Journal of Colloid and Interface Science, Vol.180, No.1, 77-85, 1996
Phase-Behavior of Lecithin-Water Mixtures in N-Hexane and Near-Critical Propane - Influence of Cosurfactants Caprylic-Acid and 1-Butanol
The phase behavior of mixtures of water and lecithin in near-critical propane and n-hexane was studied as a function of the overall water concentration c(overall)(water) with and without added cosurfactant. Six different equilibria were identified in n-hexane with increasing c(overall)(water) in the absence of cosurfactant, whereas only two different equilibria were observed in the presence of one mole of caprylic acid per mole lecithin. Using near-critical propane as the continuous phase solvent, the phase behavior could be varied as a function of pressure; Cloud-point pressures were determined with and without caprylic acid. An unusual behavior was found for the cloud-point pressure as a function of c(overall)(water), In the absence of cosurfactant, the formation of a highly viscous organogel was observed at low overall water concentrations. This gel formation was reversible and pressure dependent.