POLYOXYETHYLENE SORBITAN MONOLAURATE (POLYSORBATE 20) (E432)

Polyoxyethylene Sorbitan Monolaurate (Polysorbate 20) (E432) is a nonionic surfactant formed by the ethoxylation of sorbitan monolaurate, used as an emulsifier, solubilizer, wetting agent, dispersant, and stabilizer in food, cosmetic, pharmaceutical, and industrial formulations.
Polyoxyethylene Sorbitan Monolaurate (Polysorbate 20) (E432) is an organic chemical compound derived from sorbitol and lauric acid and is commonly used in the food industry as an emulsifier that helps bind together substances that do not normally mix, such as fats and water.
Polyoxyethylene Sorbitan Monolaurate (Polysorbate 20) (E432)'s high HLB value makes it especially useful for dispersing oils, flavors, fragrances, and active ingredients in water-based products.

CAS Number: 9005-64-5
EC Number: 500-018-3
Molecular Formula: C58H114O26
Molecular Weight: 1226 g/mol

Synonyms: Polysorbate 20, E432, INS 432, Polyoxyethylene Sorbitan Monolaurate, Polyoxyethylene(20) Sorbitan Monolaurate, PEG-20 Sorbitan Monolaurate, Sorbitan Monolaurate Ethoxylated, POE 20 Sorbitan Monolaurate, Sorbimacrogol Laurate 300, Polyoxyethylene(4) Sorbitan Monolaurate, Tween 20, FEMA No. 2915, UNII 7T1F30V5YH

Polyoxyethylene Sorbitan Monolaurate (Polysorbate 20) (E432) is a polysorbate-type nonionic surfactant and emulsifier composed of 20 repeat units of polyethylene glycol distributed across 4 different chains via ethoxylation.
Polyoxyethylene Sorbitan Monolaurate (Polysorbate 20) (E432) is a light yellow to amber, slightly viscous liquid with a mild characteristic odor.

Polyoxyethylene Sorbitan Monolaurate (Polysorbate 20) (E432) is an oil-in-water (O/W) emulsifier that can be used as a solvent, diffusing agent, stabilizer, antistatic agent, mineral oil emulsifier, cosmetic emulsifier, and pharmaceutical emulsifier, as well as a lubricant.
Polyoxyethylene Sorbitan Monolaurate (Polysorbate 20) (E432) belongs to the polysorbate family and is particularly suitable for use with Span 20.

Polyoxyethylene Sorbitan Monolaurate (Polysorbate 20) (E432) is a wetting agent in food products, as well as a washing agent, stabilizer, and solubilizer in laboratory assays and industrial applications.
Polyoxyethylene Sorbitan Monolaurate (Polysorbate 20) (E432) is also an excipient that stabilizes emulsions and suspensions in pharmaceutical products and a lubricant in ophthalmic solutions.

Polyoxyethylene Sorbitan Monolaurate (Polysorbate 20) (E432) has the ability to emulsify fats, which means it can help maintain the homogeneous consistency of food products that include both aqueous and fatty ingredients.
Polyoxyethylene Sorbitan Monolaurate (Polysorbate 20) (E432) is also a common solvent for paints, a stabilizer for foam plastics, an auxiliary agent for photographic emulsions, a viscosity modifier for shampoo, an antistatic silk synergist in spinning oil, and a fiber processing aid.

Uses of Polyoxyethylene Sorbitan Monolaurate (Polysorbate 20) (E432):
Polyoxyethylene Sorbitan Monolaurate (Polysorbate 20) (E432) is widely used in the food industry as an emulsifier, stabilizer, and thickening agent in sauces, dressings, ice creams, margarines, and creams to ensure consistency and prevent ingredients from delaminating.
Polyoxyethylene Sorbitan Monolaurate (Polysorbate 20) (E432) is used as a wetting agent in flavored products, helping to provide a spreading effect for other ingredients such as alcohol and mint flavor, and the World Health Organization has established acceptable daily intake limits of 0 to 25 mg of polyoxyethylene sorbitan esters per kg body weight.

