AN EXPERIMENT DEMONSTRATING THAT BioOne® DOES NOT EMULSIFY OIL & GREASE
A sample of rehydrated BioOne® FD was examined to determine the emulsification ability of this product. The emulsifying activity index (EAI) was measured according to the procedure of Saito et al. The EAI numbers determined were compared to control standards such as distilled water and a standard emulsifier lecithin.
A sample of rehydrated BioOne® FD was examined to determine the ability of this product to re-suspend fats and oils. A measured amount of the vegetable oil was added to a measured amount of rehydrated BioOne® product. These materials were placed in a separatory funnel. The separatory funnel was shaken for 2 minutes. The separatory funnel was then placed in a ring stand and allowed to stand undisturbed for various time intervals. The two layers were collected and the weights were determined. The results were compared o distilled water and a known emulsifier lecithin.
The results depicted in the following table show that the known emulsifier lecithin caused the weight of the oil phase to increase over time. The resuspension of the oil, in the lecithin test demonstrated the effect that emulsifiers have on oils. The BioOne® product and the distilled water control had no resuspension effect and did NOT emulsify the oil.
WEIGHT OF OIL PHASE IN RESUSPENSION ASSAY:
Sample |
Time (minutes) |
|||
0 min |
15 min |
30 min |
45 min |
|
Control (Distilled Water) |
20 g |
20 g |
20 g |
20 g |
*Lecithin |
20 g |
35 g |
50 g |
53 g |
BioOne® |
20 g |
20 g |
20 g |
20 g |
Before |
After |
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Liquid BioOne, water, and vegetable oil prior to shaking |
BioOne: The layer of oil is still intact, showing that no emulsifying agents are present in BioOne |
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Lecithin: Lecithin, water, and vegetable oil prior to shaking. |
Lecithin: After sitting overnight, the lecithin fully dissolved and the oil has been completely emulsified. The flask now contains a pink gelatinous mass. |
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Detergent: Detergent, water, and vegetable oil prior to shaking
|
Detergent: Emulsification by the detergent is visible in this photograph. |
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Water: Water and vegetable oil prior to shaking |
Water: As expected the layer of oil is still intact in the flask containing only water, showing the absence of emulsifiers. |
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Materials that exhibit emulsification properties allow for a mixture of two immiscible liquids. One liquid is dispersed throughout the other in small droplets, and the droplets remain dispersed for a fixed period of time. The BioOne® product does not exhibit any emulsification properties when mixed with the materials present in a grease trap
EMULSIFICATION PHOTOS:
Four flasks were each filled with 100 ml of water and 20 grams of vegetable oil that was dyed red for visibility's sake. Each flask received a treatment of 20 grams of one of the following: lecithin (an emulsifier), dish detergent, Liquid BioOne®, and water. After adding the treatments, each flask was shaken thoroughly to mix the contents. Flasks sat overnight and photos were taken again the following morning.
