Hydrophilic Lipophilic Balance (HLB) Value
Hydrophilic–lipophilic balance (HLB) is a way of measuring solubility based on the hydrophilic and lipophilic moieties of a surfactant molecule.
HLB Value Range and Surfactant Application
- 0–3: Antifoaming agents
- 4–6: Water-in-oil emulsifying agents
- 7–9: Wetting agents
- 8–18: Oil-in-water emulsifying agents
- 13–15: Detergents
- 10–18: Solubilizing agents
Commonly Used Surfactant and Their Hydrophilic-Lipophilic Balance (HLB) Value
- Sorbitan trioleate (Span 85, Arlacel 85) – 1.8
- Sorbitan tristearate (Span 65) – 2.1
- Propylene glycol monostearate (pure) – 3.4
- Sorbitan sesquioleate (Arlacel C) – 3.7
- Sorbitan monooleate (Span 80y) – 4.3
- Sorbitan monostearate (Arlacel 60) – 4.7
- Sorbitan monopalmitate (Span 40, Arlacel 40) – 6.7
- Sorbitan monolaurate (Span 20, Arlacel 20) – 8.6
- Glyceryl monostearate (Aldo 28, Tegin) – 5.5
- Gelatin – 9.8
- Triethanolamine oleate (Trolamine) – 12.0
- Polyoxyethylene alkyl phenol (Igepal CA-630) – 12.8
- Tragacanth – 13.2
- Polyoxyethylene sorbitan monolaurate (Tween 21) – 13.3
- Polyoxyethylene castor oil (Atlas G-1794) – 13.3
- Polyoxyethylene sorbitan monooleate (Tween 80) – 15.0
- Polyoxyethylene sorbitan monopalmitate (Tween 40) – 15.6
- Polyoxyethylene sorbitan monolaurate (Tween 20) – 16.7
- Polyoxyethylene lauryl ether (Brij 35) – 16.9
- Sodium oleate – 18.0
- Sodium lauryl sulfate – 40.0
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