Polyoxyethylene Sorbitan Monolaurate (Polysorbate 20) (E432) is used in biological techniques and sciences as a washing agent in immunoassays such as Western blots and ELISAs, dissolved in Tris-buffered saline or phosphate buffered saline at dilutions of 0.05% to 0.5% v/v, to remove unbound immunologicals and reduce nonspecific background.
Polyoxyethylene Sorbitan Monolaurate (Polysorbate 20) (E432) is used to saturate binding sites on surfaces such as polystyrene microplates combined with proteins such as BSA, to stabilize purified protein derivative (PPD) solutions for tuberculosis skin testing, and as a solubilizing agent for membrane proteins.

Polyoxyethylene Sorbitan Monolaurate (Polysorbate 20) (E432) is used for lysing mammalian cells at a concentration of 0.05% to 0.5% v/v, generally combined with other detergents, salts, and additives.
Polyoxyethylene Sorbitan Monolaurate (Polysorbate 20) (E432) is used as an excipient in pharmaceutical applications to stabilize emulsions and suspensions.

Polyoxyethylene Sorbitan Monolaurate (Polysorbate 20) (E432) is used in cosmetics to solubilize essential oils and fragrances in water-based formulations.
Polyoxyethylene Sorbitan Monolaurate (Polysorbate 20) (E432) is used in baby wipes as a gentle cleansing agent, and in the elastomer industry as a wetting agent in rubber balers.

Polyoxyethylene Sorbitan Monolaurate (Polysorbate 20) (E432) has been used as a shape-directing agent to synthesize spheroidal magnetite nanoassemblies.
Polyoxyethylene Sorbitan Monolaurate (Polysorbate 20) (E432) is used by philatelists to remove stamps from envelopes and to remove residues from stamps without harming the stamp itself.

Benefits or Advantages of Polyoxyethylene Sorbitan Monolaurate (Polysorbate 20) (E432):
Polyoxyethylene Sorbitan Monolaurate (Polysorbate 20) (E432) is approved by major regulatory authorities and the World Health Organization has established acceptable daily intake limits supporting its use in food and pharmaceutical applications.
Polyoxyethylene Sorbitan Monolaurate (Polysorbate 20) (E432) is a multifunctional compound suitable for food, cosmetic, pharmaceutical, biological, and industrial applications, providing emulsification, solubilization, wetting, dispersion, and stabilization in a single ingredient.

Polyoxyethylene Sorbitan Monolaurate (Polysorbate 20) (E432) is a nonionic surfactant with a neutral charge, making it compatible with a broad range of formulation systems including ionic, cationic, and anionic components.
Polyoxyethylene Sorbitan Monolaurate (Polysorbate 20) (E432) has a high HLB value of approximately 16.7, providing strong oil-in-water emulsifying performance across a wide range of applications.

Features of Polyoxyethylene Sorbitan Monolaurate (Polysorbate 20) (E432):
Polyoxyethylene Sorbitan Monolaurate (Polysorbate 20) (E432) is a colorless or slightly yellowish to amber clear viscous liquid with a mild characteristic odor.
Polyoxyethylene Sorbitan Monolaurate (Polysorbate 20) (E432) is soluble or dispersible in water and miscible with most polar organic solvents.

Polyoxyethylene Sorbitan Monolaurate (Polysorbate 20) (E432) has an HLB value of approximately 16.7, a density of approximately 1.08 to 1.1 g/cm3, a viscosity of 0.3 to 0.5 Pa·s at 25 degrees C, and a pH of 5.0 to 7.0 in a 5% aqueous solution.
Polyoxyethylene Sorbitan Monolaurate (Polysorbate 20) (E432) has a critical micelle concentration (CMC) of 8.04 x 10-5 M at 21 degrees C, a melting point of approximately 0 degrees C, a boiling point above 100 degrees C, and a flash point above 150 degrees C.

Chemical Properties of Polyoxyethylene Sorbitan Monolaurate (Polysorbate 20) (E432):
Polyoxyethylene Sorbitan Monolaurate (Polysorbate 20) (E432) is produced by the ethoxylation of sorbitan monolaurate with approximately 20 moles of ethylene oxide, yielding a molecule with 20 repeat units of polyethylene glycol distributed across 4 different chains.
Polyoxyethylene Sorbitan Monolaurate (Polysorbate 20) (E432) has a molecular formula of C58H114O26 and a molecular weight of approximately 1226 g/mol.

