Preparation and Optimization of a Basic Pickering Emulsion Using Factorial Experimental Design and Experimental Evidence

Abstract

Pickering emulsion is a surfactant-free emulsion that is stabilized by solid particles. While Pickering emulsion is also utilized as a drug-releasing control system, these solid particles help reduce the usage of synthetic surfactants, which may have toxicological implications. Therefore, the objective is to create and assess W/O Pickering emulsions stabilized by solid particles of magnesium oxide. In order to emulsify an oil-dispersing phase, we gradually add an aqueous phase and use a stator mixer to disperse it. The results of our investigation into the stability of emulsions (physical, conductivity, pH, droplet size, and rheology, including viscosity) indicate that the type of Pickering emulsion is W/O by dye test. The goal of this work is to prepare a basic Pickering emulsion utilizing a factorial experimental design, along with other tests like pH, rheology (including viscosity and droplet size), and PDI. The factorial experimental design will be used to examine the impact of several parameters on the general emulsion features and the interactions between these factors as they relate to the created Pickering emulsion. Increasing the concentration of MgO from 2 gm to 3 gm led to a decrease in the Pickering emulsion droplet size from 2005 nm to 727.4 nm and an increase in the Pickering emulsion formulation stability. An increase in the yield values is in agreement with the logical concept that increasing the solid particle concentration requires more shear stress to move, with a viscosity of 23,068 Pa. An optimized basic Pickering emulsion formulation for a variety of applications is obtained by applying the factorial experimental design, confirming that the stability of the emulsion may be improved by adding more magnesium oxide particles. This indicates the effective formulation of the W/O Pickering emulsion, which includes magnesium oxide particles for stabilization.