Emulsifiers

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)!

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

• 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).

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

Emulsifiers and their use in exteriors