Polyoxyethylene Sorbitan Monolaurate (Polysorbate 20) (E432) is chemically stable under recommended storage and handling conditions and does not react dangerously under normal conditions of use.
Polyoxyethylene Sorbitan Monolaurate (Polysorbate 20) (E432) may react with strong oxidizing agents, strong acids, or strong bases, and thermal decomposition or combustion may produce carbon monoxide, carbon dioxide, and irritating organic fumes.

Production and Chemical Reactions of Polyoxyethylene Sorbitan Monolaurate (Polysorbate 20) (E432):
Polyoxyethylene Sorbitan Monolaurate (Polysorbate 20) (E432) is produced by first dehydrating sorbitol to form sorbitan, then esterifying with lauric acid (C12 fatty acid), and finally reacting with approximately 20 moles of ethylene oxide to form the final polyoxyethylene chain.
Polyoxyethylene Sorbitan Monolaurate (Polysorbate 20) (E432) production is carried out under controlled conditions to ensure consistent HLB value, saponification value, hydroxyl value, and acid value within specification limits.

Polyoxyethylene Sorbitan Monolaurate (Polysorbate 20) (E432) quality control checks parameters such as acid value, saponification value, hydroxyl value, moisture content, oxyethylene content, residue on ignition, and heavy metal content.

Material Safety Data Sheet (MSDS) of Polyoxyethylene Sorbitan Monolaurate (Polysorbate 20) (E432):

Handling of Polyoxyethylene Sorbitan Monolaurate (Polysorbate 20) (E432):
Polyoxyethylene Sorbitan Monolaurate (Polysorbate 20) (E432) should be handled in accordance with good industrial hygiene and safety practices.
Polyoxyethylene Sorbitan Monolaurate (Polysorbate 20) (E432) handling requires avoiding contact with eyes, skin, and clothing, and avoiding breathing mist or aerosols.

SDS of Polyoxyethylene Sorbitan Monolaurate (Polysorbate 20) (E432):

Stability and Reactivity of Polyoxyethylene Sorbitan Monolaurate (Polysorbate 20) (E432):

Chemical stability:
Polyoxyethylene Sorbitan Monolaurate (Polysorbate 20) (E432) is stable under recommended storage and handling conditions.

Reactivity:
No dangerous reaction is expected under normal conditions of use.
Polyoxyethylene Sorbitan Monolaurate (Polysorbate 20) (E432) may react with strong oxidizing agents, strong acids, or strong bases.

Conditions to avoid:
Excessive heat.
Open flames.
Direct sunlight.
Freezing.
Contamination.

Incompatible materials:
Strong oxidizing agents.
Strong acids.
Strong bases.
Reactive chemicals.

Hazardous decomposition products:
Carbon monoxide (CO).
Carbon dioxide (CO2).
Irritating organic fumes.

Handling and Storage of Polyoxyethylene Sorbitan Monolaurate (Polysorbate 20) (E432):

Handling:
Handle in accordance with good industrial hygiene and safety practices.
Avoid contact with eyes, skin, and clothing.
Avoid breathing mist or aerosols.

Storage:
Store in a cool, dry, and well-ventilated area.
Keep container tightly closed when not in use.
Protect from heat, direct sunlight, freezing, and contamination.
Keep in original sealed containers or suitable HDPE / plastic packaging.

First Aid Measures of Polyoxyethylene Sorbitan Monolaurate (Polysorbate 20) (E432):

Inhalation:
Move person to fresh air.
If breathing difficulty or irritation occurs, seek medical attention.

Skin contact:
Wash affected area with plenty of water and soap.
Remove contaminated clothing.
Seek medical advice if irritation persists.

Eye contact:
Rinse cautiously with water for several minutes.
Remove contact lenses if present and easy to do.
Seek medical attention if irritation persists.

Ingestion:
Rinse mouth with water.
Do not induce vomiting unless instructed by medical personnel.
Seek medical advice if symptoms occur.

