The hydrophilic lipophilic balance (HLB) represents the ratio of the polar part (hydrophilic groups) to the non-polar part (lipophilic groups) of a surfactant (= emulsifier). The HLB value varies from 0 to 40. HLB values below 7 indicate emulsifiers that are more soluble in oil and HLB values above 7 indicate emulsifiers that are more soluble in water.

If a suitable emulsifier is to be chosen for the preparation of a stable emulsion, the required HLB value for the lipophilic component and the desired emulsion type should be considered. Where several lipophilic components are present, the percentage composition of the fat components should be taken into account to calculate the required HLB value.

The attached tables show the HLB values for common emulsifiers (Table 1) and the required HLB values for lipophilic components (Table 2).

Table 1. Emulsifiers and their HLB values.

Emulgator

HLB

Arabian Gom

11.8

Cetylalcohol

15

Geëthoxyleerde en gehydrogeneerde ricinusolie (Cremophor®RH40)

14-16

Geëthoxyleerde en gehydrogeneerde ricinusolie (Cremophor®RH60)

15-17

Glycerol monostearaat (Cutina® MD)

3.8

Kalium oleaat

±20

Kalium stearaat

±20

Methylcellulose

13.8

Natriumcetylstearylsulfaat (lanette E)

±40

NatriumCMC

13.2

Natrium dioctylsulfosuccinaat (Aerosol OT®)

±30

Natrium laurylsulfaat (Texapon K12®)

±40

Natrium oleaat

±13

Natriumstearaat

±13

Oleïnezuur

1.0

PEG (20) cetylether (Emulgin® C1000, Brij 58®)

15.7

PEG (20) cetylstearylether (Emulgine®B2 , Cremophor®O)

16.1

PEG (6) cetylstearylether + stearylalcohol (Cremophor® A6)

10-12

PEG (25) cetylstearylether + stearylalcohol (Cremophor® A25)

15-17

PEG (4) laurylether (Brij 30®)

9.7

PEG (23) laurylether (Brij 35®)

16.9

PEG (40) ricinylether (Cremophor® EL)

14.5

PEG (7) gehydrog. ricinusolie (Cremophor® WO)

5.0

PEG (20) sorbitan monolauraat (Tween 20®)

16.7

PEG (5) sorbitan monolauraat (Tween 21®)

13.3

PEG (20) sorbitan monopalmitaat (Tween 40®)

15.6

PEG (20) sorbitan monostearaat (Tween 60®)

14.9

PEG (5) sorbitan monostearaat (Tween 61®)

9.6

PEG (20) sorbitan monotristearaat (Tween 65®)

10.5

PEG (20) sorbitan monooleaat (Tween 80®)

15.0

PEG (5) sorbitan monooleaat (Tween 81®)

10.0

PEG (20) sorbitan monotriolaat (Tween 85®)

11.0

PEG (8) stearaat (Myrj 45®)

11.1

PEG (9) stearaat (Cremophor® S9)

12

PEG (27) stearaat (Myrj 49®)

15.0

PEG (33) stearaat (Myrj 51®)

16.0

PEG (40) stearaat (Myrj 52®)

16.9

PEG (50) stearaat (Myrj 53®)

17.9

PEG (20) stearylether (Brij 78®)

15.4

PEG (2) wolvetalcoholether (Brij 72®)

4.9

Tragacanth

11.9

Triethanolamineoleaat

12.0

Sorbitan nimolauraat (Span 20®)

8.6

Sorbitan monopalmitaat (Span 40®)

6.7

Sorbitan monostearaat (Span 60®)

4.7

Sorbitan monolauraat (Span 62®)

5.9

Sorbitan monotristearaat (Span 65®)

2.1

Sorbitan monooleaat (Span 80®)

4.3

Sorbitan monotrioleaat (Span 85®)

1.8

Sorbitan sesquioleaat (Arlacel 83®)

3.7

Stearylalcohol

14

 

Table 2. Required HLB value for lipophilic components.

Lipofiele fase

Vloeibare W/O emulsies

Vloeibare O/W emulsies

arachisolie

6-7

-

bijenwas

4

12

capryl/caprine triglyc. (Miglyol)

5

-

carnaubawas

-

15

cetaceum

1.8

9

cetiol

3.8

7.9

cetylalcohol

-

15

cetylpalmitaat

-

10

chloroform

-

16

kokosnootolie

5

-

dennenolie

-

16

ethylbenzoaat

-

13

isopropylmyristaat

-

11-12

isopropylpalmitaat

-

11-12

jojobaolie

6-7

-

laurylalcohol

-

14

maisolie

6

-

methylsalicylaat

-

16

oliezuur

-

17

oleylalcohol

-

13-14

octylmethoxycinnamaat

-

8

palmolie

-

10

paraffineolie

4

10-11

paraffinewas

4

8

plantaardige oliën

ca.5

ca.10

reuzel

5

-

ricinusolie

-

14

ricinusolie gehydrog.

-

8

siliconenolie

5

-

sojaolie

6

-

stearinezuur

6

15

stearylalcohol

-

14

vaseline

5

12

vit. A palmitaat

6

-

vit.E

6

-

wolvet

8

10