Learn How to Make a 10% Mineral Oil Emulsion Without Microfluidic Channels

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To prepare a stable emulsion of at least 10% mineral oil in water without using microfluidic channels, the addition of surfactants or emulsifiers is essential. Sodium dodecyl sulfate (SDS) is suggested, but initial attempts resulted in emulsions with less than 1% mineral oil. Sonication is proposed as a method to enhance emulsion stability, although there is uncertainty about its effectiveness. Vigorous mixing of oil with water and emulsifiers can create a suspension of tiny oil droplets, similar to making mayonnaise, which relies on emulsifiers like lecithin from egg yolk and mustard. However, there are instances where emulsification fails, as noted with a specific oil brand that resisted emulsification despite efforts.
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Without using microfluidic channels how to prepare a at least 10% (by volume)mineral oil (dispersed)in water emulsion?
 
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phytoplankton said:
Without using microfluidic channels how to prepare a at least 10% (by volume)mineral oil (dispersed)in water emulsion?

Can you add a surfactant or emulsifier?
 
Quantum Defect said:
Can you add a surfactant or emulsifier?

yeah, like SDS(sodium dodexyl sulfate) i prepared a recipe for the emulsion but it is less than 1%.
 
phytoplankton said:
yeah, like SDS(sodium dodexyl sulfate) i prepared a recipe for the emulsion but it is less than 1%.

Have you tried sonicating?
 
Quantum Defect said:
Have you tried sonicating?
no not yet. i am not sure how sonication work to thicken the emulsion.
 
phytoplankton said:
no not yet. i am not sure how sonication work to thicken the emulsion.

Vigorously mixing some oils with water and emulsifier can get you a suspension of very tiny oil droplets that are kinetically stable. This is how you make mayonnaise (albeit without the sonicator).

one egg yolk, dash of lemon juice, dot of mustard ==> slowly add 1 c. olive oil while beating ==> voila! mayonnaise

The surfactants/emulsifiers are coming from the egg and mustard (lecithin)

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Lecithin
 
Quantum Defect said:
one egg yolk, dash of lemon juice, dot of mustard ==> slowly add 1 c. olive oil while beating ==> voila! mayonnaise

While I agree in general (I made mayonnaise many time myself), sometimes it doesn't work. There was an oil sold here (actually some German brand) that I couldn't turn into emulsion no matter how hard I tried. No idea why.
 
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