Thursday, November 3, 2016





PHARMACEUTICAL PRODUCT DEVELOPMENT
NFNF2213
SEMESTER 1
SESSION 2016/2017
LAB REPORT 2

LECTURER : DR.NG SHIOW FERN
GROUP A

GROUP 2 MEMBERS :
NISHAAL KORAN (A153334)
TAN MIN ANNE (A152663)
MUHAMMAD ROSMAN BIN JUNAIDI (A153262)
MUHAMAD HAZWAN BIN HARUN (A152983)
LEOW PUI MUN (A152593)





TITLE
Characterisation of Emulsion Formulation

OBJECTIVE
The objective of the investigation is to study the effects of HLB surfactant on the stability of the emulsion. Besides that, the effects of different oil phases used in the formulation on the physical characteristics and stability of the emulsion is studied as well.

INTRODUCTION
Emulsion is a two-phase system that is not stable thermodynamically. It contains at least two immiscible liquids where one of them know as internal or disperse phase is dispersed homogenously in another liquid considered to be the continuous phase. In general, emulsion can be divided into two types, oil-in-water emulsion (o/w) and water-in-oil emulsion (w/o). Emulsion is stabilised by adding emulsifying agent. The hydrophilic-lipophilic balance or in short HLB method is used to determine the quantity and type of surfactant that is needed to prepare a stable emulsion. Every surfactant is given a number in the HLB scale, that is, from 1 (lipophilic) to 20 (hydrophilic). Usually, a combination of 2 emulsifying agent is used to form a more stable emulsion.
Therefore, HLB value for the combination of emulsifying agents can be determined using the formula below :

APPARATUS
8 test tubes
50 ml measuring cylinder
2 sets of pasture pipettes and droppers
Vortex mixer
Weighing boat
1 set of mortar and pestle
Light microscope
Microscope slides
1 set of 5 ml pipette and bulb
50 ml beaker
15 ml centrifugation tube
Centrifugation apparatus
Viscometer
Water bath (45 degree Celsius)
Refrigerator (4 degree Celsius)

MATERIALS
Palm oil
Arachis oil
Olive oil
Mineral oil
Distilled water
Span 20
Tween 80
Sudan III solution (0.5%)


PRODECURES
1. Each test tube is labelled and 1 cm is marked from the base of the test tube.

2. 4 ml of oil  (according to Table 1) is mixed with 4 ml of distilled water in the specific test tubes.

TABLE 1
Group
Oil
1,5
Palm oil
2,6
Arachis oil
3,7
Olive oil
4,8
Mineral oil

3. Span 20 and Tween 80 is added into the mixture of oil and water (according to Table 2). The test tube is closed and the contents are mixed with vortex mixer 45 seconds. The time needed for the interface to reach 1 cm is recorded. The HLB value for each of the sample is determined. Steps 1-3 is repeated to obtain an average HLB value of a duplicate.

TABLE 2
Tube no.
1
2
3
4
5
6
7
8
Span 20 (drops)
15
12
12
6
6
3
0
0
Tween 80 (drops)
3
6
9
9
15
18
15
0

4. A few drops of Sudan III solution is added to 1 g emulsion formed in a weighing boat and is mixed homogenously. The spread of the colour in the sample is compared. Some of the sample is spread on a microscope slide and is observed under light microscope. The appearance and globule size formed is described.

5. A Mineral Oil Emulsion (50 g) is prepared from the formulation below by using wet gum method according to Table 3a & 3b :

TABLE 3a
Mineral Oil
Refer Table 3b
Acacia
6.25 g
Syrup
5 ml
Vanillin
2 g
Alcohol
3 ml
Distilled water qs.
50 ml

TABLE 3b
Emulsion
Group
Mineral Oil (ml)
I
1,5
20
II
2,6
25
III
3,7
30
IV
4,8
35

6. 40 g of emulsion is placed into a 50 ml beaker and homogenized for 2 minutes using a vortex mixer.

7. 2 g of emulsion is taken (before and after homogenization) and placed into a weighing boat and labelled. A few drops of Sudan III solution is added and mixed. The texture, consistency, degree of oily appearance and the spreading of colour in the sample under the light microscope is stated and compared.

8. The viscosity of the emulsion formed after homogenization is determined using a viscometer that is calibrated with “Spindle” type LV-4. The sample is exposed to 45 degree Celsius water bath for 15 minutes and then to 4 degree Celsius refrigerator for another 15 minutes. After the exposure to the temperature cycle is finished, the viscosity of the emulsion is determined when the emulsion has reached room temperature. Step 8 is repeated again and the average value is obtained.

TABLE 4
Readings
Viscosity (cP)
Average
1
2
3
4
5
6
Before Temperature Cycle







After Temperature Cycle







Difference (%)


 9. 5 g of homogenised emulsion is placed into a centrifugation tube and centrifuged. The height of the separation formed is measured and the ratio of the height separation is determined.


