Emulsifier HLB Value | Definition, Calculation & Selection.
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Surfactants Guide: What They Are & How They Work
02/06/2023Key points.
- H in HLB is ‘Hydrophile’ for hydrophilic, L is ‘Lipophilic’ for lipophilic and B is ‘Balance’ for equilibrium.
- HLB = hydrophilic of hydrophilic group / lipophilic of oleophilic group.
- The larger the HLB value of the emulsifier represents the more hydrophilic, the smaller the value represents the more lipophilic, in general HLB value from 1 ~ 40.
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What is the Emulsifier HLB Value?
The HLB value (Hydrophile-Lipophile Balance Number) is the hydrophilic-hydrophobic balance value, also known as the water-oil degree, and was first proposed by W.C. Griffin in 1949 to illustrate the balance between the hydrophilic and lipophilic groups in the surfactant molecule.
Click here to learn more about “HLB was first proposed by WC Griffin in 1949”.
The degree of lipophilicity or hydrophilicity of a surfactant can be determined by the size of the HLB value, with a larger HLB value representing greater hydrophilicity and a smaller HLB value representing greater lipophilicity, generally with HLB values ranging from 1 to 40.
It is related to the hydrophilicity and lipophilicity of the surfactant, but also to the surface (interfacial) tension of the surfactant, the adsorption at the interface, emulsification and emulsion stability, dispersion, solubility, decontamination and other basic properties, and also to the application performance of the surfactant.
Emulsifier HLB Value and the Application of the Relationship
The HLB has important reference value in practical applications. It can help to screen emulsifiers and prepare emulsions with optimum performance. For example, in emulsification and decontamination, a surfactant with the right HLB value is selected depending on the polarity and temperature of the oil or dirt.
A lower HLB value indicates better oil (non-polar) solubility. Higher HLB values indicate better water (polar) solubility. The hydrophilic-lipophilic turning point HLB is 10. HLB less than 10 is oleophilic and greater than 10 is hydrophilic.
Emulsifiers with low HLB values are more suitable for water-in-oil emulsions (W/O), typically 3 to 7; emulsifiers with high HLB values are more suitable for oil-in-water emulsions (O/W), typically 7 to 19.
Plants can build emulsion systems using different ratios of low and high HLB surfactants, medium HLB surfactants or multi-component concentrates to improve formulation and cleaning efficiency.
Depending on the needs of the application, products with different HLB values can be obtained by changing the molecular structure of the surfactant. For ionic surfactants, the HLB value can be adjusted by increasing or decreasing the number of carbons in the lipophilic group or by changing the type of hydrophilic group; for non-ionic surfactants, the HLB value can be finely adjusted by increasing or decreasing the chain length of ethylene oxide attached to a certain lipophilic group or by the number of via groups.
HLB Value Calculation Formula
HLB = hydrophilicity of hydrophilic groups / lipophilicity of lipophilic groups.
The formula for its calculation is:
HLB = 7 + 11.7 lgMW /M0
where MW and M0 are the molecular weights of the hydrophilic and lipophilic groups in the surfactant molecule, respectively.
Classification of Surfactants by HLB Calue
| WO emulsifier | HLB = 3 – 7 |
| Lubricant | HLB = 8 – 13 |
| OW emulsifier | HLB = 7 – 19 |
| Detergent | HLB = 13 – 15 |
| Solubilizers | HLB = 10 – 18 |
List of HLB Calues for Common Emulsifiers
| Trade Name | type | HLB Value |
