TRIGLYCERIDE/AQUEOUS ETHANOL/1-BUTANOL MICROEMULSIONS

Abstract

ABSTRACT Triglyceride/aqueous ethanol/1-butanol systems were studied by rheology, ultracentrifugation, conductivity, refractive index and density determinations to support the concept that 1-butanol forms triglyceride/aqueous ethanol detergentless microeoiulsions. In addition to the triglyceride microemulsions, a related model system of hexadecane, 1-butanol and 95% ethanol was studied. On the basis of conductivity, rheology, ultracentrifugation data and visual examination, it was found that certain compositions were oil-continuous microemulsions even though they were detergentless. There is evidence that 1-butanol in combination with ethanol associates and interacts with water to form systems exhibiting microemulsion features. Preliminary data also indicate metastable states in the region of the plait point and support the microemulsion model of an alternative microstructure in which oil- rich and water-rich domains are randomly interspersed at equilibrium.