Sorbitan Fatty Acid Esters

Name:
Sorbitan Fatty Acid Esters
Detailed information:
Mixture of partial esters of sorbitol and its anhydrides with fatty acids.

Properties:

Sorbitan monolaurate and sorbitan monooleate are amber liquids; sorbitan monostearate, sorbitan monopalmitate, and sorbitan tristearate are cream-colored, waxy solids with slight odor and bland taste; d of both liquid and solid esters is about 1.0 (25C), mp of solid esters is 54C; they are insoluble in water, somewhat soluble in organic solvents. Combustible.

Derivation:

Esterification of sorbitol with fatty acids.

Grade:

Technical, FCC (for sorbitan monostearate).

Use:

Emulsifiers and stabilizers in foods, cosmetics, drugs, textiles; plastics, agricultural chemicals.

See Polysorbate.