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Pharma-Grade Nonionic Surfactants

Polysorbate 20 & 80

Premium nonionic surfactants for precision emulsification and solubilization with industry-leading quality and consistency for pharmaceutical, cosmetic, and food applications.

Ultra-Low Peroxide

<0.5 meq/kg for oxidative stability

Batch-to-Batch Consistency

ΔHLB ≤0.5

Cold Process Compatible

Hydrates fully at 25°C

USP/NF/EP Compliant

Meets injectable-grade standards

Vegan & RSPO MB Certified

Sustainable and ethical sourcing

Molecular Analysis

Molecular & Physical Specifications

Comprehensive characterization data demonstrates superior quality and precise physical parameters for optimal formulation performance.

Polysorbate 20 Specifications

INCI Name
Polysorbate 20
Chemical Name
Polyoxyethylene (20) sorbitan monolaurate
CAS Number
9005-64-5
HLB Value
16.7
Griffin method
Critical Micelle Concentration
0.06 mM
Surface tension
Viscosity (25°C)
400-600 cP
Brookfield
Fatty Acid Chain
C12 (Lauric)

Key Quality Indicator

Our Polysorbate 20 maintains ultra-low peroxide values (<0.5 meq/kg) for exceptional oxidative stability, preventing degradation of sensitive actives and extending formulation shelf life.

Peroxide Value (meq/kg)<0.5
0.0Our ProductIndustry Avg: 2-5USP Limit: <10

Advanced Characterization

Polysorbate 20 Structure

Polyoxyethylene (20) sorbitan monolaurate

PEG-20 sorbitan monolaurate with C12 fatty acid chain

Comparative Specifications

TestP20 SpecP80 SpecMethod
Saponification Value40-55 mg KOH/g45-60 mg KOH/gUSP <401>
Residual Ethylene Oxide<1 ppm<1 ppmGC-MS
Heavy Metals≤10 ppm≤10 ppmICP-OES
Peroxide Value<0.5 meq/kg<0.5 meq/kgAOCS Cd 8b-90

HLB Value Significance

The Hydrophilic-Lipophilic Balance (HLB) is critical for emulsion stability and active solubilization. Our manufacturing process ensures batch-to-batch HLB consistency (ΔHLB ≤0.5) for reliable formulation performance.

16.7
Oil-soluble
0
W/O Emulsifier
4-6
O/W Emulsifier
8-16
Water-soluble
20
Performance Benchmarks

Superior Emulsification & Solubilization

Direct comparative testing reveals significant performance advantages that directly impact product efficacy and stability.

Emulsification Efficiency

Droplet size measurements following high-pressure homogenization (10,000 psi, 3 passes) demonstrate the superior emulsification capabilities of our Polysorbate surfactants.

Oil PhaseP20 (5%) Droplet SizeP80 (5%) Droplet Size
Silicone (DC245)2.1 ±0.3 μm3.8 ±0.4 μm
Mineral Oil1.8 ±0.2 μm2.3 ±0.3 μm
Sunflower Oil3.5 ±0.5 μm1.9 ±0.2 μm

Selection Guidance:

  • Choose P20 for synthetic oils (silicones, mineral oil) and flavor emulsions
  • Choose P80 for natural oils (vegetable oils, essential oils) and sterile injectables
  • For extremely stable emulsions, use our proprietary P20/P80 blend (contact for details)

Solubilization Capacity

Maximum loading capacity (mg of active per g of surfactant) highlights the significant differences between P20 and P80 for different active ingredients.

Active IngredientP20 Max LoadP80 Max Load
Vitamin E Acetate120 mg/g85 mg/g
CoQ1025 mg/g40 mg/g
CBD Isolate55 mg/g75 mg/g

HLB Matching Guide

ApplicationRecommended HLBPreferred Polysorbate
O/W Creams10-12P80 + Span 80 blend
Vaccine Adjuvants14-16P20
Flavor Emulsions16-18P20
Injectable Lipids12-14P80

Preservative Synergy

P20 + phenoxyethanol:+30% activity
P80 + benzoate:2X solubility

Our polysorbates enhance preservative efficacy through improved dispersion and micelle-assisted transport, potentially allowing for reduced preservative levels.

