A method for validating a homogenizing valve (1), comprising the steps of: —preparing an emulsion having a hydrophilic phase comprising, in weight percentage on the total weight: from 55% to 74% demineralized water, from 10% to 20% glycerin and from 3% to 4,2% butylene glycol, and a lipophilic phase comprising, in weight percentage on the total weight: from 5.1% to 5.9% squalane, from 7.2% to 8.8% caprylic acid alkyl ester and from 0.665% to 0.735% cetyl alcohol; —subjecting the emulsion to forced passage within the homogenizing valve (1) from a high pressure zone (HP) to a low pressure zone (LP) a plurality of times.

Some variations provide an emulsion-colloid system for forming a colloidal barrier material disposed on a substrate, the system comprising a hydrophilic first liquid, an acid, a gelling agent, a hydrophobic second liquid, a plasticizer, and optionally additives, wherein the emulsion-colloid system is characterized by (1) a first instance that is a flowable emulsion above 60° C. and less than the boiling point of the first liquid, and (2) a second instance that is a colloid below 40° C. The emulsion-colloid system is capable of reversible transition, mediated by temperature, between the first instance and the second instance. The disclosed colloidal barrier material provides the functionality of plastic alternatives while removing disadvantages. The disclosed colloidal barrier material reduces labor-intensive application of the barrier, such as the case for covering grain piles with plastic tarps. The disclosed colloidal barrier material also eliminates the need for removal when barrier protection is no longer required.

Some variations provide an emulsion-colloid system for forming a colloidal barrier material disposed on a substrate, the system comprising a hydrophilic first liquid, an acid, a gelling agent, a hydrophobic second liquid, a plasticizer, and optionally additives, wherein the emulsion-colloid system is characterized by (1) a first instance that is a flowable emulsion above 60° C. and less than the boiling point of the first liquid, and (2) a second instance that is a colloid below 40° C. The emulsion-colloid system is capable of reversible transition, mediated by temperature, between the first instance and the second instance. The disclosed colloidal barrier material provides the functionality of plastic alternatives while removing disadvantages. The disclosed colloidal barrier material reduces labor-intensive application of the barrier, such as the case for covering grain piles with plastic tarps. The disclosed colloidal barrier material also eliminates the need for removal when barrier protection is no longer required.

There is provided a stirring device including a stirring tank including an inner peripheral wall which is circular in cross section, at least one circulating impeller and at least one dispersion blade which are located inside the stirring tank and rotatable around a vertical axis independently of each other, and a guide ring disposed radially outward near the dispersion blade. The circulating impeller is disposed along the inner peripheral wall of the stirring tank, and rotates around the vertical axis to form at least a downward flow in a stirring object existing inside the stirring tank. The dispersion blade rotates to apply a shear force to the stirring object, and is disposed at a radially inner position of the stirring tank from the circulating impeller, and at a position in contact with a flow of the stirring object, which is formed by the circulating impeller.

There is provided a stirring device including a stirring tank including an inner peripheral wall which is circular in cross section, at least one circulating impeller and at least one dispersion blade which are located inside the stirring tank and rotatable around a vertical axis independently of each other, and a guide ring disposed radially outward near the dispersion blade. The circulating impeller is disposed along the inner peripheral wall of the stirring tank, and rotates around the vertical axis to form at least a downward flow in a stirring object existing inside the stirring tank. The dispersion blade rotates to apply a shear force to the stirring object, and is disposed at a radially inner position of the stirring tank from the circulating impeller, and at a position in contact with a flow of the stirring object, which is formed by the circulating impeller.

A process for producing a microemulsion or nanoemulsion comprising water and at least one hydrocarbon or oil, comprising the steps of: a) providing the hydrocarbon or oil, water, one or more additives, a solvent, and a hydrophilic surfactant formulation comprising an amine or amide derivative non-ionic surfactant which is a fatty acid alkanolamide, one or more ethoxylated alcohols and/or ethoxylated alkylphenols, and a non-ionic fatty acid ester; b) by a mixing or stirring device operating at a mixing or stirring speed in the range 100 rpm and 15000 rpm, mixing or stirring the hydrophilic surfactant formulation and additive into the solvent, to produce a hydrophilic self-emulsifying blend; c) adding water to the hydrophilic self-emulsifying blend and the hydrocarbon or oil to produce a water-in-hydrocarbon/oil microemulsion or nanoemulsion, wherein the microemulsion or nanoemulsion comprises: 46% or more by mass of the hydrocarbon or oil, 4% to 36% by mass of water, a mass ratio of hydrophilic surfactant formulation to water in the range 1:10 to 1:2, 0.1% to 5% by mass of additive, 1.2% or more by mass of the solvent, a dispersed particle size in the range 1 nm to 500 nm, and a polydispersity index of 35% PdI or less, wherein the percentages by mass of the hydrocarbon or oil, water, formulation, additive and solvent together add up to 100%.

An emulsification device disclosed herein comprises: an outer tank having a first pressing end and a first exit end; and an inner tank having a second pressing end and a second exit end, wherein the inner tank is disposed inside the outer tank and the second exit end is located closer than the second pressing end to the first exit end, the outer tank is configured to house a first liquid and the inner tank is configured to house a second liquid, the first and second pressing ends are arranged so that one pressure can be applied onto both the first and second liquids, and under the pressure, the second liquid flows out of the inner tank through the second exit end and contacts with the first liquid in the outer tank so that an emulsion droplet comprising the second liquid within the first liquid is formed.

An emulsification device disclosed herein comprises: an outer tank having a first pressing end and a first exit end; and an inner tank having a second pressing end and a second exit end, wherein the inner tank is disposed inside the outer tank and the second exit end is located closer than the second pressing end to the first exit end, the outer tank is configured to house a first liquid and the inner tank is configured to house a second liquid, the first and second pressing ends are arranged so that one pressure can be applied onto both the first and second liquids, and under the pressure, the second liquid flows out of the inner tank through the second exit end and contacts with the first liquid in the outer tank so that an emulsion droplet comprising the second liquid within the first liquid is formed.

Emulsifier particles and methods for making and using same. The emulsifier particles can include an alkali metal salt or an alkaline earth metal salt of a carboxylic acid terminated fatty amine condensate, an alkali metal salt or an alkaline earth metal salt of a modified tall oil, or a blend of an alkali metal salt or an alkaline earth metal salt of a carboxylic acid terminated fatty amine condensate and an alkali metal salt or an alkaline earth metal salt of a modified tall oil. The emulsifier particles can have a BET specific surface area of about 0.3 m.sup.2/g to about 1 m.sup.2/g. The method for making the emulsifier particles can include reducing a size of an emulsifier solid via a mechanical attrition process to produce the emulsifier particles.

Emulsifier particles and methods for making and using same. The emulsifier particles can include an alkali metal salt or an alkaline earth metal salt of a carboxylic acid terminated fatty amine condensate, an alkali metal salt or an alkaline earth metal salt of a modified tall oil, or a blend of an alkali metal salt or an alkaline earth metal salt of a carboxylic acid terminated fatty amine condensate and an alkali metal salt or an alkaline earth metal salt of a modified tall oil. The emulsifier particles can have a BET specific surface area of about 0.3 m.sup.2/g to about 1 m.sup.2/g. The method for making the emulsifier particles can include reducing a size of an emulsifier solid via a mechanical attrition process to produce the emulsifier particles.