Related Experiment Video
Updated: May 14, 2026

Self-Nanoemulsification of Healthy Oils to Enhance the Solubility of Lipophilic Drugs
Published on: July 27, 2022
Spontaneous emulsification between incompatible aqueous solutions in the water/ethanol/benzene system
Ayat Bozeya1, Abeeer Al-Bawab, Stig E Friberg
1Hamdi Mango Center for Scientific Research, University of Jordan, Amman, Jordan.
Spontaneous emulsification occurred when water/benzene/ethanol solutions were contacted. Significant water and ethanol transfer into the water-rich phase drove this oil-in-water emulsion formation.
Area of Science:
- Physical Chemistry
- Colloid and Surface Science
Background:
- The water/benzene/ethanol system exhibits de-mixing behavior.
- Emulsion formation is a critical phenomenon in various chemical and industrial processes.
Purpose of the Study:
- To investigate spontaneous emulsification in a water/benzene/ethanol system.
- To characterize the kinetics and composition changes during emulsion formation.
Main Methods:
- Observation of spontaneous emulsification upon contacting de-mixed solutions.
- Measurement of emulsion layer expansion over time.
- Calculation of composition changes using phase diagram data and diffusion flux models.
Main Results:
- An oil-in-water (O/W) emulsion formed spontaneously over several hours.
- The emulsion layer dimension increased with the square root of time.
- Significant, selective transfer of water (95 wt%), ethanol (80%), and benzene (95%) occurred between phases.
Conclusions:
- Spontaneous emulsification is driven by selective inter-phase mass transfer.
- The system reaches a stable equilibrium with distinct phase compositions after initial transfer.
More Related Videos
05:34Efficient Synthesis of Polyfunctionalized Benzenes in Water via Persulfate-promoted Benzannulation of α,β-Unsaturated Compounds and Alkynes
Published on: December 16, 2019
10:20In vitro Digestion of Emulsions in a Single Droplet via Multi Subphase Exchange of Simulated Gastrointestinal Fluids
Published on: November 18, 2022
Related Concept Videos
Intermolecular Forces in Solutions
When the strengths of the intermolecular forces of attraction between solute and solvent species in a solution are no different than those present in the separated components, the solution is formed with no accompanying energy change. Such a solution is called an ideal solution. A mixture of ideal gases (or gases such as helium and argon,...
Entropy and Solvation
Intermolecular Forces and Physical Properties
Energetics of Solution Formation
When the strengths of the intermolecular forces of attraction between solute and solvent species in a solution are no different than those present in the separated components, the solution is formed with no accompanying energy change. Formation of the solution requires the solute–solute and solvent–solvent electrostatic forces to...
Solution Formation
This selective solubility...
Comparing Intermolecular Forces: Melting Point, Boiling Point, and Miscibility
Temporary attractive forces like dispersion are present in all molecules, whether they are polar or nonpolar. They...