Firefighting Measures of Polyoxyethylene Sorbitan Monolaurate (Polysorbate 20) (E432):

Suitable extinguishing media:
Water spray.
Foam.
Dry chemical powder.
Carbon dioxide (CO2).

Specific hazards:
Polyoxyethylene Sorbitan Monolaurate (Polysorbate 20) (E432) may burn under fire conditions.
Combustion may produce carbon monoxide, carbon dioxide, and irritating organic fumes.

Protective equipment for firefighters:
Wear self-contained breathing apparatus (SCBA).
Wear full protective clothing during firefighting operations.

Accidental Release Measures of Polyoxyethylene Sorbitan Monolaurate (Polysorbate 20) (E432):

Personal precautions:
Avoid contact with skin and eyes.
Use suitable protective equipment.
Surfaces may become slippery after spillage.

Environmental precautions:
Prevent large spills from entering drains, waterways, or soil.

Cleanup methods:
Absorb with inert material such as sand, earth, or absorbent granules.
Collect into suitable labeled containers for disposal.
Wash spill area with water after collection.

Exposure Controls / Personal Protective Equipment of Polyoxyethylene Sorbitan Monolaurate (Polysorbate 20) (E432):

Engineering controls:
Use adequate ventilation, especially where mist or aerosols may be generated.

Eye protection:
Wear safety goggles or face shield.

Skin protection:
Wear chemical-resistant gloves and protective clothing.

Respiratory protection:
Not normally required under good ventilation.
Use suitable respiratory protection if mist or aerosols are generated.

Hygiene measures:
Wash hands after handling.
Do not eat, drink, or smoke while using the product.

Identifiers of Polyoxyethylene Sorbitan Monolaurate (Polysorbate 20) (E432):
E Number: E432
INS Number: 432
CAS No.: 9005-64-5
EC No.: 500-018-3
RTECS Number: TR7400000
UNII: 239B50Y732
ECHA InfoCard: 100.105.528
CompTox Dashboard (EPA): DTXSID3031949
FEMA Number: 2915
HLB Value: Approximately 16.7
Fatty acid: Lauric acid (C12)
Chemical class: Nonionic surfactant / Polysorbate / Sorbitan ester
Function: Emulsifier, solubilizer, wetting agent, stabilizer, dispersant

Properties of Polyoxyethylene Sorbitan Monolaurate (Polysorbate 20) (E432):
Physical state: Liquid
Appearance: Clear, light yellow to amber viscous liquid
Odor: Mild characteristic odor
Density: Approximately 1.08 to 1.1 g/mL at 25 degrees C
Melting point: Approximately 0 degrees C
Boiling point: Above 100 degrees C
Flash point: Above 150 degrees C
Viscosity: 0.3 to 0.5 Pa·s at 25 degrees C
pH (5% aqueous solution): 5.0 to 7.0
CMC: 8.04 x 10-5 M at 21 degrees C
Solubility: Soluble or dispersible in water
Ionic character: Nonionic
Emulsion type: Oil-in-water (O/W)
HLB value: Approximately 16.7

Specifications of Polyoxyethylene Sorbitan Monolaurate (Polysorbate 20) (E432):
Chemical name: Polyoxyethylene(20) Sorbitan Monolaurate (Polysorbate 20)
Acid value (mg KOH/g): ≤2.0
Saponification value (mg KOH/g): 40-50
Hydroxyl value (mg KOH/g): 96-108
Moisture (w/%): ≤3.0
Residue on ignition (w/%): ≤0.25
Oxyethylene (w/%): 70.0-74.0
Lead (Pb) (mg/kg): ≤2
Storage conditions: Store in a cool, dry, well-ventilated area in original sealed containers

Names of Polyoxyethylene Sorbitan Monolaurate (Polysorbate 20) (E432):
Polyoxyethylene Sorbitan Monolaurate
Polysorbate 20
E432
INS 432
Polyoxyethylene(20) Sorbitan Monolaurate
PEG-20 Sorbitan Monolaurate
POE 20 Sorbitan Monolaurate
Sorbimacrogol Laurate 300
Sorbitan Monolaurate Ethoxylated
Tween 20
FEMA 2915