Effect of relative humidity on the evaporation path from a phenethyl alcohol emulsion

The evaporation path for emulsions of phenethyl alcohol stabilized by a non-ionic surfactant, Laureth 4, a commercial ethoxy adduct, approximately C12(EO)4, was estimated by calculations using the phase diagram. The results for emulsions with an O/W ratio equal to or greater than 1/3 showed the relative humidity only in excess of 90% to have a significant effect on the evaporation path. In fact the path was not significantly modified for relative humidities from 0% to 90%, but in the range 90–100% the modification of the evaporation path was most pronounced; not only altering the path, but causing entirely different phases to appear in the emulsion.On the other hand, for emulsions with lower O/W ratios these effects were substantial for relative humidities down to the level of 40%.

Graphical abstractHigher relative humidity leads to higher relative evaporation of alcohol.Figure optionsDownload full-size imageDownload as PowerPoint slide