Polysorbate
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Polysorbate is an oily liquid. It is a class of emulsifiers used in some pharmaceuticals and food preparation. It is often used in cosmetics to solubilise essential oils into water based products. Polysorbates are derived from PEG-ylated sorbitan (a derivative of sorbitol) esterified with fatty acids. Surfactants that are esters of plain (non-PEG-ylated) sorbitan with fatty acids are usually referred to by the name Span.
[edit] Examples
- Polysorbate 20 (Tween® 20 or Polyoxyethylene (20) sorbitan monolaurate)
- Polysorbate 40 (Tween® 40 or Polyoxyethylene (20) sorbitan monopalmitate)
- Polysorbate 60 (Tween® 60 or Polyoxyethylene (20) sorbitan monostearate)
- Polysorbate 80 (Tween® 80 or Polyoxyethylene (20) sorbitan monooleate)
The number 20 following the polyoxyethylene part refers to the total number of oxyethylene -(CH2CH2O)- groups found in the molecule. The number following the polysorbate part is related to the type of fatty acid associated with the polyoxyethylene sorbitan part of the molecule. Monolaurate is indicated by 20, monopalmitate is indicated by 40, monostearate by 60 and monooleate by 80. The same numbering is followed in their Span equivalents (Span 20, Span 40, Span 60 and Span 80).
[edit] See also
- Span 20 (Sorbitan monolaurate)
- Span 40 (Sorbitan monopalmitate)
- Span 60 (Sorbitan monostearate)
- Span 80 (Sorbitan monoolate)
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