(421d) Foams from High Ethanol Content Solvents Using Fatty Acid Crystals

Foaming in liquids is ubiquitous in nature. Aqueous foams are encountered in many commonly products of our everyday lives and are widely studied. However, the formation and stabilization of foams using high alcohol content solvents such as ethanol is still a scientific challenge. Herein, we report for the first-time foams based on high ethanol content showing long-term stability by using natural fatty acid crystals. These platelet-shape crystals are adsorbed at the air-water surface protecting the bubbles against coalescence. The melting of crystals triggers the foam destabilization leading to thermoresponsive high ethanol content foams. These foams can be used as a new formulation strategy for alcohol-based hand sanitizers to better clean hands, protect the skin by the presence of fatty acids, and limit the transmission of virus and other pathogens.