Abstract

Three different formulae of oil in water emulsions were made. The ratios of the oil phases used were 20, 25 and 30 % whereas two surfactants were used in different proportions and their ratios were fixed at 5 % concentration. The obtained results revealed that the prepared emulsions were compounded only with surfactants blends at hydrophilic-lipophilic balance values equal to 9.65, 10.72 and 11.79, respectively. Emulsions prepared at hydrophilic-lipophilic balance values equal to 5.37, 6.44, 7.51, 8.58, 12.86 and 13.93 were rejected. The results revealed that the identification of the most stable emulsion assign optimum surfactants blend and right oil phase concentration, which equal to 25 %. Hydrophilic-lipophilic balance values of the optimum surfactant blend, which is equal to 10.185 represents the actual intrinsic hydrophilic-lipophilic balance value of emulsions under examination. This method was verified for validity and reproducibility by applying it for three complex formulae of oil in water emulsions contain active constituents. The obtained results revealed that the prepared emulsions were compounded at the same hydrophilic-lipophilic balance values that were previously mentioned. Optimum surfactants blend, right oil phase concentration and actual intrinsic hydrophilic-lipophilic balance of the complex formulae were assigned. These results confirm validity and reproducibility of the method. The results also indicated that the emulsion prepared with different concentrations of oil phases has the same calculated hydrophilic-lipophilic balance value, which is equal to 9.236. The calculated hydrophilic-lipophilic balance was not affected by concentration of the oil phase and the emulsion with optimum surfactants blend was the one exhibited highest measured conductivity value at room temperature, which were 59.4 and 51.1 and 68.80 μS/cm.