| Oteic acid | anion | 1.0 |
| Span 85 Sorbitan tribleate | Nonionic | 1.8 |
| Arlacel 85 Sorbitan trioleate | Nonionic | 1.8 |
| Atlas G-1706 Polyoxyethylene sorbitol beeswax derivative | Nonionic | 2.0 |
| Span 65 soibitantristearate | Nonionic | 2.1 |
| Arlacel 65 sorbitantristearate | Nonionic | 2.1 |
| Atlas G-1050 polyoxyethylene sorbitol hexastearate | Nonionic | 2.6 |
| Emcol EO-50 ethyleneglycol fatty acid ester | Nonionic | 2.7 |
| Emcol ES-50 ethyleneglycol fatty acid ester | Nonionic | 2.7 |
| Atlas G-1704 polyoxyethylene sorbitol beeswax derivative | Nonionic | 3.0 |
| Emcol PO-50 propylene glycol fatty acid ester | Nonionic | 3.4 |
| Atlas G-922 propylene glycol fatty acid ester | Nonionic | 3.4 |
| “Pure” propylene glycol fatty acid ester | Nonionic | 3.4 |
| Atlas G-2158 Propylene glycol fatty acid ester | Nonionic | 3.4 |
| Emcol PS-50 Ethylene glycol fattyacid ester | Nonionic | 3.4 |
| Emcol EL-50 ethyleneglycol fattyacid ester | Nonionic | 3.6 |
| Emcol PP-50 Propylene glycol fatty acid ester | Nonionic | 3.7 |
| Arlacel C sorbitan sesquioleate | Nonionic | 3.7 |
| Arlacel 83 sorbitan sesquiolate | Nonionic | 3.7 |
| AtlasG-2859 Polyoxyethyle esorbitol 4,5 oleate | Nonionic | 3.7 |
| Atmul 67 glycerol monostearate | Nonionic | 3.8 |
| Atmul 84 glycerol monostearate | Nonionic | 3.8 |
| Tegin 515 glycerolmonostee(rateglycerol monostearate | Nonionic | 3.8 |
| Aldo 33 glycerol monostearate | Nonionic | 3.8 |
| “Pure” Hydroxylatedlanolin | Nonionic | 3.8 |
| Ohlan polyoxyethylene sorbitol beeswax | Nonionic | 4.0 |
| AriasG-1727 derivative | Nonionic | 4.0 |
| Emcol PM-50 propylene glycol fatty acid ester | Nonionic | 4.1 |
| Span 80 sorbitan monoo1eate | Nonionic | 4.3 |
| Arlacel 80 Sorbiatan monooleate | Nonionic | 4.3 |
| Atlas G—917 propylene glycol monolaurate | Nonionic | 4.5 |
| AtlasG-385l propylene glycol monolaurate | Nonionic | 4.5 |
| EmcolPL-50 Propylene glycol fatty acid ester | Nonionic | 4.5 |
| Span 60 sorbitan monostearate | Nonionic | 4.7 |
| Arlacel 60 sorbitan monostearate | Nonionic | 4.7 |
| AtlasG-2139 diethylene glycol monooleat | Nonionic | 4.7 |
| Emcol DO-50 diethyleneglycol fattyacidester | Nonionic | 4.7 |
| AtlasG-2146 diethylene glycol monostearate | Nonionic | 4.7 |
| Emcol DS-50 diethyleneglycol fatty acidester | Nonionic | 4.7 |
| Ameroxol OE-2 P.O.E.(2)oleylalcohol | Nonionic | 5.0 |
| AtlasG-1702 polyoxyethylene sorbitol beeswax derivative | Nonionic | 5.0 |
| Emcol DP-50 Diethylene glycol fatty acid ester | Nonionic | 5.1 |
| Aldo 28 glycerol monostearate | Nonionic | 5.5 |
| Tegin glycerol monoStearate | Nonionic | 5.5 |
| Emcol DM-50 diethylene glycolfattyacidester | Nonionic | 5.6 |
| Glucate-SS Methyl Glucoside Seequisterate | Nonionic | 6.0 |
| AtlasG-1725 polyoxyethylene sorbitol beeswax derivative | Nonionic | 6.0 |
| AtlasG-2124 diethylene glycol monolaurate | Nonionic | 6.1 |
| Emcol DL-50 diethylene glycol fatty acid ester | Nonionic | 6.1 |
| Glaurin diethylene glycol monolaurate | Nonionic | 6.5 |
| Span 40 sorbitan monopalmitate | Nonionic | 6.7 |
| Arlacel 40 sorbitan monopalmitate | Nonionic | 6.7 |
| AtlasG-2242 Polyoxyethylene dioleate | Nonionic | 7.5 |
| AtlasG-2147 tetraethylene glycol monostearate | Nonionic | 7.7 |
| AtlasG-2140 tetraethylene glycol mbnooleat | Nonionic | 7.7 |
| AtlasG-2800 Volvoxvlropylene mannitoldioleate | Nonionic | 8.0 |
| Atlas G-1493 Polyoxyet hylene sorbitol lanolin oleate derivative | Nonionic | 8.0 |
| Atlas G-1425 polyoxyethylene sorbitol lanolin derivative | Nonionic | 8.0 |
| Atlas G-3608 Polyoxypropylene stearate | Nonionic | 8.0 |
| Solulan 5 P.O.E(5)lanolin alcohol | Nonionic | 8.0 |
| Span 20 sorbitan monolaurate | Nonionic | 8.6 |