Formulation Guidance

Application & Processing Guidelines

Expert recommendations for incorporating our polysorbates into various formulation types to deliver exceptional product performance and stability.

Processing Recommendations

Cold Processing Advantage

25°C

Room Temperature

15-30 min

Hydration Time

Complete

Dissolution

Unlike competitive products that require heating to 40-60°C, our premium Polysorbate 20fully dissolves at room temperature (25°C) in just 15-30 minutes, enabling energy-efficient cold processing with reduced manufacturing time.

Addition Order

For optimal results, add polysorbate to the aqueous phase before oil addition. For difficult-to-emulsify actives, pre-blend the active with polysorbate before adding to the aqueous phase.

pH Stability Range

Our polysorbates maintain stability between pH 3.0-8.0. Avoid extreme pH conditions (below 2.5 or above 9.0) to prevent hydrolysis and maintain long-term emulsion stability.

Concentration Guidelines

For emulsions: 2-5% for most applications. For solubilization of actives: Start with a 5:1 to 10:1 ratio (polysorbate:active) and optimize based on clarity and stability testing.

Application Recommendations

Primary Applications for Polysorbate 20

Flavor Emulsions

Excellent for water-dispersible flavor systems requiring high clarity and stability against ripening.

Typical use level: 0.5-1.0%

Vaccine Adjuvants

Preferred for parenteral emulsions requiring smaller droplet size and high biocompatibility.

Typical use level: 0.01-0.1%

Vitamin E Formulations

Superior solubilization of vitamin E acetate for clear aqueous solutions with extended stability.

Typical ratio: 1:8 (vitamin:polysorbate)

Industry-Specific Optimization

Pharmaceutical Applications
  • For sterile injectables, use our low-peroxide, low-endotoxin grade P80 (LAL tested)
  • For ophthalmic formulations, limit concentration to 0.1-0.5% to minimize irritation potential
  • For high-potency APIs, implement nitrogen purging to mitigate oxidation during processing
Regulatory & Quality

Regulatory Status & Quality Assurance

Complete regulatory information and quality certifications to support your compliance requirements and product documentation.

Regulatory Status

Global Regulatory Compliance

RegionStatusCompliance
USAApprovedFDA 21 CFR 172.515 (food), 21 CFR 175.105 (indirect food contact)
EUApprovedEFSA E432-436 approved
Global PharmaApprovedUSP/EP/JP compliant (meets <591> and <3.2.9>)

Toxicology Profile

Acute Oral LD50:>5,000 mg/kg
Skin Irritation:Non-irritating
Ocular Irritation:Mild (OECD 405)

Certifications

Vegan Certified

100% plant-derived

RSPO MB Certified

Sustainable palm oil

Ordering Information

Grade Comparison

GradeP20 PriceP80 PriceKey Features
PharmaContact for priceContact for price<0.1% free PEG
CosmeticContact for priceContact for priceRSPO MB certified
FoodContact for priceContact for priceKosher/Halal

Packaging Options

1 kg sample

P20

P80

25 lb drum

P20

P80

450 lb tote

P20

P80

Shelf Life: 3 years when stored <30°C

Technical Support Services

Free Services:

  • HLB Calculator (custom surfactant blends)
  • Microscopy Analysis (emulsion droplet imaging)
  • Accelerated Stability Modeling

Troubleshooting Kits:

  • Preventing gel phase formation
  • Solubilizer optimization guide
  • EO/PEG reduction protocols

Ready to Optimize Your Formulations?

Experience how our premium polysorbates can enhance your product stability, appearance, and performance with industry-leading quality and consistency.

"Using California Chemical's Polysorbate 80 reduced our vaccine adjuvant production time by 20% due to faster cold hydration."

– Director of Formulation, Top 10 Pharma

Questions About Our Polysorbates?

Our technical team is ready to assist with your formulation needs.