EMULSION

# What is emulsion? How emulsion prepared by dry gum method and Wet
gum method.

Definition:

An Emulsion is a biphasic liquid preparation containing two immiscible

liquids, one of which is dispersed as minute globules into the other. The
liquid which is converted into minute globules is called the “dispersed
phase” and the liquid in which the globules are dispersed is called the
‘continuous phase’.

Types of Emulsion :-

1) Oil in Water type of emulsion (O/W type)

2) Water in Oil type of emulsion (W/O type)

3) Multiple emulsion (O/W/O type)

1. Dry gum method for preparation of emulsion :-

1. Measure the required quantity of oil in a dry measure and transfer it into a

dry mortar.

2. Add the calculated quantity of gum acacia into it and triturate rapidly so
as to form a uniform mixture.

3. Add required quantity of water and triturate vigorously till a clicking

sound is produced and the product becomes white or nearly white due to the
total internal reflection of light. The emulsion produced at this stage is
known as primary emulsion.

4.If any other ingredient present in the formulation has to be added by

dissolving in the vehicle

5. Add more of vehicle to produce required volume.

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 2. Wet Gum Method:-

water + gum (quantity according to primary emulsion formula) –Triturate

and add oil (quantity according primary emulsion formula) – and triturate
until clicking sound produce – and little quantity of vehicle – transfer to
measuring cylinder and makeup the volume.

# What is mean by Primary Emulsion. State Primary emulsion formula for i)

Fixed oils ii) Volatile oils iii) Mineral oils.

Primary emulsion :- Measure the required quantity of oil in a dry mortar

and add calculated quantity of gum acacia into it , triturate so as to form
uniform mixture. Add required quantity of water and triturate vigorously till
a clicking sound is produced and the product becomes white or nearly white
due to total internal reflection of light. The emulsion formed at this stage is
known as Primary emulsion.

Primary emulsion formula :-

1) For Fixed oils :- e.g. Castor oil, Almond oil, Arachis oil, Cod liver oil

Ratio of Oil : Water : Gum

4 : 2 : 1

2) For Volatile oil :- e.g. Turpentine oil, Peppermint oil, Cinnamon oil.

Ratio of Oil : Water : Gum

2 : 2 : 1

3) For Mineral oil :- e.g. Liquid paraffin.

Ratio of Oil : Water : Gum

3 : 2 : 1

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# Classify emulsifying agents with one example of each class.

Classification of Emulsifying Agent:

Emulsifying Agents can be divides as follows:

1. Natural:

a. Vegetable source: eg. Gum acacia, Tragacanth, agar, pectin, starch, iris
moss (chondrus)

b. Animal Source: wool fat, egg yolk, gelatine.

2. Semi-Synthetic;

Methyl cellulose, Sodium carboxy methyl cellulose

3. Synthetic:

a. Anionic: sodium luryl sulphate,

b. Cationic: cetrimide, Benzalkoniumchloride, etc.

c. Non ionic: glyceryl esters etc.

4. Inorganic: Milk of magnesia, magnesium oxide ,Magnesiumtrisilicate,

Magnesium aluminum silicate, Bentonite .

5. Alcoholes – Carbowaxes ,Lecithins, Cholesterols.

# Define Emulsion and classify polysaccharide emulsifying agents with one

example each and list disadvantages of it.

Definition : An emulsion is a biphasic liquid preparation containing two

immiscible liquids, one of which is dispersed as minute globules into the
other.

Classification of polysaccharide emulsifying agent :-

a) Methyl cellulose They are used as suspending, thickening and emulsifying

agents they are used in concentration of 2%

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 Disadvantage- It gets precipitated in presence of large amount of
electrolytes.

b) Sodium carboxy methyl cellulose :They are used in concentration of 0.5-

1.0% Some people may have allergic reaction or sensivity to cellulose gum
although this is extremely rare.

# List different test for identification of an emulsion & explain any one.

List different test for identification:

1) Dilution Test

2) Dye Test

3) Conductivity Test

4) Fluorescence Test

5) Cobalt Chloride Test

1) Dilution Test -

Emulsion diluted with water

i)Emulsion remains stable then it is o/w emulsion.

ii)Emulsion break it is w/o emulsion.

