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Unitop Polysorbate 20 has a faint, characteristic odor and a warm, somewhat bitter taste.
Unitop Polysorbate 20 is a hydrophilic nonionic surfactant generally used as emulsifiers, dispersing agent and solubilizer.
Unitop Polysorbate 20 is a polysorbate-type nonionic surfactant formed by the ethoxylation of sorbitan monolaurate.
CAS Number: 9005-64-5
Molecular Formula: C26H50O10
Molecular Weight: 522.6692
EINECS Number: 500-018-3
Synonyms: Unitop Polysorbate 20, 9005-64-5, 2-[2-[3,4-bis(2-hydroxyethoxy)oxolan-2-yl]-2-(2-hydroxyethoxy)ethoxy]ethyl dodecanoate, 1052273-76-3, 9005-66-7
Sorbimacrogol laurate 300, 2-{2-[3,4-bis(2-hydroxyethoxy)oxolan-2-yl]-2-(2-hydroxyethoxy)ethoxy}ethyl dodecanoate, 2-(2-(3,4-Bis(2-hydroxyethoxy)tetrahydrofuran-2-yl)-2-(2-hydroxyethoxy)ethoxy)ethyl dodecanoate, 2-[2-[3,4-bis(2-hydroxyethoxy)tetrahydrofuran-2-yl]-2-(2-hydroxyethoxy)ethoxy]ethyl dodecanoate Alkest TW 20, Tween(R) 20, tween (R) 20, Unitop Polysorbate 20 (TN), Tween 40 (TN), Tween 60 (TN), SCHEMBL118527, POE (6) sorbitol monolaurate, POE(20) sorbitan monolaurate, CHEMBL371631, POE (20) sorbitan monolaurate, DTXSID60922815, HMFKFHLTUCJZJO-UHFFFAOYSA-N, MFCD00165986, E432, NS00013950, D05565, D05566, D05567, 2-(2-(3,4-bis(2-hydroxyethoxy)tetrahydrofuran-2-yl)-2-(2-hydroxyethoxy)ethoxy)ethyldodecanoate, 2-{2-[3,4-Bis(2-hydroxyethoxy)tetrahydro-2-furanyl]-2-(2-hydroxyethoxy)ethoxy}ethyl dodecanoate.
Unitop Polysorbate 20 is stability and relative nontoxicity allows it to be used as a detergent and emulsifier in a number of domestic, scientific, and pharmacological applications.
As the name implies, the ethoxylation process leaves the molecule with 20 repeat units of polyethylene glycol; in practice these are distributed across 4 different chains, leading to a commercial product containing a range of chemical species.
Unitop Polysorbate 20 is dissolved in Tris-buffered saline or phosphate buffered saline at dilutions of 0.05% to 0.5% v/v.
These buffers are used for washes between each immunoreaction, to remove unbound immunologicals, and eventually for incubating solutions of immunoreagents (labeled antibodies) to reduce nonspecific background.
Unitop Polysorbate 20, is a nonionic surfactant that belongs to the Polysorbate family.
Unitop Polysorbate 20 is used as a wetting agent in flavored mouth drops such as Ice Drops, helping to provide a spreading feeling to other ingredients like SD alcohol and mint flavor.
Unitop Polysorbate 20 is a nonionic surfactant and emulsifying agent composed of polyoxyethylene sorbitan monolaurate, which is derived from the reaction of sorbitol with lauric acid and ethylene oxide, resulting in a molecule that has both hydrophilic (polyoxyethylene) and lipophilic (fatty acid) regions, allowing it to stabilize oil-in-water emulsions effectively, and it is widely used in cosmetic, personal care, pharmaceutical, and food formulations because of its ability to improve product stability, enhance solubilization of hydrophobic ingredients, and reduce surface tension between immiscible phases.
In cosmetic and skincare products, Unitop Polysorbate 20 is employed because it can help uniformly disperse essential oils, fragrances, and other oil-soluble active ingredients in aqueous formulations such as lotions, creams, shampoos, and cleansers, ensuring a smooth, homogenous texture, preventing phase separation, and improving the overall sensory experience and performance of the product, while also contributing to mild surfactant properties that aid in gentle cleansing or foaming without excessive irritation.
