HLB Values
HLB Values of Common Surfactants:
Surfactants with lower HLB values (3-6) are lipophilic and are conducive to the formation of water-in-oil (W/O) emulsions; surfactants with higher HLB values (8-18) are hydrophilic and are conducive to the formation of oil-in-water (O/W) emulsions.
Description
Span 80, also known as sorbitan monooleate, is a nonionic surfactant and emulsifier. It belongs to the family of sorbitan esters. This ingredient is produced by esterifying sorbitan with oleic acid, a fatty acid in many vegetable oils. Span 80 emulsifier presents as a light yellow, viscous, oily liquid. Its solubility characteristics include insolubility in water and solubility in organic solvents. Span 80 is an emulsifier, stabilizer, and dispersant used in the food, pharmaceutical, and cosmetics industries.
Chemical Properties
Brownish-yellow, viscous liquid.
Uses
Span 80 is a low HLB surfactant suggested for use as a w/o emulsifier or as an o/w emulsifier for use in cosmetic formulations, oil field chemicals, plastics, household products, coatings and textiles.
Definition
ChEBI: Sorbitan monooleate is a fatty acid ester.
Application
Span 80 is a low HLB nonionic emulsifier, often used in combination with tween 80. It is mainly used in the following aspects:
(1) As a food additive. It can be added to desserts, bread, ice cream and beverages to enhance the taste of food, improve stability and extend shelf life.
(2) As a cosmetic emulsifier, thickener and surfactant, it is commonly found in sunscreen, face cream, essence, lotion and other products.
(3) As a pharmaceutical adjuvant. It can be used for the encapsulation and storage of pharmaceutical active ingredients (such as phenols, vitamins and other various antioxidant-rich molecules), and can also be used as an emulsifier, thickener and stabilizer in compound preparations.
(4) Fiber lubricant and softener in the textile industry.
Safety Profile
A skin irritant. Human mutation data reported. When heated to decomposition it emits acrid smoke and irritating fumes.
