What You Need to Know
Amphiphilic surfactants such as lecithin adsorb at the oil–water interface, lowering interfacial tension and creating a viscoelastic film that resists droplet coalescence. High shear reduces droplet size, increasing kinetic stability, while elevated temperatures accelerate phospholipid hydrolysis, weakening the film. Electrolytes screen electrostatic repulsion, promoting flocculation, and extreme pH alters emulsifier ionization, leading to film rupture.
The Science
Primary Reaction
Interfacial film formation and hydrolysis of phospholipids