Multiscale combined techniques for evaluating emulsion stability: A critical review

Abstract

Emulsions are multiscale and thermodynamically unstable systems which will undergo various unstable processes over time. The behavior of emulsifier molecules at the oil-water interface and the properties of the interfacial film are very important to the stability of the emulsion. In this paper, we mainly discussed the instability phenomena and mechanisms of emulsions, the effects of interfacial films on the long-term stability of emulsions and summarized a set of systematic multiscale combined methods for studying emulsion stability, including droplet size and distribution, zeta-potential, the continuous phase viscosity, adsorption mass and thickness of the interfacial film, interfacial dilatational rheology, interfacial shear rheology, particle tracking microrheology, visualization technologies of the interfacial film, molecular dynamics simulation and the quantitative evaluation methods of emulsion stability. This review provides the latest research progress and a set of systematic multiscale combined techniques and methods for researchers who are committed to the study of oil-water interface and emulsion stability. In addition, this review has important guiding significances for designing and customizing interfacial films with different properties, so as to obtain emulsion-based delivery systems with varying stability, oil digestibility and bioactive substance utilization.

Keywords: Adsorption mass; Emulsion stability; Interfacial film thickness; Interfacial rheology; Oil-water interface.