Product Overview
Polysorbate 20, chemically known as polyoxyethylene (20) sorbitan monolaurate, is a non-ionic synthetic surfactant and emulsifier produced through the ethoxylation of sorbitan monolaurate — the ester of sorbitol (a sugar alcohol) and lauric acid (a C12 fatty acid derived from coconut or palm kernel oil). The “20” in its name indicates the average number of ethylene oxide units per sorbitan monolaurate molecule. Its INCI name is Polysorbate 20, its food additive code is E432, its common trade name is Tween 20, and its CAS number is 9005-64-5.
Polysorbate 20 is an amber to pale yellow oily liquid at room temperature with a characteristic mild fatty odor. As a non-ionic emulsifier with a high hydrophilic-lipophilic balance (HLB value approximately 16.7), it is strongly hydrophilic meaning it preferentially orients toward the water phase in oil-water systems. This high HLB value makes it particularly effective as an oil-in-water (O/W) emulsifier, solubilizer for small amounts of oil-soluble ingredients into water-based systems, and stabilizer for beverages, sauces, dressings, and personal care formulations where transparent or clear emulsification of fragrance oils, flavor oils, and essential oils into water is required. It is FDA-approved, E432 approved internationally, and GRAS classified for its specific food and beverage applications.
Key Features & Benefits
- Non-ionic surfactant and emulsifier with a high HLB value of approximately 16.7 strongly hydrophilic and ideal for creating and stabilizing oil-in-water (O/W) emulsions and solubilizations.
- Outstanding solubilizer for oil-soluble ingredients including flavor oils, essential oils, fragrance compounds, fat-soluble vitamins, and lipophilic actives into water-based formulations.
- Produces transparent or clear solutions when used to solubilize small amounts of oils into water essential for clear beverage formulations, transparent toners, and crystal-clear personal care products.
- FDA-approved and E432 approved internationally accepted across food, pharmaceutical, personal care, and industrial regulatory frameworks.
- Excellent stability across a wide pH range (pH 3 to 9), across temperature variations, and in the presence of salts and electrolytes compatible with most food and cosmetic formulation systems.
- Effective at low concentrations typically 0.1% to 1.0% in food applications and 0.1% to 5% in personal care making it cost-efficient per unit of emulsification or solubilization performance.
- Compatible with other emulsifiers, surfactants, and stabilizers including Polysorbate 80, xanthan gum, carrageenan, and most food-grade hydrocolloids for combined texture and stability systems.
Applications
Polysorbate 20 is used across six industry categories served by EZ Elements, wherever transparent emulsification, oil-in-water stability, or fragrance and flavor solubilization is required.
- Flavored beverages, energy drinks, and functional water products where oil-soluble flavor compounds must be solubilized into clear water-based beverages without cloudiness or settling
- Salad dressings and vinaigrettes as an emulsion stabilizer maintaining oil-water emulsion stability and preventing visible oil separation during storage
- Baked goods including bread, cakes, and pastries where it functions as a dough conditioner and crumb softener, improving loaf volume, extending freshness, and producing a finer, more uniform crumb structure
- Whipped cream, non-dairy whipped toppings, and aerated dairy products where it stabilizes the air-fat emulsion structure and improves whipping performance
- Ice cream and frozen dairy desserts where it supports emulsion stability, controls ice crystal size, and improves melting resistance and scoop ability
- Chocolate and confectionery applications where it reduces viscosity during processing and improves the flow and coating properties of melted chocolate
- Flavor oil emulsification in beverage concentrates, instant drink powders, and flavoring systems requiring transparent, stable distribution of lipophilic flavor compounds
- Fat-soluble vitamin (A, D, E, K) solubilization and delivery in fortified beverages, dairy products, and functional food formulations requiring aqueous delivery of oil-soluble nutrients
- Transparent water-based toners, micellar waters, and facial mists where polysorbate 20 solubilizes small amounts of essential oils, fragrance, or oil-soluble actives into a clear water phase
- Fragrance solubilizer in room sprays, body mists, linen sprays, and eau de cologne formulations creating stable, transparent oil-in-water fragrance solutions
- Essential oil solubilizer in natural personal care formulations where essential oils must be incorporated into water-based products without oil globules or cloudiness
- Shampoos, body washes, and liquid cleansers as an emulsifying and conditioning additive improving product clarity and ingredient compatibility
- Bath oils and bath products where it emulsifies oil components into bath water, creating a milky bath that disperses evenly rather than forming a separate oil layer on the water surface
