Triacylglycerol microemulsions stabilized by alkyl ethoxylate surfactants—A basic study: Phase behavior, interfacial tension and microstructure

As triacylglycerols are the main components of natural fats and oils their solubilization in the form of emulsions or microemulsions was of great interest within the last years. However, systematic studies of their properties along the classical lines of complex fluids science are still missing. In the present paper we focus on the phase behavior, the interfacial tension and the microstructure of systems of type H2O/NaCl–triacylglycerol–alkylpolyglycolether (CiEj). The interfacial tension between water and oil σabσab is high in a microemulsion system containing triolein. Thus, one needs high surfactant mass fractions to formulate a single-phase microemulsion. We show that this is not only true for triolein, but also for saturated long-chained triacylglycerols. The determination of the amphiphilicity factor fafa and the calculation of the bending rigidities of the amphiphilic film confirm that despite the fact that high surfactant mass fractions and high temperatures are needed to solubilize triolein in a system of type H2O/NaCl–triacylglycerol–alkylpolyglycolether (CiEj), this is still a microemulsion in the narrower sense.

The solubilization of triacylglycerols either in emulsions or in microemulsions was in the focus of many research groups within the last years. However, a systematic study of the properties of triacylglycerol microemulsions is still missing. In the present paper we focus on the phase behavior, the interfacial tension and the microstructure of systems of type H2O/NaCl–triacylglycerol–alkylpolyglycolether (CiEj). We show that despite the fact that high surfactant mass fractions and high temperatures are needed to solubilize long-chained triacylglycerols, these systems are still microemulsions by definition.Figure optionsDownload as PowerPoint slide