Influence of the emulsion components and preparation method on the laboratory-scale preparation of o/w emulsions containing different types of dispersed phases and/or emulsifiers

Emulsification is a complex process, strongly influenced by emulsion composition as well as by preparation procedure, and the characterisation of emulsions with regard to their structure and stability can be carried out with many different methods. To evaluate the influences of emulsion composition and preparation procedure on the structure and properties, oil-in-water emulsions were prepared using the model dispersed phase dodecane and the surfactant Tween on the one hand and the real food components sunflower oil (dispersed phase) and casein (emulsifier) on the other hand. The emulsions were prepared in a small laboratory-scale with a turbo-mixer alone and in combination with ultrasonic treatment. The emulsion activity was measured by photometry, the emulsion stability was evaluated visually and the droplet size was determined by laser particle analysis. The results of the investigations made with the model substances agreed only partly with those made with the real food substances. For the model emulsions strong correlation were found between the emulsion activity and the particle sizer data because of the high purity and the defined structure of the model substances. On the contrary, for the emulsions made with the real food components sunflower oil and sodium caseinate the correlation were much weaker. Therefore, a proper characterisation of the structure and properties of food emulsions requires examinations with several methods which are independent from each other. Furthermore, for laboratory-scale emulsification the combination of turbo-mixer and ultrasonic treatment is suitable to obtain small droplets and a narrow droplet distribution also for very small emulsion volumes.