Span 20-1 is a high-purity sorbitan monolaurate, a premium emulsifier compliant with food, cosmetic, and pharmaceutical industry standards. It exhibits excellent oil-in-water emulsifying properties, effectively blending oil and water-based ingredients to stabilize formulations.
With strict purity control, it meets safety requirements for direct contact with food and application on skin or in pharmaceuticals. Key functions include enhancing formulation stability, improving texture, and ensuring uniform ingredient dispersion.
Widely used in food (e.g., dairy, baked goods), cosmetics (e.g., creams, lotions), and pharmaceuticals (e.g., ointments, oral emulsions), it serves as a reliable, multi-purpose additive to optimize product performance and quality.
Product Advantage
1. Ultra-High Purity with Strict Quality Control
Span 20-1 achieves a minimum purity of 99.5%, far exceeding the industry average of 95%. Our advanced distillation process removes impurities (e.g., free sorbitol, fatty acids) to below 0.3%, verified by HPLC and GC testing. This high purity ensures no off-flavors, odors, or harmful residues, making it ideal for sensitive applications like infant food and pharmaceutical ointments, reducing the risk of formulation instability or consumer irritation.
2. Multi-Industry Compliance with Global Certifications
The product complies with major international standards, including FDA (21 CFR 172.842), EU Regulation (EC) No. 1333/2008, and Ph. Eur. 10.0 (Pharmaceutical Europe). We hold ISO 9001 (quality management) and ISO 22000 (food safety) certifications, with batch-to-batch consistency rate reaching 99.8%. Each lot is accompanied by a detailed Certificate of Analysis (CoA), enabling customers to meet regulatory requirements in over 50 countries without additional testing.
3. Superior Emulsifying Stability & Long Shelf-Life
With an HLB value of 8.6 (optimized for oil-in-water emulsions), Span 20-1 maintains stable emulsions for up to 24 months under ambient conditions (25℃, 60% RH), compared to 18 months of similar products. It resists phase separation even in extreme temperatures (-10℃ to 50℃) and pH ranges (4.0-8.0), as proven by accelerated stability tests (40℃, 75% RH for 3 months). This reduces product waste and extends shelf-life for customers’ end products.
4. Customizable Specifications for Diverse Needs
We offer tailored solutions, such as adjusting particle size (from 200 mesh to 800 mesh) and moisture content (0.1%-0.5%) based on customer requirements. For example, 800-mesh fine powder is designed for fast dissolution in liquid cosmetics, while 200-mesh granular form suits dry food mixes. Our R&D team can also modify the emulsifying efficiency (up to 15% higher than standard) for specific formulations, with a lead time of only 7-10 days for small-batch custom orders.
5. High Production Capacity & Reliable Supply Chain
Our manufacturing plant has an annual production capacity of 12,000 metric tons, with 3 dedicated production lines for Span 20-1. We maintain a safety stock of 500 metric tons to ensure on-time delivery, with a global delivery rate of 98% within 14 days (by sea) or 3 days (by air). This scalability supports both small-batch trials (minimum order quantity: 10 kg) and large-scale industrial orders (1,000+ kg), meeting diverse customer demand cycles.
6. Eco-Friendly & Sustainable Production Process
70% of the raw materials (sorbitol, lauric acid) are derived from renewable sources (e.g., palm kernel oil, corn starch), and our production process reduces water consumption by 30% and energy use by 25% compared to traditional methods. We have zero liquid discharge (ZLD) systems to treat wastewater, and 95% of packaging materials are recyclable. This aligns with customers’ sustainability goals, helping them reduce their carbon footprint in the supply chain.
Technical Parameters
| Parameter | Specification |
| Appearance | Yellow to amber viscous liquid or paste |
| Molecular Weight | 346.46 g/mol (±5 g/mol) |
| HLB Value | 8.6 |
| Acid Value | ≤ 10 mg KOH/g |
| Saponification Value | 330~360 mg KOH/g |
| Water Content | ≤ 2% |
Hydroxyl Value | 155~175 mg KOH/g |
| Melting point | Liquid (25℃) |
| Solubility | Soluble in oil and organic solvents and disperses in water as a semi-emulsion liquid |
Product Uses
1. Food Industry
In dairy products like cream and flavored milk, it stabilizes oil-water mixtures, preventing fat separation and keeping textures smooth. It’s also used in baked goods (e.g., cakes, bread) to blend oil and flour, improving moisture retention and extending shelf life. For salad dressings, it ensures uniform dispersion of oil and vinegar, avoiding layering.
2. Cosmetics Industry
In facial creams and body lotions, it acts as an emulsifier to mix oil-based nutrients (e.g., plant oils) with water-based ingredients, creating a non-greasy, easy-to-absorb texture. It’s added to liquid foundations to enhance pigment dispersion, ensuring even coverage. In hair conditioners, it helps blend oils and silicones, reducing hair frizz and boosting smoothness.
3. Pharmaceutical Industry
In topical ointments (e.g., anti-itch or anti-inflammatory ointments), it stabilizes drug-containing oil phases with water-based bases, ensuring consistent drug concentration for effective absorption. It’s also used in oral emulsions (e.g., vitamin supplements) to keep oil-soluble drugs evenly suspended, improving bioavailability and avoiding sedimentation.
4. Daily Chemicals Industry
In liquid soaps and shower gels, it aids in blending oil-based cleansing agents with water, enhancing foaming ability and making lathers richer. For hand sanitizers, it stabilizes alcohol and moisturizing oils, preventing alcohol evaporation too quickly and reducing skin dryness caused by sanitizing ingredients.
Product Operate Guide
1. Food / Cosmetics Scenario: Take the required amount of Span 20-1, mix it with the oil components (such as vegetable oil, cream), heat it to 40-50℃ and stir to dissolve. Then slowly add the water phase, stir continuously until uniform. After cooling, the preparation is completed.
2. Medical Scenario: According to the formula ratio, mix it with the drug oil phase and matrix in a sterile environment, stir to emulsify, control the temperature ≤ 60℃, ensure there are no particles before packaging, and check the dosage before use.
FAQ
1. How should I store Span 20-1 to maintain its quality?
Store Span 20-1 in a cool, dry place (15-25℃) away from direct sunlight and moisture. Seal the package tightly after each use to prevent oxidation. When stored properly, it retains its performance for up to 24 months from the production date.
2. What is the recommended dosage of Span 20-1 in formulations?
Typically, use 0.5%-3% of Span 20-1 based on the total formulation weight. For food (e.g., salad dressings), 0.8%-1.5% works best; for cosmetics (e.g., lotions), 1%-2% is ideal. Adjust based on specific product needs and test for stability.
3. Can Span 20-1 be replaced with other emulsifiers like Span 80?
Span 20-1 (HLB 8.6) is better for oil-in-water emulsions in low-viscosity products (e.g., milk, light lotions). Span 80 (HLB 4.3) suits high-viscosity oil-based formulas. They are not direct substitutes—choose based on your formulation’s HLB requirement.
4. Is Span 20-1 safe for sensitive skin and infant food?
Yes. It meets FDA and EU food/cosmetic safety standards, with no harmful residues (purity ≥99.5%). It’s non-irritating for sensitive skin (tested to cause <0.5% skin reaction) and approved for infant food under strict dosage limits.
5. Does Span 20-1 compatible with common ingredients in formulations?
It is highly compatible with most ingredients: oil-based (plant oils, waxes), water-based (glycerin, water), and active components (vitamins, pharmaceuticals). Avoid mixing with strong acids (pH <3.0) as it may reduce emulsifying stability.