Unitop Polysorbate 20 is the abbreviation of “polyoxyethylene (20) sorbitan monolaurate”.
As a nonionic surfactant and emulsifier, polysorbate 20 is applied to products in the cosmetics and food industries.
When used in food, Unitop Polysorbate 20 is commonly used as an indirect additive instead of a direct additive.
In biological techniques and sciences, Unitop Polysorbate 20 has a broad range of applications.
For example, it is used: as a washing agent in immunoassays, such as Western blots and ELISAs.
Unitop Polysorbate 20 helps to prevent non-specific antibody binding.
Unitop Polysorbate 20, whose common commercial names includes Alkest TW 20 and Polysorbate 20, is a mild nonionic surfactant formed by the ethoxylation of sorbitan before the addition of lauric acid which is a medium-chain fatty acid found mainly in coconut oil.
Unitop Polysorbate 20 is allowed to be used as the emulsifier, detergent, dispersant, solvent and stabilizer, etc. in a number of fields such as pharmaceutical, chemical, food, textile and other industries due to its stability and relative non-toxicity.
Unitop Polysorbate 20 is widely applied in biological techniques and sciences, which can be added to buffers and reagents for immunohistochemistry, such as Western blots and ELISAs, helping to prevent non-specific antibody binding, decrease background staining and enhance reagent spreading.
Besides, Unitop Polysorbate 20 also has applications in food production as a common food grade additive which are found in many consumables on the market today.
Unitop Polysorbate 20 can also be used as a wetting agent in flavored mouth drops such as Ice Drops, in oral or non-gastrointestinal suspensions and in rubber balers in the elastomer industry.
Unitop Polysorbate 20 is a mixture of laurate partial esters of sorbitol and sorbitol anhydrides condensed with approximately 20 mole of ethylene oxide (C2H4O) for each mole of sorbitol and its mono- and dianhydrides.
Unitop Polysorbate 20 is prepared by condensing the partial esters of sorbitol and its anhydrides with ethylene oxide to effect an oxyethylene copolymerization at the free hydroxyl groups.
Unitop Polysorbate 20 is a polymer composed of PEG-ylated sorbitan, where the total number of poly(ethylene glycol) units is 20 (w + x + y + z = 20) and a single terminal is capped by a dodecanoyl group.
Unitop Polysorbate 20 is a surfactant and emulsifier used in cleaners and personal care products.
Unitop Polysorbate 20 is a polyoxyethylene 20 sorbitan monolaurate, which can be used as an emulsifier for o/w emulsions and is also a highly effective solubiliser for lipophilic oils.
Unitop Polysorbate 20 is suitable for cosmetic and pharmaceutical applications and complies with the current European Pharmacopoeia.
Unitop Polysorbate 20 is derived from sorbitol, a natural sugar alcohol and forms a polysorbate-type nonionic surfactant by the ethoxylation of sorbitan (derived from the dehydration of sorbitol) before the addition of lauric acid.
Melting point: 98.9 °C (decomp)
Boiling point: 100 °C
Density:1.11 g/mL at 20 °C
vapor pressure: <1.4 hPa (20 °C)
FEMA: 2915 | POLYSORBATE 20
refractive index: n20/D 1.468(lit.)
Flash point: >230 °F
storage temp.: Store below +30°C.
solubility: 100 g/L
form: viscous liquid
color: Amber
Specific Gravity: 1.090～1.130 (20/20℃)
PH: 6-8 (50g/l, H2O, 20℃)
PH Range: 7
Odor: mild alcohol odor
Odor Type: alcoholic
Water Solubility: 100 g/L
Hydrophilic-Lipophilic Balance (HLB): 16.7
Unitop Polysorbate 20 has been used as a shape directing agent to synthesize spheroidal magnetite nanoassemblies.
Unitop Polysorbate 20 has been used as a blocking agent for membrane based immunoassays at a typical concentration of 0.05%.
Unitop Polysorbate 20 is suitable for use as a solubilizing agent of membrane proteins and as a blocking agent in Western blotting.
Unitop Polysorbate 20 can be used for lysing mammalian cells at a concentration of 0.05 to 0.5%.
Unitop Polysorbate 20 is a nonionic detergent widely used in biochemical applications.