Emulsion diluted with oil

i)Emulsion remains stable then it is w/o emulsion.

ii)Emulsion break it is o/w emulsion.

2) Dye Test-

Emulsion diluted with scarlet red dye

i)Dispersed globules appear red & background is colourless then it is

o/w type

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 ii) Dispersed globules appear colourless & back ground is red then it
is w/o type.

3) Conductivity Test-

This type of emulsion show bulb glowing on passing electric current.

If bulb glow the emulsion is o/w type

If bulb does not glow the emulsion is w/o type

3) Fluorescence Test:

If an emulsion on exposure to ultra-violet radiations shows

continuous fluorescence under UV light, then it is w/o type

If it shows only spotty fluorescence, then it is o/w type.

5) Cobalt Chloride Test:

When a filter paper soaked in cobalt chloride solution is dipped in

to an emulsion and dried, it turns from blue to pink, indicating that the
emulsion is o/w type.

# Explain the term HLB.

The HLB scale means (Hydrophilic – Lipophilic Balance System and has an
arbitrary scale of 1-18 HLB numbers are experimentally determined for different
emulsifiers in laboratory. The system is devised by Griffin. Eg. Acacia-HLB
Value-8, Polysorbate 20-HLB value 16.7

What is HLB? Give its significance.

Griffin devised useful method for calculating balanced mixtures of emulsifying

agents to provide a particular type of emulsion. In which every emulsifying agent
has given number ranging from 1-18.

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It is called as HLB or (Hydrophilic – Lipophilic Balance System

Significance:–

It is very difficult to select a proper emulsifying agents for the preparation of a

stable emulsion from large number of emulsifying agents.

No single emulsifying agent possess all the properties required for preparation of
stable emulsion.

So sometimes it is necessary to use two or more than two emulsifying agents

instead of one to prepare stable emulsion.

# Describe cracking of emulsion. Explain various reasons for cracking of

emulsion.

Cracking means the separation of two layers of dispersed phase and continuous
phase, due to the coalescence of dispersed phase globules which are difficult to
redisperse by shaking

The following factors results in the cracking of emulsion.

i) Decomposition of the emulsifying agent

ii) Addition of a solvent which dissolves both the phases

iii) High temperature and change in pH.

iv) Addition of opposite types of emulgents

v) Growth of micro – organism

vi) Extensive creaming.

Decomposition of emulsifying agent:

When acid is added to alkali soap emulsion it causes decomposition

of emulsifying agent & thus leading to cracking of emulsion.

Addition of common solvent:

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 Addition of common solvent in which both disperse & continuous
phase are soluble forms one phase system & destroys the emulsion. Eg.
Turpentine, soft soap & water are soluble in alcohol.

Change in Temperature:

Increase in temperature leads to reduction in viscosity; encourage

creaming thus leads to cracking. Low temperature causes freezing of water content.

Addition of emulsifying agent of opposite type:

Soaps of monovalent metal produces o/w emulsion,& Soaps of

divalent metal produces w/o emulsion. But addition of monovalent soap to
divalent soap emulsion & viceversa may leads to cracking.

Growth of microorganism:

Preservative should be present otherwise bacteria may destroy

emulsifying agent & cause cracking.

Extensive creaming:

A creamy emulsion is more liable to crack than the homogenous emulsion.

So it is necessary to take steps to retard creaming as far as possible.

* Give Reasons :-

1) Phase inversion occurs in emulsion

Reasons

1. By the addition of an electrolyte

2. By changing the phase- volume ratio

3. By temperature change

4. By changing the emulsifying agent

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 2) Emulsifying agent is required in the preparation of emulsion

Reason:

The emulsifying agents reduce the interfacial tension between two phases
i.e, oily phase and the aqueous phase and thus make them miscible with each other
and form a stable.

3) Why all emulsions are appears as white opaque?

Reason:- Because due to total internal reflection of light in Dispersed Phase

into Continuous Phase.