DETERMINATION AND CHARACTERIZATION OF WATER, OIL, AND SURFACTANT INDUCED VARIATIONS IN ISOTROPIC DOMAINS OF PLUROLOLEIQUE CC 497 / LABRASOL SYSTEM

Anchalee Ain-Ai, University of Rhode Island

Abstract

Although microemulsions have been widely investigated and applied in various industries, existing raw materials limit applications of microemulsions in pharmaceutics and cosmetics. This work attempts to clarify the formation of isotropic systems when Labrasol/Plurololeique CC 497 combinations were used as the surfactant/cosurfactant combinations known as Km= Oil, 114, 2/3, 111, 3/2, 4/1, 110. The Km= 111and3/2 combinations provided widest isotropic areas that included maximum of 66.67% w/w of mineral oil, 48. 73% w/w of soybean oil and 48.82% w/w of water for Km= 111, whereas for Km= 3/2 provided maximum of 54.54 %w/w of mineral oil, 28.85% w/w of soybean oil and 54.55% w/w of water. Therefore Km= l/l(HLB 10) and 3/2 (HLB 10.8) combinations were further studied to determine their response to variables such as effect of oil polarity, effect of hydrocarbon versus triglycerides, temperature and ionic strength and pH of the aqueous phase. The hydrocarbon (mineral oil) provided a wide isotropic area compared to a triglyceride (soybean oil). The effect of the mineral oil was investigated by adding a C 18 fatty acid having no double bond (oleic acid), two double bonds (linoleic acid). and three unsaturated chains (linolenic acid). They have not produced a significant difference in the composition of isotropic areas. However at 10% concentration, they all reduced the isotropic domains significantly. Linolenic acid, which is the most polar one, is being the most effective. The increasing concentration of Labrasol increased thermo-stability of the systems. At Km = 3/2 combination, the systems was also able to tolerate NaCl and CaCli up to ionic strength of 1. They can be used within pH 1.5 to 7.4 to various oil and water solubilizing capacities.