Effect of electrolytes on formulation and stability of water/di-ethyl oxalate/Tween micro-emulsions

The effects of different electrolytes on the formulation and stability of (water/diethyl oxalate/Tween-80) and (water/diethyl oxalate/Tween 80/isopropylene glycol) micro-emulsions were studied. Properties were measured at different time intervals, and after the micro-emulsions were stored for a long period of time in household freezers and at 50°C. Using weak electrolytes, e.g., acetic or propanoic acid, gave better characteristics in terms of a broader marginal stability and longer shelf-life under high-temperature, ambient, and cold conditions. This is an abstract of a paper presented at the 18th International Congress of Chemical Process Engineering (Praque, Czech Republic 8/24-28/2008).