Polysorbate 80
Pharcos PS 80
Also known as: PEG-20 Sorbitan Monooleate | Tween 80 Equivalent | Polyoxyethylene (20) Sorbitan Monooleate
Pharcos PS 80 is derived from ethoxylating Sorbitan Monooleate. Similar to PS 20, it is intensely hydrophilic (HLB ~15.0) and water-soluble. However, because it utilizes a long, unsaturated C18 oleic acid tail (instead of the short C12 lauric tail in PS 20), it possesses significantly more 'grabbing power'. This makes it the premier choice for solubilizing heavy, stubborn, or highly viscous active ingredients. In the pharmaceutical sector, specialized high-purity grades of PS 80 are critical for stabilizing proteinaceous biopharmaceuticals and vaccines against aggregation.
Quick Information
- Product Line:
- Personal Care
- Category:
- Solubilizers
- Grade:
- Liquid
- CAS Number:
- 9005-65-6
Key Applications
- Heavy Oil Solubilizer
- Vaccine Stabilizer (Pharma grade)
- Agro-Tank Adjuvant
- Drilling Fluid Emulsifier
How It Works
The 'kinked' oleic tail dictates PS 80's profound solubilization power.
The oleic acid tail contains a natural cis-double bond, which puts a bend or 'kink' in the lipophilic chain. This kink creates massive free volume within the core of the PS 80 micelle. Consequently, a single PS 80 micelle can trap and encase much larger, bulkier oil molecules (like thick botanical resins or heavy synthetic actives) than straight-chain solubilizers. Once encased, the massive 20-mole PEG headgroup pulls the entire complex effortlessly into the water phase.
Technical Information
Common questions about Polysorbate 80
Molecular weight of the oil. PS 20 (Lauric) is excellent for light, volatile essential oils (like citrus). PS 80 (Oleic) is required for heavy, viscous oils, thick botanical resins, and robust synthetic active ingredients that would otherwise crash out of a PS 20 solution.
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