Statistical analysis of the effects of polyethylene glycol concentration and molecular weight on the sedimentation and resuspendability behavior of model aqueous dispersions

This work investigates the flocculation effect of polyethylene glycol (PEG) on typical aqueous dispersions, such as O/W emulsions and solid/liquid suspensions. Hereby, sunflower oil and flubendazole were selected as model ingredients, whereas microfluidization at variable driving air pressure was used to enable particle size distribution variations for both systems. The molecular weight of PEG varied from 2000 to 12,000g/mol while its concentration ranged from 50 to 100mg/ml. Statistical analysis revealed that both PEG concentration and molecular weight showed a flocculation enhancing effect. Hereby the inhibiting effect of particle size toward the formation of voluminous and easily resuspendable sediment could at least partially be overcome by selecting appropriate PEG characteristics.