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Send EmailSorbitan Monolaurate, Sorbitan Laurate, Span 20, SML, E432, 1338-39-2
E432 – Span 20 (Sorbitan monolaurate)
Key Properties
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Chemical Name: Sorbitan monolaurate
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Fatty Acid: Lauric acid (C12)
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Appearance: Yellowish liquid
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HLB Value: ~8.6 (relatively high, more hydrophilic)
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Solubility: Soluble in oils, partially soluble in water
Applications
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Food Industry: Emulsifier in margarine, coffee creamers, milk powder, and oil–water blends.
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Pharmaceuticals: Carrier in emulsions, stabilizer in formulations.
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Cosmetics: Used in creams, lotions, and hair care products, especially in oil-in-water (O/W) emulsions.
Functional Role
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Span 20 has one of the highest HLB values among the Span series, making it suitable for oil-in-water emulsions.
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Often combined with Tween (Polysorbate) series to achieve balanced emulsification.
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Improves product texture, stability, and shelf life.
Span Series Comparison Table:
| Product | Chemical Name | Fatty Acid | E Number | HLB Value | Appearance | Typical Applications |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Span 20 | Sorbitan monolaurate | Lauric acid (C12) | E432 | ~8.6 | Yellowish liquid | Food emulsifier, pharmaceutical carrier, cosmetic creams |
| Span 40 | Sorbitan monopalmitate | Palmitic acid (C16) | E494 | ~6.7 | Yellowish wax-like solid | Margarine, milk powder, pharmaceutical emulsions |
| Span 60 | Sorbitan monostearate | Stearic acid (C18) | E491 | ~4.7 | White/cream solid | Chocolate, margarine, tablet binder, cosmetics |
| Span 80 | Sorbitan monooleate | Oleic acid (C18:1, unsaturated) | E493 | ~4.3 | Dark yellow liquid | Water-in-oil emulsions, veterinary drugs, cosmetics |
| Span 85 | Sorbitan trioleate | Three oleic acid chains | E476 | ~1.8 | Dark yellow liquid | Very low HLB, stabilizer in oil-based systems |
Technical Notes
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HLB Values: Spans generally have low HLB values, making them suitable for oil-based emulsions.
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Combination with Tweens: They are often combined with Polysorbates (Tween series) to balance emulsification in food, pharma, and cosmetics.
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Applications:
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Food: margarine, chocolate, milk powder, coffee creamer
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Pharma: tablet binder, emulsifier in suspensions
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Cosmetics: creams, lotions, makeup formulations
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