1.

Introduction

An emulsion is a thermodynamically unstable two-phase system consisting of at least

two immiscible liquids, one of which is dispersed in the form of small droplets

throughout the other, and an emulsifying agent. The dispersed liquid is known as the

internal or discontinuous phase, whereas the dispersion medium is known as the

external or continuous phase. Where oils, petroleum hydrocarbons, and/or waxes are

the dispersed phase, and water or an aqueous solution is the continuous phase, the

system is called an oil-in-water (o/w) emulsion. Conversely, where water or aqueous

solutions are dispersed in an oleaginous medium, the system is known as a water-in-oil

(w/o) emulsion. In this practical, the viscosity of Arachis oil is tested by using a

viscometer. Internal friction of a fluid is measured by viscosity, where this friction is

Evaluation of Emulsion
important when a layer of fluid is made to move in relation to another layer. The greater

the friction between the layers, the greater the amount of force will be required to cause

this movement, which is called shear. Shearing occurs whenever a fluid is physically

moved or distributed, as in pouring, spreading, spraying, mixing, etc. Highly viscous

fluids, therefore, require more force to move than less viscous materials. Besides, the

type of prepared emulsion which is Arachis oil can be determined by using a dye

solubility test. There are two distinct phases are available in an emulsion, the continuous

phase and dispersed phase. In this test the dyes will be mixed with the developed

emulsion and will be observed under the optical microscope. The electric conductivity

of Arachis oil cam be determined by using the electrical conductivity meters to measure

the capacity of ions in an aqueous solution to carry electrical current. As the ranges in

aqueous solutions are usually small, the basic units of measurements are

miliSiemens/cm (mS/cm) and microSiemens/cm (µS/cm).

2. Specific Objectives

A. To determine the viscosity of the formulated samples using a viscometer

B. To determine the type of prepared emulsion

C. To determine the type of prepared emulsion

3. Observation

Experiment 5A: Evaluating viscosity of emulsion

Parameters

Set parameters Observed Viscosity

Arachis oil emulsion Spindle: Spindle 62 Viscosity: 70.50 Cp

Speed: 100 rpm
Time:1 minute
Temperature: 25°C

Discussion:

According to the basics of rheology, the viscosity is an important parameter as it is an

expression of the resistance of a fluid to flow. The higher the viscosity of the fluid, the

greater the resistance of a fluid to flow. Besides that, Hemant More (2020) introduced

the basic principle of the viscosity test on emulsion was that the water-in-oil emulsions

are more viscous than the oil-in-water emulsions. This is because high viscosity of oil

increases flow resistance of the fluid, hence decreases the shear rate of the fluid.

Based on the results obtained by using Spindle 62 with the speed of 100 rpm for 1

minute at room temperature, the viscosity of the Arachis oil emulsion was 70.50 Cp.

As referred to the absolute viscosity of the Newtonian liquids, the viscosity of castor

oil and water were 1000 cP and 1.0019 cP respectively. When comparing the viscosity
of Arachis oil to the viscosity of castor oil which is 1000cP , the viscosity value of

70.50cP is considered low and close to the viscosity of water.

When the viscosity of Arachis oil emulsion was low, the flow resistance of Arachis oil

emulsion would decreases. Hence, the rate of flow of Arachis oil emulsion would be

good. Thus, good flow rate of Arachis oil can indicate that it was an oil-in-water

emulsion. Therefore, Arachis oil emulsion is determined to be an oil-in-water emulsion.

Experiment 5B: Dye solubility test

Dye characteristics Observation

Arachis oil emulsion Methylene blue:

Soluble in water and
poorly soluble in lipids

Discussion:

Based on the observation of the dye solubility test, the globules of the emulsion

appeared as colourless where as the continuous phase of the emulsion was stained by

the blue colour of the methylene blue dye. This indicates that the continuous phase takes

the colour of the dye, with a distinct dispersed phase it could be inferred that the

continuous phase of the Arachis oil emulsion dissolved the immersed dye. And thus,

the continuous phase took the dye colour. Methylene blue is highly soluble in water yet

poorly soluble in lipids. Hence, it is a water-soluble dye. When one drop of methylene
blue was added and mixed with the emulsion, it will dissolved in the aqueous phase of

the emulsion due to its solubility in water.

Based on the general rule of “like dissolves like”, non-polar compounds can only

dissolve in non-polar solvents. Similarly, polar compounds can only dissolve in polar

solvents. Methylene blue is a polar dye. In consequence, it could only dissolve in polar

solvents.

Additionally, water is a polar solvent due to the O-H bond in the structure whereas oil

is a non-polar solvent due to the long chain of fatty acids. Therefore, methylene blue

could only dissolve in water instead of oil due to the polarity. Hence, it was determined

that water was the external phase of the Arachis oil emulsion and oil was the internal

phase of the Arachis oil emulsion. In addition, it was determined that the Arachis oil

emulsion was an oil-in-water emulsion.

Experiment 5C: Evaluating electrical conductivity of emulsion

Observation Implication

Arachis oil emulsion 153.8 µS/cm The continuous phase of

the Arachis oil emulsion
is a good conductor of
electricity

Discussion:

Based on the observations obtained in the electrical conductivity test of the Arachis oil

emulsion, 153.8 µS/cm was obtained by the conductivity meter with the insertion of

clean electrode into the Arachis oil emulsion. According to Hemant More (2020), the

basic principle of the electrical conductivity test is that water is a good conductor of
 electricity. If the emulsion is an oil-in-water emulsion, the test will be positive as water

is the continuous phase and it can conduct electricity. In contrast, if the emulsion is a

water-in-oil emulsion, the test will not be able to obtain any values as oil is the

continuous phase and it cannot conduct electricity.

In the electrical conductivity test of the Arachis oil emulsion, 153.8 µS/cm was

displayed on the conductivity meter. Hence, this indicates the result of the electrical

conductivity test of Arachis oil emulsion was positive as electricity can be conducted.

Therefore, it was determined that the continuous phase of the Arachis oil emulsion was

water and the dispersed phase of the Arachis oil emulsion was oil. Hence, Arachis oil

emulsion was an oil-in-water emulsion as lipid droplets were dispersed in water.

4. Conclusion

In conclusion, Arachis oil emulsion is an oil-in-water emulsion as Arachis oil has a

viscosity value of 70.50cP is considered low and close to the viscosity of water. This

indicates that the rate of flow of Arachis oil emulsion would be good. Thus, good flow

rate of Arachis oil can indicate that it was an oil-in-water emulsion. Besides, water was

the external phase of the Arachis oil emulsion and oil was the internal phase of the

Arachis oil emulsion. This indicates that the Arachis oil emulsion was an oil-in-water

emulsion. Moreover, the continuous phase of the Arachis oil emulsion was water and

the dispersed phase of the Arachis oil emulsion was oil. This indicates that Arachis oil

emulsion was an oil-in-water emulsion as lipid droplets were dispersed in water.