- Makeup remover micellar water formulations where it solubilizes cosmetic oils and makeup residues into the water phase for effective, gentle cleansing
- Pharmaceutical vaccine formulations and injectable biologic preparations where polysorbate 20 stabilizes protein therapeutics against aggregation at air-liquid interfaces and container surfaces
- Oral pharmaceutical liquid formulations as an emulsifier and solubilizer for oil-soluble active pharmaceutical ingredients improving bioavailability and dose consistency
- Topical pharmaceutical creams, ointments, and gels as a non-ionic emulsifier contributing emulsion stability and improved active ingredient distribution
- Diagnostic reagent preparations polysorbate 20 (Tween 20) is a standard reagent in ELISA, Western blot, and immunoassay blocking and washing protocols in clinical diagnostic laboratories
- Pharmaceutical tablet coating systems and film-coat formulations as a plasticizer and spreading agent improving coating uniformity and adhesion
- Household and institutional liquid cleaning products as a non-ionic surfactant and emulsifier improving grease dispersion and surface wetting performance
- Food contact surface cleaning formulations where its food-safe surfactant properties are appropriate for use in food manufacturing environments
- Disinfectant and sanitizer formulations as an emulsifier stabilizing active ingredients and improving surface contact and spreading
- Textile and laundry cleaning products where it improves oil stain emulsification and fabric care performance
- Paint, coating, and pigment dispersant formulations as an emulsifier and dispersing agent improving pigment distribution and coating uniformity
- Agricultural chemical formulations as an emulsifier and spreading agent improving pesticide and herbicide emulsification and leaf surface adhesion
- Biotechnology and cell biology laboratory reagent — Tween 20 is an essential reagent in molecular biology, immunoassay, and cell biology protocols globally
- Industrial cleaning concentrates and metalworking fluid formulations as a non-ionic surfactant for oil emulsification and surface degreasing
Technical Specifications
| Property | Specification |
| INCI Name | Polysorbate 20 |
| CAS No. | 9005-64-5 |
| Chemical Name | Polyoxyethylene (20) Sorbitan Monolaurate |
| Food Additive Code | E432 |
| Common Trade Name | Tween 20 |
| Appearance | Amber to pale yellow oily liquid at room temperature |
| Odour | Characteristic mild fatty odour |
| HLB Value | Approximately 16.7 (strongly hydrophilic — O/W emulsifier) |
| Viscosity (at 25 degrees C) | 400 to 600 mPa·s |
| Specific Gravity | 1.08 to 1.10 (at 25 degrees C) |
| pH (5% Solution) | 6.0 to 8.0 |
| Solubility | Freely soluble in water; soluble in ethanol and most organic solvents |
| Saponification Value | 40 to 55 mg KOH/g |
| Acid Value | Maximum 2.0 mg KOH/g |
| Hydroxyl Value | 96 to 108 mg KOH/g |
| Origin | Ethoxylation of sorbitan monolaurate (sorbitol + lauric acid from coconut or palm kernel oil) |
| Recommended Use Level | 0.1% to 1.0% in food; 0.1% to 5% in personal care; variable in pharmaceutical |
| Regulatory Status | GRAS (FDA); E432 (EU Codex); accepted in USP and major pharmaceutical frameworks |
Why Choose EZ Elements as Your Supplier
EZ Elements supplies food-grade and cosmetic-grade Polysorbate 20 with consistent quality, verified HLB specification, and complete documentation to support food manufacturers, personal care brands, pharmaceutical formulators, and industrial users across Canada and North America.
We supply food manufacturers, beverage producers, personal care brands, pharmaceutical companies, cleaning product developers, and laboratory users, providing:
- Full documentation including Technical Data Sheet (TDS), Certificate of Analysis (COA), and Safety Data Sheet (SDS)
- Food-grade and cosmetic-grade specifications meeting FDA E432, INCI, and USP requirements
- Bulk supply with transparent, competitive pricing per kilogram across all available pack sizes
- Technical support on HLB systems, emulsification strategies, oil-in-water ratios, and formulation compatibility
Safety & Storage Guidelines
- Store in a cool, dry, well-ventilated location between 10 and 30 degrees C away from direct sunlight and heat sources polysorbate 20 is susceptible to oxidative degradation over time, particularly when exposed to heat, light, and metal ions.
- Keep containers tightly sealed to prevent moisture absorption and oxidative degradation of the ester linkages.
- Polysorbate 20 can develop peroxides upon oxidative degradation during storage use within recommended shelf life and store away from pro-oxidant conditions.
- Wear protective gloves during handling; avoid prolonged skin contact or inhalation of heated vapor in production environments.
- Shelf life is typically 2 years from manufacture date when stored correctly in sealed, cool, dark conditions away from metals and oxidizing agents.
Complete handling, first aid, and disposal instructions are provided in the Safety Data Sheet (SDS) available from EZ Elements upon request.
Frequently Asked Questions
Q1: Which industries use Polysorbate 20?
