Process for preparing an emulsion
AssigneeMerck & Co., Inc.
InventorsMichael Midler, Jr., Edward Paul
Life of this patent
Estimating the term…
Abstract
A process for preparing a highly stable water-in-oil type emulsion consisting of (a) a disperse aqueous phase; (b) a continuous oil phase containing isomannide monooleate emulsifier and a non-hydrated physiologically acceptable fatty acid metal salt. A particular use of the invention is the preparation of an emulsion adjuvant vaccine, wherein the vaccine is incorporated in the aqueous phase. The emulsion is prepared by mixing the aqueous and oil phases at a relatively low agitator speed, optionally cooling, increasing the speed of agitation to form an emulsion and optionally homogenizing the emulsion.
Claims12
The method of preparing a water-in-oil emulsion, wherein the oil phase contains isomannide monooleate and a non-hydrated physiologically acceptable fatty acid metal salt, which comprises:
- mixing the aqueous and oil phases at about 9.degree. to about 35.degree. C. at a relatively low agitator speed such that the value of the term N.sup.3 D.sup.5 /V remains below about 80 .times. 10.sup.9 wherein N = rpm, D = agitator diameter (inches), V = emulsion volume (liters);
- and
- increasing the agitator speed such that the value of the term N.sup.3 D.sup.5 /V wherein N, D, and V are as defined above, is above about 140 .times. 10.sup.9 to form a stable emulsion.
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.