Fundamental Differences in Emulsification Principle between Three-phase Emulsification and Conventional Methods.

Area of Science:

• Colloid and Surface Science
• Materials Science
• Chemical Engineering

Background:

• Conventional emulsification relies on intensive factors like interfacial tension and wetting.
• These methods often struggle with stability, especially during phase transitions.

Purpose of the Study:

• To investigate the fundamental differences between three-phase emulsification and conventional methods.
• To demonstrate the superior stability of three-phase emulsification.

Main Methods:

• Proposed a novel three-phase emulsification technique using soft hydrophilic nanoparticles.
• Compared emulsion stability under varying conditions, including solid-liquid phase transition of the internal oil phase (hexadecane).
• Evaluated conventional surfactant and Pickering emulsification methods under identical conditions.

Main Results:

• Three-phase emulsification, based on extensive factors (nanoparticle mass and oil droplet size), proved irreversible.
• Conventional emulsions separated during hexadecane's solid-liquid phase transition.
• Three-phase emulsions maintained stability throughout the phase transition.

Conclusions:

• Three-phase emulsification offers an irreversible and highly stable alternative to conventional methods.
• This technique enables emulsification of diverse oils and mixing of different emulsions.
• Presents opportunities for advancements in emulsion science and character.