Polysorbate 20 is used across six industries: Food and Beverages (primary flavor and vitamin solubilizer in beverages, emulsifier in baked goods, ice cream, dressings, and chocolate), Personal Care (fragrance and essential oil solubilizer in toners, mists, bath products, and shampoos), Pharmaceutical (vaccine stabilizer, oral liquid emulsifier, diagnostic reagent/Tween 20, and tablet coating), Cleaning and Sanitation (non-ionic surfactant in household, food contact, and industrial cleaning products), Industrial (paint dispersant, agricultural emulsifier, and biotechnology laboratory reagent), and Components (DIY fragrance spray, personal care, and cleaning product formulations).
Q2: What is the difference between Polysorbate 20 and Polysorbate 80?
Polysorbate 20 and Polysorbate 80 are closely related non-ionic emulsifiers differing primarily in their fatty acid component. Polysorbate 20 is based on lauric acid (C12, from coconut or palm kernel oil), producing a smaller, more water-soluble molecule with an HLB of approximately 16.7. Polysorbate 80 is based on oleic acid (C18:1, from vegetable oil), producing a larger molecule with an HLB of approximately 15.0. Polysorbate 20 is preferred for solubilizing smaller, more polar oil-soluble ingredients and for applications requiring maximum water solubility and transparency. Polysorbate 80 is preferred in pharmaceutical injectable formulations, vaccine stabilization, and food applications requiring emulsification of larger quantities of oil. Both are widely used, and the choice depends on the specific oil being solubilized and the formulation system.
Q3: How does Polysorbate 20 improve baked goods?
In baked goods, Polysorbate 20 functions primarily as a dough conditioner and crumb softener through its interaction with starch and gluten components. It forms complexes with amylose starch that inhibit retrogradation the staling process keeping bread and baked goods soft for longer. It also improves the uniformity of fat distribution throughout the dough, contributing to a finer, more uniform crumb structure and improved loaf volume. In cakes and sweet goods, it stabilizes the air-fat emulsion during mixing and baking, improving volume and tenderness. These effects are particularly valuable in commercial bread, cake, and pastry manufacturing where extended shelf life and consistent quality are production priorities.
Q4: Can Polysorbate 20 be used to solubilize essential oils in water-based formulations?
Yes, and this is one of its most practical applications in both personal care and food formulations. Essential oils are not water-soluble, and without solubilization, they form visible oil droplets or a separate oil layer in water-based products. Polysorbate 20 solubilizes essential oils into transparent, stable aqueous solutions by surrounding the oil molecules with its hydrophilic ethylene oxide chains. The typical ratio used is approximately 1-part essential oil to 3 to 4 parts Polysorbate 20, with the premixed combination then diluted into the water phase. The result is a crystal-clear solution suitable for transparent toners, room sprays, facial mists, and clear beverage formulations. The exact ratio required varies depending on the specific essential oil and its polarity.
Q5: Is Polysorbate 20 natural or synthetic, and is it accepted in natural formulations?
Polysorbate 20 is a synthetic ingredient produced through chemical ethoxylation of sorbitan monolaurate. While it is derived from natural starting materials (sorbitol from corn or wheat and lauric acid from coconut or palm kernel oil), the ethoxylation process uses synthetic chemistry, which means it is not accepted under COSMOS or ECOCERT natural certification standards. For formulators developing certified natural or organic products requiring oil solubilization in water-based systems, natural alternatives such as solubilized essential oil preparations with certain naturally derived polysorbate-alternative ingredients may be evaluated. However, for conventional food, pharmaceutical, and standard personal care formulations, Polysorbate 20 remains one of the most effective and cost-efficient emulsifiers and solubilizers available.
Q6: Where can I buy Polysorbate 20 in bulk in Canada?
Polysorbate 20 is available for bulk purchase from EZ Elements, with supply options for food manufacturers, beverage producers, personal care brands, pharmaceutical formulators, and industrial users across Canada and North America. Contact our team for current pricing, documentation, and product samples.
Related Ingredients
The following EZ Elements ingredients are commonly used alongside Polysorbate 20 in food, personal care, and beverage formulations:
- Glycerin USP/Kosher Humectant and co-solvent commonly combined with Polysorbate 20 in personal care toners, facial mists, and food formulations where glycerin provides moisture retention and polysorbate 20 provides oil solubilization.
- Xanthan Gum (200 Mesh) Natural hydrocolloid stabilizer and thickener used alongside Polysorbate 20 in food dressings, sauces, and beverage formulations where combined emulsion stabilization and suspension stability are required.
- Kappa Carrageenan Natural gelling and stabilizing agent used in combination with Polysorbate 20 in dairy and plant-based food products requiring both protein stabilization from carrageenan and emulsification from polysorbate.
Order or Enquire
Looking to buy Polysorbate 20 in bulk? Contact EZ Elements for current pricing, full product documentation, and supply options across food and beverage, personal care, pharmaceutical, cleaning, and industrial applications. We supply brands, manufacturers, and formulators across Canada and North America. Reach out today to request a sample, Technical Data Sheet, or a bulk pricing quote for your next project.
