Nonionic microemulsions with a palm oil-based emollient, i.e. medium chain triglyceride, MCT, stabilized by two nonionic surfactants were investigated in both aqueous and nonaqueous (glycerol and formamide) systems. The results showed the presence of aqueous (or non-aqueous)-in-MCT microemulsions in all the systems investigated. MCT-in-aqueous (or nonaqueous) microemulsions were also observed except the glycerol system. In addition, the results also indicated that the solubilization behaviour encountered in the aqueous and nonaqueous systems investigated was dependent on the surfactant ratio.

Keywords: glycerol, MCT emollient, microemulsions, palm oil, Tween 20, Tween 80