Some aggregation effects observed with an emulsion dispersed in saline containing cetrimide

Abstract

Aggregation behaviour has been observed when an emulsion containing liquid paraffin and cetostearyl alcohol as disperse phase is diluted in saline containing cetrimide below the critical micelle concentration. This aggregation has been examined with the Coulter Counter. Under standardised conditions the apparent size of the aggregated particles is directly related to the logarithm of the molar concentration of the cetrimide present over three orders of magnitude. Above the critical micelle concentration the particles appear to be deaggregated.