Related Experiment Video
Updated: Jul 14, 2026

Enhanced Oil Recovery using a Combination of Biosurfactants
Published on: June 3, 2022
De-gassed water and surfactant-free emulsions: history, controversy, and possible applications
Julian Eastoe1, Christopher Ellis
1School of Chemistry, University of Bristol, Bristol BS8 1TS, UK. julian.eastoe@bris.ac.uk
Abstract:
Recent reports claiming stabilisation of surfactant-free oil-in-water emulsions (o/w SFEM's) have intrigued the colloid science community, and been reported in both the scientific literature and popular press. Key to the formation of SFEM's is a sequence of solidification by freeze quenching, degassing by action of vacuum, then thawing, known as freeze-pump-thaw (F-P-T). It is believed that the "emulsification" is caused by a reduction of hydrophobic interactions owing removal of dissolved gas after these F-P-T cycles. This review summarises literature on SFEM's, covering experiments, proposed mechanisms, and some potentially exciting applications.
Related Concept Videos
Breathing
Surface Active Agents
Micelles
Colloids
Surface Membrane Barriers
The outer layer of the skin, the epidermis, is a robust barrier comprising layers of closely packed keratinized cells. This dense arrangement prevents microbes from penetrating the body. The periodic shedding of epidermal cells...

