Achieving Clarity with PCMX, Pine Oil, and a Solubilizer

When mixing oil-based ingredients like Pine Oil with water using a standard emulsifier, the result is typically a cloudy or milky emulsion. This is because the oil droplets are large enough to scatter light.

To achieve a clear solution, you need to use a specific type of emulsifier called a solubilizer. Solubilizers create much smaller dispersed particles (microemulsion), which do not scatter visible light, resulting in a clear appearance.

Additionally, the PCMX (Chloroxylenol) powder you are using needs to be dissolved in a suitable solvent before being incorporated into a water-based system. According to the product information, PCMX powder dissolves in organic solvents and glycols.

Here is a general approach to try and achieve a clear solution:

1. Dissolve PCMX: Dissolve the PCMX powder in a suitable solvent such as Ethanol, Propylene Glycol, or another glycol. Ensure the PCMX is fully dissolved.
2. Mix Pine Oil with Solubilizer: Combine the Pine Oil with a suitable solubilizer. The ratio of solubilizer to Pine Oil is crucial and needs to be determined through experimentation. A common starting point is 2-5 parts solubilizer to 1 part oil, but this can vary significantly depending on the specific ingredients.
3. Combine Phases: Mix the dissolved PCMX/solvent solution with the Pine Oil/solubilizer mixture until well combined.
4. Add to Water: Slowly add the combined oil/solvent/solubilizer phase to the water phase while stirring gently. Avoid vigorous mixing.

For clarity, you should use a solubilizer specifically designed for this purpose. Some suitable solubilizers to consider include:

• Flora Solve™ Clear
• Ultra Solve™
• Eco Solve™
• Free Solve™ (PEG-Free Solubilizer)
• PPG-6-Decyltetradeceth-30

Important Considerations:

• Ratio is Key: Finding the correct ratio of Pine Oil, Solubilizer, and the PCMX solvent relative to the water phase is critical for clarity. This requires careful testing.
• Order of Addition: The typical order is to prepare the oil/solvent/solubilizer phase first and then slowly add it to the water.
• Experimentation: You will need to perform small-scale tests to find the optimal ratios for your specific formulation to achieve a clear solution at 4.8% PCMX and your desired Pine Oil concentration.

Using a standard emulsifier will result in a cloudy product. Switching to a suitable solubilizer and finding the right ratios is the way to achieve clarity.