Home Cosmetic Science Talk Formulating General HLB of emulsifiers

  • HLB of emulsifiers

    Posted by Abdullah on February 4, 2021 at 1:43 pm

    Can an emulsifier have different HLB when produced by different manufacturers? 

    These are some emulsifiers with HLB from my supplier 
    Polyglyceryl 4 Laurate 11

    Polyglyceryl 10 oleate 12.5
    Polyglyceryl 10 stearate 12.5
    Polyglyceryl 6 oleate 10
    Polyglyceryl 6 stearate 10
    Polyglyceryl 6 di stearate 9.5
    glyceryl caprylate. 5.5
    glyceryl oleate 4.0 
    Glyceryl stearate 4.5

    When i search these emulsifiers in google they have different HLB. 

    Abdullah replied 3 years, 9 months ago 2 Members · 2 Replies
  • 2 Replies
  • Pharma

    Member
    February 4, 2021 at 7:49 pm
    These are sometimes even listed as HLB-independent especially given that the HLB system is based on and made for PEG-derivatives.
    All, even glyceryl stearate (which is often a mixture of glyceryl monostearate with glyceryl monopalmitate and to some degree di-esters thereof), are not a fully defined chemical compound but mixtures and hence, hypothetical HLB will be different, sometimes even between batches and not just between manufacturers. The longer the hydrophilic side chain (increasing number of the polyglyceryl part), the higher the possibilities for a more diverse molecular mixture. PEG-derivatives always have a straight PEG-chain and a single fatty acid attached to one end, polyglyceryl esters can be branched and the fatty acid may be attached anywhere. Different production methods result in different blends too.
  • Abdullah

    Member
    February 5, 2021 at 2:52 am

    @Pharma thanks 
    This information was very helpful 

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