Span™ 20 Pharma – Sorbitan Laurate Emulsifier

INCI Name: Sorbitan Laurate

CAS Number: 1338-39-2

Description

Span™ 20 Pharma is a pharmaceutical-grade sorbitan laurate (sorbitan monolaurate), a non-ionic emulsifier supplied as a pale yellow liquid, with an HLB of 8.6. On its own it works as a water-in-oil (W/O) emulsifier. Combined with a polysorbate such as polysorbate 20 or 60, it stabilises oil-in-water (O/W) emulsions, and you can adjust the ratio to match the HLB your oil phase needs.

Because it is a liquid, it needs no melting and blends easily into the oil phase. It is soluble in many oils and solvents and disperses in water, which also makes it a useful wetting and dispersing agent. It meets Ph. Eur. and USP-NF standards.

Key Properties

• Pharmaceutical grade (Ph. Eur., USP-NF)
• Non-ionic, HLB 8.6
• Liquid, easy to handle, no melting needed
• W/O emulsifier, or O/W co-emulsifier with polysorbates
• Soluble in oils, dispersible in water

Applications

• Creams and lotions
• Dermatological and topical pharmaceutical bases
• Oil blends and cleansing oils that need to disperse in water
• Pigment and powder dispersions

How to Use

• Typical use level 0.5–5%
• Add to the oil phase
• For O/W emulsions, combine with a polysorbate and adjust the ratio to reach your required HLB
• Pair with Span 60 (HLB 4.7) to fine-tune lower HLB blends

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