| Arlacel 20 sorbitan monolaurate | Nonionic | 8.6 |
| Emulphor VN-430 polyoxyethylene fatty acid | Nonionic | 8.6 |
| Atbs G-2111 Polyoxyethylene oxypropylene oleate | Nonionic | 9.0 |
| Atlas G-1734 Polyoxythylene sorbitol beeswax derivative | Nonionic | 9.0 |
| Atlas G-2125 tetraethylene glycol monolaurate | Nonionic | 9.4 |
| Brij 30 Polyoxyethylene 1auryl ether | Nonionic | 9.5 |
| Tween 61 polyoxethylene sorbitan monostearate | Nonionic | 9.6 |
| Atlas G-2154 Hoxaethylene glycol monostearate | Nonionic | 9.6 |
| Splulan PB-5 P.0.P(5)laolin alcohol | Nonionic | 10.0 |
| Tween 81 Polyoxyethylene sorbitan monooleate | Nonionic | 10.0 |
| Atlas G-1218 Polyoxyethylene esters of mixed fatty and resin acids | Nonionic | 10.2 |
| Atlas G-3806 Polyoxyethylene cetyl ether | Nonionic | 10.3 |
| Tween 65 Polyoxyethylene sorbitan tristearate | Nonionic | 10.5 |
| Atlas G-3705 polyoxyethylene laurylether | Nonionic | 10.8 |
| Tween 85 polyoxyethylenesorbitan trioleate | Nonionic | 11.0 |
| Atlas G-2116 Polyoxyethylene oxypropylene oleate | Nonionic | 11.0 |
| Atlas G-1790 Polyoxyethylene lanolin derivative | Nonionic | 11.0 |
| Atlas G-2142 Polyoxyethylene monooleate | Nonionic | 11.1 |
| Myrj 45 polyoxyethylene monostearate | Nonionic | 11.1 |
| Atlas G-2141 polyoxyethylene enemonooleate | Nonionic | 11.4 |
| P.E.G.400 monooleate Polyoxyethylene monooleate | Nonionic | 11.4 |
| Atlas G-2076 Polyoxyethylene monopalmitate | Nonionic | 11.6 |
| S-541 Polyoxyethylene monostearate | Nonionic | 11.6 |
| P.E.G.400 monostearate Polyoxyethylene monostearate | Nonionic | 11.6 |
| Atlas G-3300 Alkyl aryl sulfonate | anion | 11.7 |
| triethan01amine oleate | anion | 12.0 |
| Ameroxl OE-10 P.O.E.(10)o1eyl alcohol | Nonionic | 12.0 |
| Atlas G-2127 polyoxyethylene monolaurate | Nonionic | 12.8 |
| Igepal CA-630 po1yoxyethylene alkyl phonol | Nonionic | 12.8 |
| Solulan 98 Acetylated P.O.E.(10)landin deriv | Nonionic | 13.0 |
| Atlas G-1431 polyoxyethylene sorbitol landing derivative | Nonionic | 13.0 |
| Atlas G-1690 Polyoxyethylene alkyl aryle ether | Nonionic | 13.0 |
| S-307 Polyoxyethylene monolaurate | Nonionic | 13.1 |
| P.E.G 400 monolurate Polyoxyethylene monolaurate | Nonionic | 13.1 |
| Atlas G-2133 Polyoxyethylene lauryl ether | Nonionic | 13.1 |
| Atlas G-1794 polyoxyethylene castor oil | Nonionic | 13.3 |
| Emulphor EL-719 Polyoxyethylene vegetable Oil | Nonionic | 13.3 |
| Tween 21 polyoxyethylene sorbitan monolaurate | Nonionic | 13.3 |
| Renex 20 polyoxyethylene esters Of mixed fatty and resin acide | Nonionic | 13.5 |
| Atlas G-1441 polyoxyethylene sorbitol 1anolin derivative | Nonionic | 14.0 |
| Solulan C-24 P.O.E.(24)cholesterol | Nonionic | 14.0 |
| Solulan PB-20 P.O.P.(20)1anolin alcohol | Nonionic | 14.0 |
| Atlas G-7596j polyoxyethylene sotbitan monolaurat | Nonionic | 14.9 |
| Tween 60 polyoxyethylene sorbitan monostearate | Nonionic | 14.9 |
| Ameroxol OE-20 P.O.E.(20) oleyl alcohol | Nonionic | 15.0 |
| Glucamate SSE-20 P.O.E.(20) Glucamate SS | Nonionic | 15.0 |
| Solulan 16 P.O.E.(16) lanolin alcohol | Nonionic | 15.0 |
| Solulan 25 P.O.E.(25) lanolin alcohol | Nonionic | 15.0 |
| Solulan 97 Acetylated P.O.E.(20) lanolin Deriv | Nonionic | 15.0 |
| Tween 80 polyoxyethylene sorbitan monostearate | Nonionic | 15.0 |
| Myrj 49 Polyoxyethylene monostearat | Nonionic | 15.0 |
| Altlas G-2144 Polyoxyethylene monooleate | Nonionic | 15.1 |
| Atlas G-3915 polyoxyethylene oleyl ether | Nonionic | 15.3 |
| Atlas G-3720 polyoxyethylene stearyl alcohol | Nonionic | 15.3 |
| Atlas G-3920 polyoxyethylene oleyl alcohol | Nonionic | 15.4 |
| Emulphor ON-870 Polyoxyethylene fatty alcohol | Nonionic | 15.4 |
| Atlas G-2079 polyoxyethylene glycol monopalmitate | Nonionic | 15.5 |
