Emulsifiers

Author:Prof. Dr. med. Peter Altmeyer

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Last updated on: 29.10.2020

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DefinitionThis section has been translated automatically.

Surface-active substances which are used as auxiliary agents to combine two immiscible liquids (e.g. oil and water) to form an emulsion, to wet hardly soluble substances or to stabilise suspensions. An artificially produced emulsifier is e.g. soap. Naturally occurring emulsifiers are lecithin and fats.

Pharmacodynamics (Effect)This section has been translated automatically.

Depending on the predominance of the hydrophilic (water-soluble) or lipophilic (fat-soluble) molecular component, emulsifiers dissolve better than these in phases of two immiscible substances (e.g. water in oil, W/O), accumulate in an oriented manner in the interface between these phases, reduce the interfacial tension and are able to form elastic emulsifier films.

Notice! The resulting emulsion type is determined by the emulsifier and its affinity (solubility) to the external phase(HLB value)!

Field of application/useThis section has been translated automatically.

Production and stabilization of emulsions, suspensions and ointments (depending on the properties and concentration of the emulsifier).

Note(s)This section has been translated automatically.

  • Emulsifiers consist of molecules with a hydrophilic and a lipophilic part. With the lipophilic part they attach themselves to the lipophilic phase and with the hydrophilic part to water. Thus, an oil droplet can be stabilized in an aqueous phase.
  • Emulsifiers can be distinguished by their chemical structure into:
    • nonionic emulsifiers
    • ionic emulsifiers
    • anionic emulsifiers
    • cationic emulsifiers
    • amphoteric emulsifiers.
  • Emulsifiers are widely used in pharmacy and food technology. The emulsifiers used in other branches of industry (e.g. oil industry, household (all detergents), cosmetics and numerous large-scale industrial applications) are also called surfactants.
  • Emulsifiers are used in the food industry:
    • Ammonium phosphatides (E 442)
    • ascorbyl palmitate(E 304)
    • calcium stearoyl-2-lactylate(E 482)
    • diphosphates (E 450)
    • fatty acids ( E 570 )
    • Lecithin ( E 322 )
    • Mono- and diglycerides of fatty acids(E 471)
    • sodium stearoyl-2-lactylate(E 481)
    • Phosphoric acid ( E 338 )
    • Sodium phosphate(E 339)
    • Potassium phosphate(E 340)
    • calcium phosphate(E 341)
    • Polyglycerol polyricinoleate (E 476)
    • Polyoxyethylene (40) stearate (E 431)
    • polyphosphates(E 452)
    • Polysorbate 20(E 432)
    • Polysorbate 40(E 434)
    • Polysorbate 60(E 435)
    • Polysorbate 65(E 436)
    • Polysorbate 80(E 433)
    • propylene glycol alginate(E 405)
    • Sorbitan monolaurate(E 493)
    • Sorbitan monooleate(E 494)
    • Sorbitan monopalmitate(E 495)
    • Sorbitan monostearate(E 491)
    • Sorbitan tristearate(E 492)
    • Fatty acid compounds
    • Sodium salts of fatty acids (E 470a)
    • Magnesium compound of fatty acids (E 470b)
    • Thermo-oxidised soybean oil with mono- and diglycerides of fatty acids (E 479)
    • Fatty acid esters
      • Acetic acid esters of mono- and diglycerides of fatty acids (E 472a)
      • Lactic acid esters of mono- and diglycerides of fatty acids (E 472b)
      • Citric acid esters of mono- and diglycerides of fatty acids (E 472c)
      • Tartaric acid esters of mono- and diglycerides of fatty acids (E 472d)
      • Mono- and diacetyl tartaric acid esters of mono- and diglycerides of fatty acids (E 472e)
      • Mixed acetic and tartaric acid esters of mono- and diglycerides of fatty acids (E 472f)
    • sugar esters of fatty acids(E 473)
    • Polyglycerol esters of fatty acids(E 475)
    • Propylene glycol esters of fatty acids(E 477)
    • Stearyl tartrate(E 483)
    • triphosphates(E 451)
    • sugar glycerides(E 474).

LiteratureThis section has been translated automatically.

  1. Wohlrab J et al (2015) Preclinical validation of the cutaneous tolerance of emulsifiers. JDDG 13 (Suppl 1) 178

TablesThis section has been translated automatically.

Emulsifiers and their use in exteriors

Emulsifier

Use

cetomacrogol 1000

Nonionic emulsifier

Cetyl alcohol

Consistency agent, W/O emulsifier, lipophilic component in emulsifying cetylstearyl alcohol and non-ionic emulsifying cetylstearyl alcohol

Cetylstearyl alcohol

Consistency agent, W/O emulsifier, lipophilic component in emulsifying cetylstearyl alcohol and non-ionic emulsifying cetylstearyl alcohol

Cholesterol

W/O emulsifier

Cocamidopropyl betaine

Washing active substance in shampoos

Glycerol monostearate

Consistency enhancer, W/O emulsifier

Laureth-2

Stabiliser in oil baths, consistency regulator in shampoos

Laureth-4

Stabiliser in oil baths, consistency regulator in shampoos

macrogol-1000-glycerol monostearate

Hydrophilic emulsifier in base cream DAC

Macrogol glycerol hydroxystearate

Solvent for medicinal substances and essential oils

Macrogol stearate 400

Nonionic emulsifier

Sodium cetylstearyl sulphate

Washing active substance in shampoos; anionic emulsifier in emulsifying cetylstearyl alcohol

Sodium dodecyl sulfate

Washing active substance in shampoos; anionic emulsifier in emulsifying cetylstearyl alcohol

Sodium lauryl ether sulphate

Washing active substance in shampoos

Polysorbates 20, 40, 60, 80

Wetting agent, hydrophilic emulsifier in non-ionic creams

Sorbitan monooleate

W/O emulsifier

Sorbitan monostearate

Consistency enhancer, W/O emulsifier

Sorbitan sesquioleate

W/O emulsifier

Sorbitan trioleate

W/O emulsifier

Wool Wax

W/O emulsifier

Wool wax alcohols

W/O emulsifier

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Last updated on: 29.10.2020