Mineral Oil (ml)
Ratio of phase separation
Average
Ratio of separation phase
20



25



30



35





RESULTS

Test Tube
Microscopic image
HLB value
Observation of Sudan III Test
(naked eye)
Observation under microscope
Type of emulsion
1

9.67
The emulsion is clear.
The sudan III disperse evenly.

A few globules are formed.
The size of globules is small
Red dye can be seen on continuous phase.
Water in oil
2


10.70
The emulsion is milky but less viscous.
Sudan III disperse evenly but slowly.






Large and small globule size are formed and evenly distributed.
Red dye can be seen on continuous phase.
Water in oil
3



11.34
The emulsion is milky and less viscous.
The Sudan III dye disperse evenly.

Small and medium size of globules unevenly distributed.
Red dye can be seen on disperse phase.
Oil in water
4


12.44
The emulsion is very milky and viscous.
Sudan III disperse unevenly.
Red precipitate shown in the emulsion.
A large globule are formed.
The small and medium globules are semi-distributed.
Red dye can be seen on disperse phase.
Oil in water
5



13.17
White milky emulsion is formed and the emulsion is viscous.
The Sudan III disperse evenly but slowly.
Bubble is observed on top .
Medium and small globules are formed and evenly distributed.
Red dye can be seen on disperse phase.
Oil in water
6


14.09
The emulsion is a bit milky and less viscosity.
Sudan III disperse throughout the emulsion.
Many bubbles is observed.
A more uniform, medium size of globule is formed.
Red dye can be seen on disperse phase.
Oil in water
7

15.00
Milky emulsion is formed and the emulsion is less  condensed.
Sudan III dye disperse evenly.
Little bubbles is formed
Small and medium size of globule is distributed uniformly.
Red dye can be seen on disperse phase.
Oil in water
8

0
The emulsion is milky but not so thick.
The Sudan III disperse rapidly in emulsion.
Little bubbles is formed.
Many large globules are formed.
Red dye can be seen on continuous phase.
Water in oil

For palm oil :
Tube no.
1
2
3
4
5
6
7
8
Span 20 (drops)
15
12
12
6
6
3
0
0
Tween 80 (drops)
3
6
9
9
15
18
15
0
Time taken (1st value) (min)
51:32
47:20
40:15
38:24
37:51
36:09
10:42
01:15
Time taken (2nd value) (min)
49:31
48:10
43:02
37:17
32:19
32:25
09:07
00:50
Average
50:32
47:45
41:38
37:50
35:05
34:17
09:55
01:02

For arachis oil :
Tube no.
1
2
3
4
5
6
7
8
Span 20 (drops)
15
12
12
6
6
3
0
0
Tween 80 (drops)
3
6
9
9
15
18
15
0
Time taken (1st value) (min)
2:16:40
1:58:26
1:32:16
1:13:21
41:18
27:38
10:19
00:06
Time taken (2nd value) (min)
170
113
100
67
42
31
19
1
Average
153
115:30
96
70
41:30
29
14:30
0:53

For olive oil :
Tube no.
1
2
3
4
5
6
7
8
Span 20 (drops)
15
12
12
6
6
3
0
0
Tween 80 (drops)
3
6
9
9
15
18
15
0
Time taken (1st value) (min)
Does not reach interphase after
120 mins
Does not reach interphase after
120 mins
Does not reach interphase after
120 mins
128:00
70:00
55.00
3:00
1:00
Time taken (2nd value) (min)
0:07:43
Does not reach interphase after 120 mins
Does not reach interphase after
120 mins
Does not reach interphase after
120 mins
0:36:28
0:59:00
0:09:58
0:03:11
Average
Does not reach interphase after 120 mins
Does not reach interphase after 120 mins
Does not reach interphase after 120 mins
Does not reach interphase after 120 mins
0:53:14
0:57:00
0:06:29
0:02:05

    For mineral oil :
Tube no.
1
2
3
4
5
6
7
8
Span 20 (drops)
15
12
12
6
6
3
0
0
Tween 80 (drops)
3
6
9
9
15
18
15
0
Time taken (1st value) (min)
1:23:52
1:23:16       
0:52:49   
0:55:30
0:33:21
0:28:06
0:20:00
  0:02:35
Time taken (2nd value) (min)
49:46
24:59
23:05
18:45
12:19
9:34
3:27
3:03
Average
66
53:30
37.5
36:30
22:30
18:30
12
1:30


COMPARISON BEFORE AND AFTER HOMOGENIZATION 

Differences in viscosity before and after temperature cycle for 25mL oil

Reading

Viscosity (cP)
Average
1
2
3
4
5
6

Before Temperature cycle
42.4
41.6
39.9
41.8
44.1
42.5
42.05
After temperature cycle
44.2
46.3
62.0
56.4
42.4
38.8
48.35
Difference percent
48.35-42.05/48.35 x 100 = 13.02%



DIFFERENCE IN VISCOSITY BETWEEN GROUPS BEFORE AND AFTER TEMPERATURE CYCLE

Groups
Oil (ml)
Difference (%)
Group 1
20
49.19
Group 2
25
13.02
Group 3
30
47.62
Group 4
35
24.00
Group 5
20
65.22
Group 6
25
79.57
Group 7
30
104.25
Group 8
35
33.60


