Oil-water-cellulose ether emulsions were prepared with two
different cellulose ethers with thermogelling ability, supplied by
The Dow Chemical Co. (K4M and K250M). Both are hydroxipropilmethylcellulose, but K4M has a viscosity of 4 Pas in a 2 g/100 g aqueous solution at 20 C, and K250M has a viscosity of 250 Pas. The ingredients of the emulsion were sunflower oil with ahigh level of oleic acid (Carrefour, Madrid, Spain), water and the different cellulose ethers. The proportions used were sunflower oil51 g/100 g, cellulose ether 2 g/100 g and water 47 g/100 g.
The cellulose ether was first dispersed in the oil using a Heidolph stirrer
at the lowest speed for 5 min. The cellulose ether was then hydrated by gradually adding the water at 10 C while continuing to stir. Stirring continued using a homogenizer (Ultraturrax T18, IKAGermany) until the emulsion was obtained.