Related Experiment Video
Updated: Aug 18, 2026

Phase Diagram Characterization Using Magnetic Beads as Liquid Carriers
Published on: September 4, 2015
[Application of triangular phase diagrams to investigate the formulation conditions of pharmaceutical microemulsions]
1School of Pharmacy, West China University of Medical Sciences, Chengdu 610041, China. binlu@netease.com
Aim:
To establish innovational triangular phase diagrams for preparation of pharmaceutical microemulsion (ME) with low toxicity as a result of reducing the amount of the emulsifiers.
Methods:
Lecithin and polyoxyethylene octyl phenyl ether (OP) were used as emulsifiers (E), absolute alcohol and n-octyl alcohol as assistant emulsifiers (A), ethyl oleate and olive oil as the oil phase (O). For the innovational triangular phase diagrams, lecithin-ethyl oleate-water and absolute alcohol (optimized ratio W/A = 0.6) system, and OP(olive oil and n-octyl alcohol (O/A = 0.34)-water system were used for preparation of the ME. While for the traditional triangular phase diagrams, OP and n-octyl alcohol (E/A = Km = 1.5)-olive oil-water system, lecithin and absolute alcohol (E/A = Km = 1.12)-ethyl oleate-water system were used. Then, the corresponding amounts of the emulsifiers used in both methods were compared.
Results:
In the ME of lecithin systems by the innovational and the traditional methods, the amounts of emulsifier are 6%-28% and 28%-29.6%, respectively. In the ME of OP systems by the innovational and the traditional methods, the amounts of emulsifier are 23%-40% and 27.6%-49.8%, respectively.
Conclusion:
The method of innovational triangular phase diagram for preparation of ME is superior to the traditional method in finding out the lower amounts of emulsifiers for ME, and is a feasible method with guiding significance for preparing ME.
Related Concept Videos
Phase Diagrams
Phase Diagram
The Phase Rule
Phase Diagram
Two Components: Liquid–Liquid Systems
Phase Diagrams of Ternary Systems

