Stable emulsion formulations of encapsulated volatile compounds
The present invention is based on the discovery of a stable water-in-oil-in-water double emulsion. The double emulsion composition disclosed may contain molecular complex of volatile compounds for example 1-methylcyclopropene (1-MCP). In addition, the double emulsion composition disclosed can provide prolong or controlled release of the volatile compounds.
1. An aqueous-in-oil-in-aqueous double emulsion composition comprising:
(a) an aqueous-in-oil emulsion composition comprising an aqueous phase and an oil phase;
(b) a hydrophilic emulsifier, wherein the hydrophilic emulsifier is hydroxyethyl cellulose;
(c) a surfactant, wherein the surfactant is an aqueous salt solution of a styrene-maleic anhydride copolymer and wherein the surfactant has a hydrophilic/lipophilic balance (HLB) of between 10-15; and
(d) a second aqueous phase,
wherein the aqueous-in-oil emulsion composition comprises i) a molecular complex of an encapsulated volatile compound, ii) a salt, and iii) water,
wherein the molecular complex of the encapsulated volatile compound comprises a cyclopropene molecular encapsulating agent complex, and
wherein the cyclopropene is 1-methylcyclopropene (1-MCP).
2. The aqueous-in-oil-in-aqueous double emulsion composition of claim 1 , wherein the aqueous phase comprises an aqueous phase containing salt (APCS).
3. The aqueous-in-oil-in-aqueous double emulsion composition of claim 2 , wherein the salt comprises magnesium sulfate or ammonium sulfate.
4. The aqueous-in-oil-in-aqueous double emulsion composition of claim 2 , wherein the APCS comprises the molecular complex of the encapsulated volatile compound.
5. The aqueous-in-oil-in-aqueous double emulsion composition of claim 2 , wherein the aqueous-in-oil emulsion composition comprises a lipophilic emulsifier.
6. The aqueous-in-oil-in-aqueous double emulsion composition of claim 5 , wherein the lipophilic emulsifier is polyglycerol polyricinoleate (PGPR).
7. The aqueous-in-oil-in-aqueous double emulsion composition of claim 2 , wherein the aqueous-in-oil emulsion composition comprises an oil soluble thickener.
8. The aqueous-in-oil-in-aqueous double emulsion composition of claim 1 , wherein the hydroxyethyl cellulose is present at a concentration of 0.3% by weight of the second aqueous phase.
9. The aqueous-in-oil-in-aqueous double emulsion composition of claim 1 , wherein the styrene-maleic anhydride copolymer is a partial ester of the styrene-maleic anhydride copolymer.
10. The aqueous-in-oil-in-aqueous double emulsion composition of claim 1 , wherein the surfactant has a hydrophilic/lipophilic balance (HLB) between 11-15.
11. The aqueous-in-oil-in-aqueous double emulsion composition of claim 1 , wherein the surfactant has a hydrophilic/lipophilic balance (HLB) selected from the group consisting of 12, 12.3, 13, 13.8, 14, 14.4, and 15.
12. The aqueous-in-oil-in-aqueous double emulsion composition of claim 1 , wherein the surfactant has a hydrophilic/lipophilic balance (HLB) selected from the group consisting of 12.3, 13.8, and 14.4.
13. A method for preparing an aqueous-in-oil-in-aqueous double emulsion composition, comprising:
(a) preparing an aqueous-in-oil emulsion composition using an aqueous phase, an oil phase, a lipophilic emulsifier, and an oil soluble thickener;
(b) combining an active ingredient into the aqueous-in-oil emulsion composition; and
(c) dispersing the aqueous-in-oil emulsion composition into a second aqueous phase,
(d) adding a hydrophilic emulsifier to the second aqueous phase, wherein the hydrophilic emulsifier is hydroxyethyl cellulose;
(e) adding a surfactant to the second aqueous phase, wherein the surfactant is an aqueous salt solution of a styrene-maleic anhydride copolymer and wherein the surfactant has a hydrophilic/lipophilic balance (HLB) of between 10-15;
wherein the aqueous-in-oil emulsion composition comprises i) a molecular complex of an encapsulated volatile compound, ii) a salt, and iii) water, wherein the molecular complex of the encapsulated volatile compound comprises a cyclopropene molecular encapsulating agent complex, and wherein the cyclopropene is 1-methylcyclopropene (1-MCP); and
wherein the aqueous phase of the aqueous-in-oil composition is in direct contact with the oil phase of the aqueous-in-oil emulsion.
14. The method for preparing an aqueous-in-oil-in-aqueous double emulsion composition of claim 13 , wherein the aqueous phase comprises an aqueous phase containing salt (APCS).
15. The method for preparing an aqueous-in-oil-in-aqueous double emulsion composition of claim 13 , wherein the lipophilic emulsifier is polyglycerol polyricinoleate (PGPR).
16. The method for preparing an aqueous-in-oil-in-aqueous double emulsion composition of claim 13 , wherein the hydroxyethyl cellulose is present at a concentration of 0.3% by weight of the second aqueous phase.
17. The method for preparing an aqueous-in-oil-in-aqueous double emulsion composition of claim 13 , wherein the styrene-maleic anhydride copolymer is a partial ester of the styrene-maleic anhydride copolymer.
18. The method for preparing an aqueous-in-oil-in-aqueous double emulsion composition of claim 13 , wherein the surfactant has a hydrophilic/lipophilic balance (HLB) of between 11-15.
19. The method for preparing an aqueous-in-oil-in-aqueous double emulsion composition of claim 13 , wherein the surfactant has a hydrophilic/lipophilic balance (HLB) selected from the group consisting of 12, 12.3, 13, 13.8, 14, 14.4, and 15.
20. The method for preparing an aqueous-in-oil-in-aqueous double emulsion composition of claim 13 , wherein the surfactant has a hydrophilic/lipophilic balance (HLB) selected from the group consisting of 12.3, 13.8, and 14.4.