Emulsion carbon number method

Thus, the experimental method of HLB number determination is also quite complicated. It is again not imperative that the HLB number of a surfactant must be determined accurately before use this is often not possible, as the surfactants may contain a mixture of chains of different carbon numbers. Approximate values of many important surfactants are known, and can be used with success in emulsion preparation. Table 1.5 offers some examples. The degree of dispersibility of a surfactant in water can also be used to obtain a rough estimate of its HLB value [3, 5]. Obviously, surfactants that disperse in water only unsatisfactorily (HLB = 3-6) should be better dispersible in some oil phase and form better W/O emulsions, while those that form translucent to clear dispersions (HLB value about 10 or above) should be candidates for OAV emulsions. 

In addition to the HLB method, another method can help in formulating emulsions It is based on CNEA (carbon number of equivalent alcane) and on CNPA (carbon number of... 

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