Abstract

Surfactant mixtures for the production of stable gas-in-liquid emulsions are provided comprising:
(a) a member selected from the group consisting of glycerol monoesters of saturated carboxylic acids containing from about 10 to 18 carbon atoms and aliphatic alcohols containing from about 10 to about 18 carbon atoms;
(b) a sterol-aromatic acid ester;
(c) a member selected from the group consisting of sterols, terpenes, bile acids and alkali metal salts of bile acids;
(d) a member selected from the group consisting of sterol esters of aliphatic acids containing from 1 to about 18 carbon atoms; sterol esters of sugar acids; esters of sugar acids and aliphatic alcohols containing from about 10 to about 18 carbon atoms; esters of sugars and aliphatic acids containing from about 10 to about 18 carbon atoms; sugar acids; saponins; and sapogenins; and
(e) a member selected from the group consisting of glycerol, glycerol di- or triesters of aliphatic acids containing from about 10 to about 18 carbon atoms and aliphatic alcohols containing from about 10 to about 18 carbon atoms;
said components being present in said mixture in a weight ratio a:b:c:d:e of 2-4:0.5-1.5:0.5-1.5:0-1.5:0-1.5.

Processes are also provided for forming stable gas-in-liquid emulsions from said surfactant mixtures.