Sorbitan Esters — Manufacturer & Supplier
What is Sorbitan Esters — Manufacturer & Supplier?
Sorbitan esters (Span-type emulsifiers) are nonionic lipophilic surfactants made by esterifying dehydrated sorbitol (sorbitan) with fatty acids such as lauric, palmitic, stearic, or oleic acid. They deliver low-to-mid HLB performance for W/O emulsions, co-emulsifier systems, and food, cosmetic, and pharmaceutical…
What is Sorbitan Esters — Manufacturer & Supplier used for?
Sorbitol is dehydrated to cyclic sorbitan, then esterified with one or more fatty acids. Mono-esters (e.g. sorbitan monolaurate, monostearate, monooleate) are the most common commercial grades; sesqui- and tri-esters provide more lipophilic character. Without ethylene oxide, these esters sit at the low end of the HLB… Venus Ethoxyethers manufactures and supplies in India; request a quote for your requirements.
Sorbitan esters (Span-type emulsifiers) are nonionic lipophilic surfactants made by esterifying dehydrated sorbitol (sorbitan) with fatty acids such as lauric, palmitic, stearic, or oleic acid. They deliver low-to-mid HLB performance for W/O emulsions, co-emulsifier systems, and food, cosmetic, and pharmaceutical formulations. Venus Ethoxyethers manufactures sorbitan esters and related ester chemistries, and pairs them with polysorbates (ethoxylated sorbitan esters) for complete HLB coverage.
What are sorbitan esters?
Sorbitol is dehydrated to cyclic sorbitan, then esterified with one or more fatty acids. Mono-esters (e.g. sorbitan monolaurate, monostearate, monooleate) are the most common commercial grades; sesqui- and tri-esters provide more lipophilic character. Without ethylene oxide, these esters sit at the low end of the HLB scale (~1.8–8.6), making them natural partners for high-HLB polysorbates in blended emulsifier systems.
Common grades and HLB
| Product | Fatty acid | Approx. HLB | Typical role |
|---|---|---|---|
| Sorbitan monolaurate (Span 20) | Lauric | ~8.6 | O/W co-emulsifier, solubilizer aid |
| Sorbitan monopalmitate (Span 40) | Palmitic | ~6.7 | Creams, lotions, food emulsions |
| Sorbitan monostearate (Span 60) | Stearic | ~4.7 | W/O and co-emulsifier with polysorbate 60 |
| Sorbitan monooleate (Span 80) | Oleic | ~4.3 | W/O emulsions, industrial oils |
| Sorbitan tristearate / trioleate | Stearic / oleic | ~2–3 | Highly lipophilic systems, antifoam aid |
Typical physical properties
| Property | Mono-esters (typical) | Notes |
|---|---|---|
| Appearance | Amber liquid to waxy solid | Oleate grades more liquid; stearate/palmitate more solid |
| HLB range | ~1.8–8.6 | Increases from tri-esters to monolaurate |
| Solubility | Oil-soluble; limited water | Dispersible with polysorbate or heat |
| Acid / saponification value | Grade-dependent | Reported on TDS for each batch type |
Sorbitan esters vs polysorbates
Ethoxylating sorbitan esters with ~20 EO moles produces polysorbates (Tween-type) with HLB ~14–17. Formulators blend low-HLB sorbitan esters with high-HLB polysorbates to match the required HLB of the oil phase — for example 70% polysorbate 60 + 30% sorbitan stearate ≈ HLB 11.8 for many mineral-oil creams. See the HLB scale guide and polysorbate comparison.
Formulation examples
O/W face cream: 8% mineral oil + 3% cetyl alcohol + 2% sorbitan stearate in the oil phase; 3% polysorbate 60 as primary high-HLB emulsifier; water to 100% with preservative. Heat oil and water phases separately to ~70–75°C, combine with high shear, cool with fragrance.
W/O protective cream: 4–6% sorbitan monooleate as primary low-HLB emulsifier with mineral oil or ester oil; optional 1–2% low-EO fatty alcohol ethoxylate as co-emulsifier; water phase 20–30%. Suitable for barrier and industrial hand-protection creams.
Fragrance solubilization aid: Span 20 at 0.5–2% with polysorbate 20 helps clear dilute aqueous fragrance or essential-oil systems when full Tween levels alone are cost-prohibitive.
Applications by industry
- Personal care & cosmetics — cream and lotion emulsifiers, fragrance solubilization aids, rinse-off systems
- Food — bakery, confectionery, ice cream, and dressing emulsions (food-grade grades where specified; confirm E-number / local additive status)
- Pharmaceuticals — topical bases and oral emulsions with matched polysorbate pairs and appropriate documentation
- Industrial — metalworking, coatings, and agrochemical emulsions needing lipophilic nonionics
Grade and documentation notes
Specify food-grade or pharma-grade when the end use requires it — technical grades are appropriate for industrial emulsions and many rinse-off cosmetics. Venus provides SDS, TDS, and grade recommendations aligned to your regulatory path. Sesqui- and tri-esters are available when more lipophilic character or antifoam contribution is needed.
Why choose Venus for sorbitan esters
Venus combines esterification capability with ethoxylation, so customers can source sorbitan esters and ethoxylated sorbitan esters (polysorbates) from one manufacturer. Related ester products include glycerol monostearate, glycerol monooleate, and the broader ester chemistries range. Read the sorbitan esters guide for grade selection, troubleshooting, and more formulation examples.
Request samples and TDS
Contact Venus Ethoxyethers for sorbitan monolaurate, monostearate, monooleate, and related grades — samples, SDS, and HLB blending recommendations for your oil phase.
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