Can Span 80 replace Polysorbate 80 because both products carry the number 80?

No. Span 80 is a low-HLB, non-ethoxylated sorbitan monooleate, whereas Polysorbate 80 is an ethoxylated and more hydrophilic material. They can play different roles in an emulsion system. Any substitution requires formulation testing; the shared number does not establish composition, HLB behaviour or use-level equivalence.

Which quality data help compare Span 80 grades?

Commercial Span 80 is a mixture of partial oleate esters, so a reference molecular formula is not a complete grade specification. Compare acid, saponification and hydroxyl values, water, color and, where required, fatty-acid composition, using the stated methods and result basis. These data characterize the commercial mixture; they are not a single-compound purity assay.

When should a Span 80 emulsifier blend be evaluated in the actual formulation?

Whenever the oil phase, aqueous phase, process temperature, shear conditions or target emulsion type is material to the result. A blend ratio chosen from nominal HLB values is only a starting point. Stability, viscosity, separation and finished-product appearance must be assessed under the intended processing and storage conditions.

Sorbitan Monooleate (Span 80) CAS 1338-43-8

Sorbitan Monooleate (Span 80, CAS 1338-43-8, EC 215-665-4) is a lipophilic nonionic sorbitan ester used mainly as a low-HLB water-in-oil emulsifier, dispersing aid and wetting agent. The reference monooleate component has the formula C24H44O6, while commercial material may contain a distribution of sorbitan partial esters. Span 80 is distinct from ethoxylated Polysorbate 80. Grade selection is based on acid, saponification and hydroxyl values, water, color, fatty-acid profile and the intended standard; supply form and packaging are specified for the selected grade.

CAS: 1338-43-8
Synonyms: Sorbitan Monooleate; Sorbitan Oleate; Span 80; Anhydrosorbitol Monooleate
Einecs: 215-665-4
Molecular Formula: C24H44O6 for the reference monooleate component; commercial material is a partial-ester mixture
Grade: Acid, saponification and hydroxyl values, water and color specified for the grade; fatty-acid profile where required
Package: Packing specified for the selected grade, quantity and destination

Request a quote

Share:

Product Description

1 Product Overview

2 Product Information / Specifications

3 Quality Data for Grade Selection

4 Storage, Safety and Documentation

Product Overview

Span 80 is used in water-in-oil emulsions and as a wetting or dispersing aid in oil-based formulations. Commercial material is a mixture of sorbitol-derived partial oleate esters rather than a single pure molecule. The reference monooleate formula therefore does not describe the full composition of every grade.

Span 80 can be combined with Polysorbate 80 (Tween 80) to adjust the HLB of an emulsifier blend and help stabilize oil-in-water emulsions. The working ratio depends on the oil phase, water phase and processing conditions. Nominal HLB values provide a starting point; stability, viscosity and appearance are evaluated in the intended formulation.

Product Information / Specifications

Product	Sorbitan Monooleate (Span 80) CAS 1338-43-8
CAS No.	1338-43-8
EC No.	215-665-4
Molecular Formula / Identity	No single formula for the commercial partial-ester mixture; reference monooleate component C24H44O6
Synonyms	Sorbitan monooleate, Sorbitan oleate, Span 80, Anhydrosorbitol monooleate
Grade / Supply Specification	Acid, saponification and hydroxyl values, water and color specified for the grade; fatty-acid profile where required
Packaging	Packing specified for the selected grade, quantity and destination

Quality Data for Grade Selection

Acid, saponification and hydroxyl values are expressed in mg KOH/g and help compare commercial ester grades. Water content is reported as mass percent of the tested material; Karl Fischer titration uses a procedure suitable for the grade. Color is reported on the stated scale. The specification for the quoted grade gives the applicable limits and test methods.

Where fatty-acid composition is specified, a GC fatty-acid profile is obtained from fatty-acid methyl esters prepared after hydrolysis of the ester mixture. The report states the preparation, method and result basis. This profile describes the relative fatty-acid composition; GC peak-area percentages are not whole-product mass percentages and do not establish the purity of the complete Span 80 product.

For a comparison within the sorbitan emulsifier range, Sorbitan Monostearate (Span 60) is stearate-based and generally supplied in a solid form. Its fatty-acid composition and processing behavior differ from Span 80, so a change between these grades requires formulation testing.

Storage, Safety and Documentation

Keep containers closed and protect the material from excessive heat. The SDS for the quoted grade gives the applicable handling and storage guidance.

We can provide a Certificate of Analysis (COA), Technical Data Sheet (TDS) and Safety Data Sheet (SDS) for the quoted grade, with specification and test-method details. For a quotation, send the quantity, application or required standard, packing preference and destination.

FAQ - Technical & Supply Chain

Q:
Can Span 80 replace Polysorbate 80 because both products carry the number 80?

A: No. Span 80 is a low-HLB, non-ethoxylated sorbitan monooleate, whereas Polysorbate 80 is an ethoxylated and more hydrophilic material. They can play different roles in an emulsion system. Any substitution requires formulation testing; the shared number does not establish composition, HLB behaviour or use-level equivalence.
Q:
Which quality data help compare Span 80 grades?

A: Commercial Span 80 is a mixture of partial oleate esters, so a reference molecular formula is not a complete grade specification. Compare acid, saponification and hydroxyl values, water, color and, where required, fatty-acid composition, using the stated methods and result basis. These data characterize the commercial mixture; they are not a single-compound purity assay.
Q:
When should a Span 80 emulsifier blend be evaluated in the actual formulation?

A: Whenever the oil phase, aqueous phase, process temperature, shear conditions or target emulsion type is material to the result. A blend ratio chosen from nominal HLB values is only a starting point. Stability, viscosity, separation and finished-product appearance must be assessed under the intended processing and storage conditions.

Ordering & Documentation

Key information for document requests, quotations, and supply planning.

Documents

Tell us which documents your procurement team needs. Before an order, we will check whether the quoted source can provide them for the offered lot.

Quotation

Send the CAS number, grade, quantity, packing preference and destination.

Sample & Supply

Ask whether samples, trial quantities or repeat orders are possible. We will check each request against the sourced product and current offer.

Storage & Shipping

Product-specific conditions are confirmed before order.

Current Language

Change Language