RATIO OF SEPARATION PHASE

Mineral oil (ml)
Ratio of separation phase
Average
Ratio of separation phase
20
Group  1
0.78
Group 5
0.7
0.74
0.04 + 0.74
25
Group 2
0.52
Group 6
0.5
0.51
0.01 + 0.51
30
Group 3
0.58
Group 7
0.42
0.50
0.08 + 0.50
35
Group 4
0.89
Group 8
0.47
0.68
0.21 + 0.68



DISCUSSION

In this experiment, we can know the type of certain emulsion by Sudan III test. This test can indicate the position of oil in the emulsion. It solution is in red colour and it will dissolve in the oil phase. It will give a red colour to the oil phase. The aqueous solution will not stained by this solution and will appear in colourless. We can see the stained of oil phase by using microscope. Hence, it can be used to determine the type of emulsion whether it is oil in water (o/w) emulsion or water in oil (w/o) emulsion. If the emulsion is oil in water (o/w) emulsion, the globules formed will be stained in red colour while if the emulsion is water in oil (w/o) emulsion, red background will formed.

From the table for palm oil, we can conclude that tube 1 -3 are more stable emulsion compared to tube 4-8. In tube number 8, there are no emulsifiers added, therefore the average time taken for interphase to reach 1 cm are very fast which only takes 1.02 minutes. The palm oil emulsion is not stable at all at this stage as it separates into distinct layer rapidly. From tube number 4 until 7, the emulsion also not stable due to the imbalance distribution of emulsifiers added. In conclusion, the palm oil emulsion is most stable at HLB value 9.67-11.34 (can be observe at tube 1-3) provided the emulsifiers are slightly hydrophilic, hence this is an oil-in-water emulsion. 

Arachis oil are mix with water and emulsifying agent are added to make the two solution miscible. After all solution are added, test tube are placed on vortex mixer so that all the solution are mix uniformly. Time taken for the interface to reach 1 cm are recorded. The result are as above. The time taken for the interface to reach 1 cm can be concluded as the stability of the mixture. From tube number 3 until 7, the emulsions are not stable because the interphase are separated before or around 120 minutes. The cohesive forces are greater than adhesive forces. In tube 8, there are no emulsifying agents added. So the emulsion is unstable and yet the globules tend to coalescence to form big globules. In short, the arachis oil emulsion is stable at HLB value of 9.67-11.34. Since the emulsifiers are slightly hydrophilic, we assume this is an oil-in-water emulsion.

From the table, the olive oil emulsion in tube 1-4 are the most stable because inter phase did not reach 1cm after 120 minutes. After shearing, emulsifiers such as Span 20 and Tween 80 break the globules into smaller globules to increase the surface area and hence increase surface free energy. So the HLB values of emulsifiers are in the range of 9.67-10.37 is the most suitable. Since the emulsifiers also slightly hydrophilic, we assume this is an oil-in- water emulsion. However, results of Group 7 showed that in tube 4, the interphase also did not reach 1cm after 120 minutes but  this is different from Group 3 results as the interphase is separated at 128 minutes. After taking the average readings, the emulsion in those tubes are considered unstable. This may occur due to error occurred during the experiment such as accidentally added excessive emulsifiers. Error also occur at tube 1 for group 7, because the emulsions in tube 1 are supposed to be stable and did not separate but the emulsion separates so quick. Error that may occur are such as impurities present causing alteration in the emulsions.

From the table, mineral oil emulsion used in tube 1 of both Group 4 and 8 showed the increasing of time taken for inter phase to reach 1 cm as the HLB values increase. The stability of mineral oil are relatively lower than other oil because the average time taken for interphase to reach 1 cm are faster compared to other oil.

Based on the results, it can be concluded that only tube 1 have the stable emulsion thus the suitable HLB is 9.67.

            Temperature cycle test is used to determine the stability of the emulsions in terms of stability, storage, shelf life of the emulsions as we never know what will happen to the emulsion given to a patient if they store it in different temperature and conditions. Firstly, the viscosity of the emulsions should be measured before and after the temperature cycle in order to calculate the difference between the two values. If there is a small difference in the viscosity before and after the test, it means that the emulsion is a stable emulsion because the emusion deviates less from the original emulsion. According to the results, emulsion with 25ml of mineral oil (group 2) has the smallest difference in viscosity, which should be the most stable emulsion. In this experiment, there might be certain errors occurred during the experiment like insensitivity of the viscometer.
            Centrifugation of the emulsion is used in order to test the rate stability of emulsion by calculatng the rate of sedimentation. The higher the ratio of separation phase, the lower the stability of the emulsions.In the experiment, the emulsion with 25ml of mineral oil shows the least ratio of separation which means that it has the greatest stability among other emulsions, proven in the results that were compared with other groups. However, this does not justify accurately as there might be some broken structure of emulsion due to extreme shear of centrifugation.

CONCLUSION


Combination of a few surfactants will give the accurate HLB value required to form a stable emulsion. Different types of oil have different viscosity. The higher the amount of oil, the higher the viscosity and the more the separation phase.