Classification of Oil and Oil-in-Water Emulsions Using SPES (Single Particle Extinction Size) Technology

Oil-in-water emulsions have a wide range of applications, from pharmaceutical products to beverages, paints, specialty chemicals, and beyond. At its simplest, an emulsion is a binary system of immiscible liquids forming droplets. One of the critical parameters to monitor is stability, which can be influenced by external factors such as storage conditions, time, temperature, osmolarity, pH, surfactants, and shear stress. Poor stability primarily impacts droplet size (e.g., due to coalescence), which can have significant effects on characteristics such as the organoleptic properties of a soft drink or the efficacy and safety of a pharmaceutical product.

Particle analysis plays a fundamental role in the design, formulation, and quality control of oil-in-water emulsions by enabling observation of droplet growth and stability. This application note introduces the classification and characterization of oil-in-water emulsions using the patented SPES technology and the EOS Classizer™ ONE.