Product Description
Sorbitan fatty acid esters, commonly referred to as Span, represent an important family of nonionic surfactants derived from the esterification of sorbitan with different fatty acids. They are supplied in diverse physical forms, ranging from white to yellowish-brown liquids, powders, flakes, granules to waxy solids. Their hydrophilic‑lipophilic balance (HLB), emulsifying capacity, melting point and solubility characteristics vary considerably, depending on the type and carbon chain length of the specific fatty acids incorporated into their molecular structure.
Properties
| Melting point | 54-57 °C(lit.) |
| Boiling point | 464.84°C (rough estimate) |
| density | 1 |
| vapor pressure | <1.4 hPa (20 °C) |
| FEMA | 3028 | SORBITAN MONOSTEARATE |
| refractive index | 1.4593 (estimate) |
| Fp | >230 °F |
| storage temp. | Store below +30°C. |
| solubility | Practically insoluble, but dispersible in water, slightly soluble in alcohol. |
| form | Solid |
| pka | 13.63[at 20 ℃] |
| color | Cream coloured flakes |
| Odor | Slight |
| Odor Type | bland |
| Water Solubility | Soluble in ethanol (50 mg/ml), isopropanol, mineral oil and vegetable oil. Insoluble in water. |
| Merck | 148724 |
| BRN | 6820761 |
| Hydrophilic-Lipophilic Balance (HLB) | 4.7 |
| Exposure limits | ACGIH: TWA 10 mg/m3; TWA 3 mg/m3 |
| Stability: | Stable. Combustible. Incompatible with strong oxidizing agents. |
| InChIKey | HVUMOYIDDBPOLL-XGKPLOKHSA-N |
| LogP | 7.66 |
| CAS DataBase Reference | 1338-41-6(CAS DataBase Reference) |
| EPA Substance Registry System | Sorbitan monostearate (1338-41-6) |
Product Usage
Sorbitan fatty acid esters (trade name "Span"), a family of nonionic surfactants, are highly recognized for their outstanding emulsifying, dispersing, stabilizing and solubilizing capabilities. In the pharmaceutical industry, they serve as key functional excipients, widely incorporated into ointments, creams, oral emulsions and topical preparations to stabilize oil‑water systems and improve bioavailability of active ingredients. In industrial applications, they act as wetting agents and auxiliaries in textile processing, facilitating uniform dyeing and finishing while boosting the surface quality and handling performance of finished textiles. Multiple grades including food grade, pharmaceutical grade and industrial grade are commercially available. Proper grade selection according to intended use is essential to meet relevant regulatory requirements and guarantee safe, reliable performance in the target formulation.
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