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 a
high level of oleic acid (Carrefour, Madrid, Spain), water and the
different cellulose ethers. The proportions used were sunflower oil
51 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, IKA,
Germany) until the emulsion was obtained.