Ostwald Ripening of Alkane in Water Emulsions Stabilized by Polyoxyethylene (20) Sorbitan Monolaurate

The Ostwald ripening of alkane in water emulsions stabilized by the surfactant polyoxyethylene (20) sorbitan monolaurate (Tween 20) was investigated. For emulsions prepared in the presence of excess micellar surfactant the Ostwald ripening rate enhancements with surfactant concentrations over the theoretical predictions of Lifshitz, Slyozov, and Wagner (LSW-theory) are less than a factor 3. For emulsions prepared with low surfactant concentration, followed by surfactant addition to the already-formed emulsion, the enhancements are up to a factor of 20, with increasing surfactant concentration.