Emulsifiers
Emulsifiers are substances and products that create a more or less permanent bond between substances that would otherwise occur in separate phases. A typical everyday example is a salad dressing made from vinegar (water-based) and oil (fat-based). Both phases normally do not combine permanently. Even after prolonged and vigorous stirring, the oil and water separate again. However, with an emulsifier (e.g. egg yolk), a stable connection can be created. We call this mixture mayonnaise. It works due to the natural emulsifier lecithin, which is found in egg yolk.
What is an emulsifier?
By definition, emulsifiers are additives that are used to combine two liquids that are not normally miscible, such as oil and water, into a finely dispersed mixture known as an emulsion. At the same time, this mixture is stabilised. The same principle also applies to the mixing of solid, insoluble substances in a liquid. This is known as a suspension. These additives are often also referred to as surfactants and are used in a wide range of applications, including pharmaceuticals, food technology as food additives, the oil industry, household products, cosmetics and many other large-scale industrial applications.
How does an emulsifier work?
From a chemical perspective, emulsifiers contain both hydrophilic and hydrophobic regions. The hydrophobic part (water-repellent or fat-loving = lipophilic) attaches itself to the fat, while the hydrophilic part attaches itself to the water. The emulsifier therefore creates a bridge between fats and water.
There are both oil-in-water and water-in-oil emulsifiers. Typical and well-known emulsifiers include lecithin, which is industrially obtained from soybeans, rapeseed or sunflower seeds. In addition to this well-known emulsifier, many stearates, esters of fatty acids, mono- and diglycerides as well as stearic acid also have emulsifying properties. Waxes such as beeswax or shea butter also have a certain emulsion-forming effect.
Emulsions are produced not only by the food industry but also in many technical applications. Typical cosmetic formulations are also emulsions made from oils, waxes and water, together with various active ingredients.
Content: 0.1 Kilogram (€59.90 / 1 Kilogram)
Content: 10 Kilogram (€53.55 / 1 Kilogram)
