Method of preparing a gelling agent, the gelling agent obtained thereby, and the use of said gelling agent
The present invention relates to a method of obtaining a novel gelling agent. Said method comprises adding ethylcellulose, to a mixture of propyleneglycol laurate and propyleneglycol isostearate at a temperature of between 90° C. and 110° C. The method according to the invention provides a simpler, less energy consuming, cheaper and easier way of obtaining a substantially gelling agent which can be used for manufacturing an oleogel and/or a bigel, for cosmetic and/or pharmaceutical use.
1. A method for preparing a gelling agent, said method comprises the following consecutive steps:
a) mixing propyleneglycol laurate and propyleneglycol isostearate, providing a first mixture,
b) adding ethylcellulose to the first mixture under stirring, thereby providing a second mixture,
c) continuously stirring the second mixture until a substantially homogeneous gelling agent is formed, and
wherein step a), b) and c) are performed at a temperature between about 90° C. and about 110° C., and
wherein the amount of ethylcellulose added in step b) is between 4 wt % and 5.5 wt % based on the total weight of the gelling agent, and wherein the amount of propyleneglycol isostearate added in step a) is at least 5 wt % and not more than 25 wt %, based on the total weight of the gelling agent.
2. The method according to claim 1 , wherein the temperature in step a) and/or b) and/or c) is about 100° C.
3. The method according to claim 1 , wherein ethylcellulose in step b) is added stepwise to the mixture obtained in step a).
4. The method according to claim 3 , wherein between 1/10 and ⅓ of the ethyl cellulose is added in each step-wise step.
5. The method according to claim 1 , wherein step a), b) and c) are performed under constant stirring.
6. The method according to claim 1 , wherein the ethylcellulose has a molecular weight of about 160,000 g/mol and/or an ethoxyl substitution degree of between 48.0-49.5%.
7. The method according to claim 1 , wherein the amount of ethylcellulose added in step b) is about 4.5 wt %, about 4.75 wt %, or about 5 wt %.
8. The method according to claim 1 , wherein the amount of propyleneglycol laurate added in step a) is at least 70 wt % and not more than 90 wt %, based on the total weight of the gelling agent.