https://www.aocs.

org/stay-informed/read-inform/featured-articles/emulsions-making-oil-and-
water-mix-april-2014
Soymilk is water in oil emulsion

The HLB scale ranges from 0 to 20, with 10 corresponding to an emulsifier

that is equally attracted to water and oil. Emulsifiers with HLB values greater
than 10 are more hydrophilic and thus better at stabilizing o/w emulsions. In
contrast, emulsifiers with HLB values less than 10 are more hydrophobic and
therefore better suited for w/o emulsions.

Furthermore, different oils have different HLB requirements. For example,

vegetable oil emulsions need an emulsifier with an HLB of 78, whereas the
required HLB value to form a stable castor oil emulsion is 14. By matching
the HLB value of the emulsifier with that of the oil, formulators can greatly
increase their chances of producing a stable emulsion.

According to George Smith, technical director for the Americas at Huntsman

Performance Products in The Woodlands, Texas, USA, a combination of
emulsifiers usually works better than any single emulsifier. If youre trying
to make a mineral oil emulsion, for example, the HLB for mineral oil is 10,
he says. So youll pick a pair of emulsifiers, one with an HLB higher than 10
and another with an HLB lower than 10. When you combine them, the
average comes out around 10.