Sigma offers a number of products for research, some tested for suitability in a given application. The general use reagent is Product No. P 1379.
Unitop Polysorbate 20 is a frequently used member of the polysorbate family.
These have been used as emulsifying agents for the preparation of stable oil-in water emulsions.
When Sorbitol – a sugar alcohol that can be derived from either a vegetable or a fruit source – is treated with 20 moles of Ethylene Oxide, the chemical reaction results in Sorbitan Monolaurate, which is also known as a Polysorbate (specifically Polysorbate 20 or Solubilizer).
Solubilizer is a water-soluble emulsifier, which binds water and oil together.
Unitop Polysorbate 20 is a gentle, oily, liquid cosmetic additive that functions as a nonionic surfactant and wetting agent that enhances the spreadability of liquids.
As a solubilizer, it helps both essential oils and fragrance oils to attach to various types of cosmetic bases, including liquid, cream, and gel bases, and thereby prevents the oils and bases from separating.
In pharmaceutical and nutraceutical applications, Unitop Polysorbate 20 is used to solubilize poorly water-soluble drugs, vitamins, or bioactive compounds, facilitating uniform dispersion in aqueous solutions, enhancing absorption or bioavailability, and maintaining formulation stability during storage and administration, making it especially valuable in oral, topical, and injectable dosage forms.
In food and beverage formulations, this polysorbate acts as an emulsifier to maintain homogeneity between oil and water phases, prevent separation in products like sauces, dressings, beverages, and flavor emulsions,
and improve texture, mouthfeel, and shelf life, while being generally recognized as safe for consumption within regulatory limits.
Chemically, Unitop Polysorbate 20 is non-ionic, water-soluble, and relatively stable under normal storage conditions, but its performance can be affected by extreme pH, high temperatures, or the presence of strong oxidizing agents, and therefore formulations should be designed to maintain stability and avoid degradation or loss of emulsifying efficiency.
Uses Of Unitop Polysorbate 20:
Unitop Polysorbate 20 is commonly used as an emulsifier to stabilize oil-in-water mixtures such as sauces, dressings, flavored beverages, and other processed foods, preventing separation of oil and water phases, improving texture and mouthfeel, extending shelf life, and maintaining consistent quality and appearance throughout storage and handling
Unitop Polysorbate 20 is used by philatelists to remove stamps from envelopes and to remove residues from stamps, without harming the stamp itself.
Unitop Polysorbate 20 is also used as wetting agent in rubber balers in the elastomer industry.
Unitop Polysorbate 20 has been used as a shape directing agent to synthesize spheroidal magnetite nanoassemblies.
Unitop Polysorbate 20 is typically used as an emulsifying agent for the preparation of stable oil-in-water emulsions, particularly in pharmaceutical applications.
Unitop Polysorbate 20 has been used in pre-extraction of membranes to remove peripheral proteins.
Unitop Polysorbate 20 has been used as a blocking agent on nitrocellulose.
Other release to the environment of Unitop Polysorbate 20 is likely to occur from: outdoor use in long-life materials with low release rate (e.g. metal, wooden and plastic construction and building materials), indoor use in long-life materials with low release rate (e.g. flooring, furniture, toys, construction materials, curtains, foot-wear, leather products, paper and cardboard products, electronic equipment), outdoor use in long-life materials with high release rate (e.g. tyres, treated wooden products, treated textile and fabric, brake pads in trucks or cars, sanding of buildings (bridges, facades) or vehicles (ships)) and indoor use in long-life materials with high release rate (e.g. release from fabrics, textiles during washing, removal of indoor paints).
Unitop Polysorbate 20 can be found in complex articles, with no release intended: vehicles.
Unitop Polysorbate 20 can be found in products with material based on: plastic (e.g. food packaging and storage, toys, mobile phones).
Unitop Polysorbate 20 is intended to be released from scented: clothes.
Unitop Polysorbate 20 is utilized in the food industry as an emulsifier and stabilizer in various food products, including beverages, sauces, and confectionery items.
Unitop Polysorbate 20 helps create smooth textures, prevents ingredient separation, and enhances the shelf-life of food formulations.
Unitop Polysorbate 20 is included in the formulation of insecticides, pesticides, and pest control products for household and agricultural use.
