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An emulsion is a colloid made up of two or more non-homogeneous liquids, one of which is a mixture of liquids.
A normal emulsion is a combination of two or more unmixed liquids. Each liquid is dispersed and diffused in the emulsion due to the dispersed section and diffusion medium. Oil in water emulsions and water in oil emulsions are the two most common types of emulsions.
Name of the colloid | Dispersion phase | Dispersion medium | Example |
Solid sol | Solid | Solid | Gemstones |
Sol | Solid | Liquid | Muddy water |
Aerosol | Solid | Gas | Smoke dust |
Gel | Liquid
| Solid | Cheese |
Emulsion | Liquid | Liquid | Milk |
Aerosol | Liquid | Gas | Fog |
Solid foam | Gas | Solid | Pumice stone |
Foam | Gas | Liquid | Froth |
Types of emulsions:
Emulsions can be categorized into two types depending on the nature of the dispersed phase.
Oil in water type emulsion:
The oil acts as the dispersing phase in oil-in-water emulsions, while the water acts as the dispersion medium. Milk, which contains liquid fat globules scattered in the water, is the most typical example of oil in a water-type emulsion.
Water in oil type emulsion:
Water acts as the dispersing phase, while oil acts as the dispersing medium in water-in-oil emulsions. Oil emulsions are another name for these types of emulsions. A common example of this type of emulsion is cod liver oil emulsion, in which water is dispersed into cod liver oil.
Preparation of emulsion:
Emulsions are typically made with a high-speed mixer or by vigorously mixing two liquids with ultrasonic vibrators. Emulsification is the name of the procedure. Because the two liquids used to produce an emulsion are not contaminated, an emulsifying agent, also known as an emulsifier, is required to stabilize the resulting emulsion.
Along with the liquids, the emulsifier component is added. The dispersed phase particles of similar size combine in the absence of an emulsifying agent, resulting in the emulsion separating into two layers. Soaps, detergents, proteins, gums, and agar are some of the most important emulsifying agents. The most often used emulsifiers are soaps and detergents.
Emulsifier Role:
Emulsifiers protect oil droplets scattered in water by forming a protective layer around them. This makes it difficult for them to be close and cohesive. The emulsion is so stabilized. Consider the role of soap as an emulsifier in an oil-in-water emulsion.
As the hydrocarbon chains are immersed in the oil droplet when soap is added to an o/w emulsion, the soap atom produces a polar end mass immersion in water. As a result, the soap molecules concentrate on the oil droplet’s surface and form a protective covering. This stabilizes the emulsion by reducing the interface between the oil and the water.
Identifying the type of emulsion
The tests below can be used to determine the type of emulsion.
- Dilution test: A few drops of water are added to an emulsion to perform a dilution test. The emulsion becomes oil-in-water (o / w) when added water combines easily with it. The given emulsion is of the water-in-oil (w / o) type if the added water does not mix with the emulsion. Instead of water, a few drops of oil can be used to experiment. The emulsion will be water-in-oil if the added oil is absorbed.
- Conductivity test: In this test, a little amount of electrolyte is added to the emulsion and the conductivity is measured. If the conductivity rises, the emulsion is classified as oil-in-water. The emulsion will be the water-oil type if there is no significant change in conductivity.
- Colour test: A little amount of oil-soluble color is added to the emulsion in this test. It’s a water-oil emulsion if the color changes. If there is no change in color, the emulsion is an oil-in-water type.
Properties of emulsions:
The size of dispersed droplets in emulsions may be slightly bigger than that of dispersed particles in sols. However, emulsions have all of the qualities of friction systems and friction solutions, such as Brownian motion, Tyndall effect, electrophoresis, coagulation, and so on.
Emulsions can be destroyed or broken down into liquids by physical methods such as heating, freezing, centrifuging, and so on. Emulsifying agent, as determined by a chemical method. Demulsification is the process of breaking down an emulsion to generate liquids.
Emulsion Applications Emulsions
Many useful systems and applications can be found. The following are some of the most common uses for emulsions.
- Lotions, creams, and ointments, which are oil-in-water or water-in-oil type emulsions and easily absorbed by the body, are used to make a large number of medicines. Many cosmetics are also available as emulsions. To aid absorption, many oily drugs are also available as emulsions.
- By using a foam floating procedure, Sulfide One Concentrate is made up of a treatment that is finely pulverized with an oil emulsion. The ore particles in the emulsion are transported to the surface in the form of foam and collected when air is bubbled into the mixture.
Conclusion:
Emulsions are mixtures of two or more liquids in which one is spread in the form of minute or ultramicroscopic droplets to the other. Depending on the nature of the dispersed phase, emulsions can be divided into two categories. Emulsifiers build a protective coating around oil droplets that are distributed in water. It is tough for them to be connected and cohesive as a result of this.