| Tween 40 polyoxyethylene sorbitan monopalmitate | Nonionic | 15.6 |
| Atlas G-3820 Polyoxyethylene cetyl alcohol | Nonionic | 15.7 |
| Atlas G-2162 Polyoxyethylene oxypropylene stearate | Nonionic | 15.7 |
| Atlas G-1741 Polyoxyethylene sorbitan lanolin derivative | Nonionic | 16.0 |
| Myrj 51 Polyoxyethylene monostearate | Nonionic | 16.0 |
| Atlas G-7596P Polyoxyethylene sorbitan monolaurate | Nonionic | 16.3 |
| Atlas G-2129 Polyoxyethylene monolaurate | Nonionic | 16.3 |
| Atlas G-3930 Polyoxyethylene oleyl ether | Nonionic | 16.6 |
| Tween 20 Polyoxyethylene sorbitan monolaurate | Nonionic | 16.7 |
| Brij 35 Polyoxyethylene lauryl ether | Nonionic | 16.9 |
| Myrj 52 Polyoxyethylene monolaurate | Nonionic | 16.9 |
| Myrj 53 Polyoxyethylene monolaurate | Nonionic | 17.9 |
| sodium oleate | anion | 18.0 |
| Atlas G-2159 Polyoxyethylene monolaurate | Nonionic | 18.8 |
| potassium oleate | anion | 20.0 |
| Atlas G-263 N-cetyl N-ethyl morpholinium ethosulfate | cation | 25-30 |
| Texapon K-12 Pure sodium lauryl sulfate | anion | 40 |
FAQ - Emulsifier HLB Value
– The HLB Value, also known as the Hydrophile-Lipophile Balance Number, is a measure of the hydrophilic-hydrophobic balance of a surfactant molecule. It represents the balance between the hydrophilic (water-loving) and lipophilic (oil-loving) groups in the surfactant.
– The formula for calculating the HLB value is: HLB = 7 + 11.7 * (lg MW / M0), where MW and M0 are the molecular weights of the hydrophilic and lipophilic groups in the surfactant molecule, respectively.
– The HLB value is crucial in practical applications as it helps in screening emulsifiers and preparing emulsions with optimal performance. It determines the surfactant’s hydrophilicity, lipophilicity, surface tension, adsorption at the interface, emulsification, emulsion stability, dispersion, solubility, and other properties. It also influences the application performance of the surfactant.
– Emulsifiers with low HLB values (typically 3 to 7) are more suitable for water-in-oil emulsions (W/O), while emulsifiers with high HLB values (typically 7 to 19) are more suitable for oil-in-water emulsions (O/W). The hydrophilic-lipophilic turning point is at HLB 10, where HLB less than 10 indicates oleophilic (oil-loving) properties, and HLB greater than 10 indicates hydrophilic (water-loving) properties.
– Depending on the application requirements, surfactants with different HLB values can be obtained by modifying the molecular structure of the surfactant. For ionic surfactants, the HLB value can be adjusted by changing the number of carbons in the lipophilic group or the type of hydrophilic group. For non-ionic surfactants, the HLB value can be fine-tuned by adjusting the chain length of ethylene oxide or the number of via groups attached to the lipophilic group.
Emulsifiers play a crucial role in cosmetics, helping to blend oil and water-based ingredients together to create a smooth and stable product. The HLB value of an emulsifier is a key factor in determining its effectiveness, as it indicates how well it will interact with different types of ingredients. To learn more about emulsifiers in cosmetics and how they work, check out our dedicated page on the topic.
These FAQs provide an introduction to the Emulsifier HLB Value, its calculation, and its significance in practical applications. Understanding the HLB value helps in selecting the right emulsifiers and formulating emulsions with optimal performance.
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References:
The role and classification of surfactants – ESTEEM-India | Excerpt: October 14, 2022.
Hydrophilic-lipophilic balance – wikipedia
