it emphasized the importance of regulatory guidelines and transparency in emulsifier usage. Additionally, the study advocated for sustainability, innovation, and consumer-centric approaches to promote environmental responsibility, drive technological advancements, and prioritize consumer well-being in emulsifier research and application.