Why Low-pH Beverages Like Lemonade Can Mess with Your Cannabinoid Nanoemulsion
If you’ve ever wondered why your infused lemonade doesn’t test quite the same over time—or why some products separate in the bottle—it may come down to something simple: pH.
Let’s break it down.
🍋 What’s the Deal with pH?
The pH scale measures how acidic or basic a liquid is. A pH of 7 is neutral (like water), while anything lower is acidic. Lemonade, for example, has a low pH—usually around 2 to 3—which makes it very acidic.
That’s fine for flavor, but not so great for nanoemulsions.
🧪 What’s a Nanoemulsion?
A nanoemulsion is a way to evenly disperse cannabinoids (like CBD or THC) in water-based drinks using tiny oil droplets. These systems are carefully designed to keep cannabinoids stable and bioavailable. But they’re delicate.
When the environment isn’t just right—like in very acidic conditions—the emulsion can destabilize.
🚫 What Happens at Low pH?
In low-pH drinks like lemonade:
Emulsifiers (the stuff that holds everything together) can lose their effectiveness.
The tiny droplets of cannabinoids may clump together or separate.
This leads to inconsistent dosing and unreliable test results.
It might even make your drink look weird—like an oil slick on the surface.
Not ideal.
🛠️ How to Fix It: Adjust the pH
One of the easiest ways to stabilize a cannabinoid nanoemulsion is by adjusting the pH. Most emulsions do better in the 4–5 pH range, which is still slightly acidic but much gentler than pure lemon juice.
This adjustment can help:
Keep the cannabinoids evenly dispersed
Improve the product’s shelf stability
Make your test results more accurate and consistent
✅ Takeaway
If you’re formulating or testing low-pH drinks like lemonades, don’t overlook the role of pH in nanoemulsion stability. A small tweak could make a big difference in product quality—and in the lab.
Got questions about nanoemulsions, cannabinoid testing, or formulation? Drop us a line—we’re here to help.