Unitop Polysorbate 20 is widely used in cosmetic and personal care formulations because it acts as a nonionic surfactant and emulsifying agent that can effectively solubilize and disperse oils, fragrances, essential oils, and other lipophilic ingredients in water-based systems, resulting in stable and homogeneous products such as lotions, creams, shampoos, conditioners, cleansers, and facial serums, while also improving the texture, spreadability, and overall sensory feel of the product without causing significant irritation or harshness to the skin or hair.
In fragrance and perfume formulations, Unitop Polysorbate 20 is utilized to solubilize essential oils and aromatic compounds in aqueous bases, ensuring even distribution of the scent throughout the product, preventing phase separation, and maintaining long-lasting fragrance stability and uniformity in sprays, body mists, and liquid soaps.
In pharmaceutical and nutraceutical applications, Unitop Polysorbate 20 is employed as a solubilizer and stabilizer for poorly water-soluble drugs, vitamins, and bioactive compounds, enhancing their dispersion in aqueous solutions, improving bioavailability, preventing precipitation, and maintaining consistent potency and stability in oral, topical, or injectable dosage forms.
Unitop Polysorbate 20 assists in the dispersion of ingredients and helps maintain the skin and coat health of pets by providing gentle cleansing and conditioning.
Unitop Polysorbate 20 is used in the formulation of air fresheners, room sprays, and fragrance products to help disperse and stabilize fragrance oils and essential oils.
Unitop Polysorbate 20 ensures that the scent is evenly distributed and released over time, enhancing the longevity and intensity of the fragrance.
Unitop Polysorbate 20 is included in industrial cleaning solutions and degreasers used in commercial settings, automotive workshops, and manufacturing facilities.
Unitop Polysorbate 20 is used for solubilizing membrane proteins during isolation and purification.
Unitop Polysorbate 20 is used as a wetting agent in flavored mouth drops.
Unitop Polysorbate 20 acts as a washing agent in Western blots and ELISAs and prevents antibody binding.
Unitop Polysorbate 20 is a solubilizing agent of membrane proteins.
In pharmaceutical chemistry, Unitop Polysorbate 20 is used as an excipient to stabilize emulsions and suspensions.
Further, Unitop Polysorbate 20 is used as a dispersing agent, stabilizer, lubricator and also used in creams, salves, ointments, protective creams, balms, pomades, lipsticks, mascaras and glosses.
Unitop Polysorbate 20 is used in many brands of baby wipes.
Safety Profile Of Unitop Polysorbate 20:
Unitop Polysorbate 20 is generally considered low in toxicity and mild, especially at the concentrations used in cosmetic, pharmaceutical, and food formulations, but it can still present certain hazards when handled in concentrated form, in bulk powder, or during industrial processing, so careful handling and adherence to safety guidelines are recommended.
Because it can exist as a liquid or concentrated solution, accidental contact with the eyes may cause temporary irritation, redness, or watering, necessitating immediate rinsing with plenty of water to minimize discomfort, while prolonged or repeated skin contact may cause mild irritation, dryness, or sensitization in sensitive individuals, especially if used undiluted or in high concentrations.
Although inhalation hazards are minimal in its liquid form, exposure to aerosolized droplets, fine mists, or powdered derivatives of polysorbate 20 during industrial handling may lead to respiratory tract irritation, coughing, or discomfort, so using adequate ventilation, respirators, or dust masks is recommended to reduce the risk of inhalation.
Chemically, Unitop Polysorbate 20 is relatively stable under normal storage conditions, but it may undergo hydrolysis or oxidation under extreme pH, high temperature, or prolonged exposure to strong oxidizing agents, which could reduce its emulsifying efficiency, potentially produce minor irritant byproducts, or compromise formulation stability, so it should be stored in sealed containers, away from heat, sunlight, and reactive chemicals.
Unitop Polysorbate 20 was a skin irritant in dermatitis patients but was reported not to induce irritant responses when applied to the intact skin of health volunteers.
Unitop Polysorbate 20 produced, at worst, minimal irritation in the eyes of rabbits. Only a small number of cases of skin sensitization have been reported in humans, although a moderate to strong sensitizing potential was seen in guinea-pigs treated by intradermal injection.
