Emulsion Stabilization via Silicic Acid Complexation

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Solution Overview

Problem

Current methods for preparing oil-in-water (O/W) emulsions face challenges in achieving stability over extended periods without using high amounts of surfactants, particularly in applications where compatibility and environmental safety are concerns, and existing techniques like amphiphilic polymers and Pickering emulsions have limitations.

Innovation Solution

The use of silicic acid complexation to create a rigid interface between oil and water phases, where silicate salts are pH-adjusted to form anionic complexes that encapsulate oil droplets, enhancing stability and reducing surfactant usage.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Reliability

If surfactants are used to stabilize emulsions, then emulsion stability is improved, but safety and environmental concerns worsen

Engineering Contradiction:

Improveemulsion stabilityVSAvoidsafety and environmental concerns

Core Design Contradiction:

ReliabilityVSObject-affected harmful factors

Solution Approach 1:

The patent introduces silicic acid complexes as an intermediary substance that mediates between the oil and water phases. These complexes form at the interface and provide steric stabilization without requiring traditional surfactants, thus maintaining emulsion stability while eliminating harmful surfactant-related safety and environmental issues

Inventive Principle:

Principle #24Intermediary (Mediator)

Solution Approach 2:

The patent changes the stabilization mechanism from surfactant-based electrostatic or surface tension reduction to silicic acid complex-based steric stabilization. By adjusting pH to generate silicic acid from silicate salts, the system transitions to a different chemical parameter regime that achieves stabilization through a fundamentally different, non-harmful mechanism

Inventive Principle:

Principle #35Parameter changes

2Reliability

If amphiphilic polymers are used to stabilize emulsions, then emulsion stability is improved, but compatibility limitations worsen

Engineering Contradiction:

Improveemulsion stabilityVSAvoidcompatibility with oil phase

Core Design Contradiction:

ReliabilityVSAdaptability or versatility

Solution Approach 1:

The silicic acid complex stabilization mechanism is universally applicable across different oil phases and emulsion compositions. Unlike amphiphilic polymers that require specific compatibility with the oil phase, silicic acid complexes form at the interface through a general mechanism that works with various oils, surfactants, and emulsion formulations, greatly enhancing adaptability

Inventive Principle:

Principle #6Universality (Multi-functionality)

3Reliability

If particles are used to form Pickering emulsion, then emulsion stability is improved, but particle compatibility and property limitations worsen

Engineering Contradiction:

Improveemulsion stabilityVSAvoidparticle compatibility with oil phase

Core Design Contradiction:

ReliabilityVSAdaptability or versatility

Solution Approach 1:

The silicic acid complexes act as molecular-scale intermediaries that form at the oil-water interface without requiring solid particles. This eliminates the need to carefully select particles with specific compatibility properties, as the silicic acid complexes naturally form and stabilize the interface with any oil phase, providing universal adaptability

Inventive Principle:

Principle #24Intermediary (Mediator)

4Reliability

If silica shell techniques are used, then emulsion stability is improved, but harmful by-products are generated

Engineering Contradiction:

Improveemulsion stabilityVSAvoidharmful by-products

Core Design Contradiction:

ReliabilityVSObject-generated harmful factors

Solution Approach 1:

The patent extracts and eliminates the harmful by-product generation step from the silica shell formation process. By using silicic acid complexation instead of condensation polymerization, the method achieves interface stabilization without producing harmful by-products, while still forming protective complexes at the oil-water interface

Inventive Principle:

Principle #2Taking out (Extraction)

Solution Approach 2:

The patent converts the potentially harmful silicate salts into beneficial silicic acid complexes through pH adjustment. This transformation turns a potentially problematic chemical process into a beneficial stabilization mechanism that produces no harmful by-products, effectively converting a harm into a benefit

Inventive Principle:

Principle #22Blessing in disguise (Convert harm into benefit)

Applied Scientific Principles

This section explains which scientific principles are used to turn an abstract innovation direction into a practical engineering solution.

Function Achieved in This Case

This method results in O/W emulsions with improved stability over several months at room temperature, suitable for various industrial applications, including food, cosmetics, and consumer products, while minimizing surfactant use and avoiding harmful by-products.

Implementation Method 1

creating anionic complexes that are attracted to the cationic surface of the oil droplets

Methodology Applied

Scientific EffectElectrostatic attraction: Ion Repulsion/Attraction

Implementation Method 2

silicic acid complexation allows for the formation of a rigid interface between the oil and water phases

Methodology Applied

Scientific EffectComplexation: Chemical Bonding

Data Source

PatentUS10028895B2Emulsion stabilization via silicilic acid complexation

Publication Date: 2018.07.24 LOREAL SA

AI summary

Disclosed are methods of preparing stable O/W emulsions by silicic acid complexation of micron-sized oil droplets, and stable emulsions prepared by silicic acid complexation. Compositions and products comprising the emulsions are also disclosed. Emulsions may be stable over an extended period of time at room temperature.