Stability and rheology of three types of W/O/W multiple emulsions emulsified with lecithin

ABSTRACT

Three types of multiple emulsions were prepared with lecithin. The morphology, stability, and rheological properties of the three types of W/O/W multiple emulsions were evaluated. The formulation factors, including salts and aliphatic alcohol, were further examined. The three types of multiple emulsions were formed by different emulsifiers. An excellent multiple emulsion occurred with 2 wt% lecithin concentration, stabilized by 0.05 wt% NaCl. All multiple emulsions showed shear-thinning behavior, i.e., the apparent viscosity decreased with the increase of the shear rate. With the high concentration of lecithin, the multiple emulsions exhibited the highest viscosity at low shear rate and had higher storage modulus (G′) and the loss modulus (G″). This study was conducted to reveal that different types of multiple emulsions can be formed with lecithin, and that the stability and rheological properties were different with different types of multiple emulsions.

GRAPHICAL ABSTRACT

KEYWORDS:

• Lecithin
• multiple emulsions
• rheological properties
• stability

Acknowledgments

The authors would like to thank Mrs. Hu Jing for the rheology measurements.