Improvements in or relating to emulsification and emulsifying compositions

The stability of oil-in-water or water-in-oil emulsions made with synthetic organic emulsifying agents which possess a greater affinity for water than oil, is improved by incorporating a coupling agent comprising an alkane 1 : 2 diol having at least 7 carbon atoms. The oil employed as the disperse or continuous phase may be mineral, animal or vegetable and is inclusive of liquid hydrocarbon derivatives such as halogenated hydrocarbons. The alkane 1 : 2 diols, of which numerous examples are given, may be employed in admixture. Specified emulsifying agents are salts of sulphonated aliphatic alcohols containing at least 7 carbon atoms; salts of alkyl-aryl sulphonic acids; salts of naphtha sulphonates; salts of alkyl or aryl phosphoric acids; salts of carboxylic acids; cationic and non-anionic emulsifying agents, e.g. polyethylene oxide derivatives; amide type emulsifying agents such as those derived from oleic acid and methyl taurine and from lauric acid, myristic acid and colamine. Modifying agents such as primary or secondary monohydric alcohols or glycol may also be added, as also may cresylic acid, naphthenic and fatty acids, tall oil and salts thereof. Substances possessing insecticidal, fungicidal or plant stimulation properties may also be incorporated. In examples: (1) carbon tetrachloride is dispersed in water using a mixture of sodium secondary alkyl (C10 to C18) sulphates and sodium sulphate as emulsifying agent and octane 1 : 2 diol as coupling agent; (3) spindle oil, the emulsifying agent of (1) and a mixture of octane 1 : 2-diol and undecane 1 : 2-diol are mixed to give a soluble cutting oil readily dispersible into water.