Insight Into the Emulsification Process Effect on Particles Distribution in Pickering Emulsions: a Series of Rheological and Gravimetric Tests

Abstract

This work aims to develop a method to quantify the particles distribution in Pickering emulsions. Particle stabilized oil-in-water emulsions of different formulations were produced with different emulsification processes. These emulsions were then centrifugated to separate the oily from the aqueous phase. Successive rheological and gravimetric tests on the same aqueous phases provide information about the silica fraction adsorbed at the emulsion’s interfaces and the particle interfacial concentration. The emulsification process changes the average droplet size of the emulsion, and results also show that the silica fraction in the dispersed phase and the silica interfacial concentration are modified. Moreover, the silica behaviour may be dictated by the nature of the stirrer, the time and the shear speed of the emulsification process.