Microencapsulation I. Phase Separation or Coacervation

Abstract

Phase separation or coacervation is one of the oldest and perhaps the most widely used method of microencapsulation. This paper discusses phase separation or coacervation as a technique of preparing microcapsules. The basic differences between simple and complex coacervation are described and the various factors which influence simple and complex coacervation are discussed. Schematic ternary phase diagrams involved in the phase separation or coacervation processes are included and the basic schemes describing the process of microencapsulation are outlined.