Water-Soluble Cellulose Derivatives Uses as Primary Emulsifyinga Gents. Part 1

Abstract

The ability of methyl‐, methylethyl‐, and sodium carboxymethyl‐cellulose to promote emulsions with liquid paraffin and arachis oil is largely independent of the viscosity of their mucilages. Methyl‐ and methylethyl‐cellulose are more efficient emulsifying agents than is sodium carboxymethylcellulose. Emulsifying efficiency increases with the concentration of the derivative, and low viscosity grades are more efficient than high viscosity grades. Mixtures of these derivatives have little advantage as emulsifying agents over methyl‐ and methylethyl‐cellulose used singly.

Cellulose as a Natural Emulsifier: From Nanocelluloses to Macromolecules

“…Their functionality and solubility in water depend on the type of substituent, degree and pattern of substitution, and molecular weight [33,67]. The non-ionic cellulose ethers, such as, MC, HPMC and EHEC and their hydrophobically modified versions, have been mostly used to produce o/w emulsions due to their water-solubility [68][69][70][71], but EC can be used to stabilize w/o emulsions [72]; this change-over from MC to EC illustrates the subtle role of polarity and illustrates the applicability of Bancroft's rule. The emulsion stabilization due to cellulose ethers is the result of the combined effects of: a) reduction of the interfacial tension, arising from the balance between polar and non-polar groups; b) adsorption of thick layers, forming a physical barrier with strong steric repulsion; and c) the viscosity increase of the continuous phase, constraining droplet dynamics [7,71,73].…”