| HS Code | 228519 |
| Chemical Name | Sorbitan Monopalmitate |
| Common Name | Span 40 |
| Cas Number | 26266-57-9 |
| Molecular Formula | C22H42O6 |
| Molecular Weight | 402.56 g/mol |
| Appearance | Yellow to amber viscous liquid or waxy solid |
| Hlb Value | 6.7 |
| Solubility In Water | Insoluble |
| Melting Point | 40 - 50°C |
| Function | Non-ionic emulsifier |
| Odor | Characteristic, faint |
| Applications | Food, cosmetics, pharmaceuticals, industrial |
| Toxicity | Low (generally recognized as safe - GRAS) |
| Density | Approximately 1.03 g/cm³ |
| Storage Conditions | Store in a cool, dry place, tightly closed container |
As an accredited Span 40 factory, we enforce strict quality protocols—every batch undergoes rigorous testing to ensure consistent efficacy and safety standards.
| Packing | Span 40 is typically packaged in a 500g amber plastic bottle with a secure screw cap, featuring clearly labeled product information. |
| Shipping | Span 40 is typically shipped in tightly sealed, corrosion-resistant drums or containers to prevent contamination and moisture ingress. The packaging is clearly labeled per regulatory guidelines. During transit, Span 40 should be protected from excessive heat and stored in a dry, cool area, away from incompatible substances and ignition sources. |
| Storage | Span 40 (Sorbitan monopalmitate) should be stored in a tightly closed container, in a cool, dry, and well-ventilated area away from direct sunlight and sources of ignition. Keep it away from strong oxidizing agents. Store at room temperature, ideally between 15–25°C (59–77°F). Ensure containers are clearly labeled and protected from moisture to maintain product stability and quality. |
Competitive Span 40 prices that fit your budget—flexible terms and customized quotes for every order.
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From years of batch manufacturing, Span 40 stands out in our lineup as a trusted non-ionic surfactant. Its chemical name is Sorbitan Monopalmitate and we make sure every shipment meets the same standards held by established cosmetic and pharmaceutical guidelines. This yellowish waxy solid is the direct result of blending quality palmitic acid and refined sorbitol, then running the reaction to completion. On any production run, we test for consistent HLB values, moisture, and acidity levels, following methods shaped by years of in-house troubleshooting.
We label our Span 40 with clear batch numbers for easy traceability. Each drum or carton includes its model identification and detailed lot history, supporting both quality assurance and downstream audits. Through our direct handling, we know trace metals and unreacted fatty acids can compromise stability—which is why our process closes with high-vacuum stripping and precise cooling. Span 40 from our plant always lands at the specified HLB range (about 6.7), which we verify on calibrated lab equipment.
On the factory floor, we see how important appearance and purity can be. If a drum comes out with the wrong hue or a sticky texture, it never leaves our facility. Typical Span 40 has an acid value below 10 mgKOH/g, saponification value between 144 and 160, and a moisture content under half a percent. Consistency matters. So even though some markets demand tighter controls—for example, food or pharma use—our lines can shift to tighter sieving or vacuum-drying as customers request. Everything is packed hygienically, no shortcuts.
Our clients know Span 40 provides reliable emulsification for water-in-oil systems. Through practical use in our own blends, Span 40 disperses pigments and assists oil-based creams and ointments to keep an even appearance and performance. Some processors favor it in lubricants and softener blends, where gentle surface action is needed but ionic charges would interfere with functional ingredients. We have compared Span 40 against dozens of other surfactants, and for products using light to medium polarity oils, it consistently supports a balanced, smooth emulsion without sudden separation during accelerated shelf-life testing.
From our tanks, Span 40 blends well with waxes, vegetable oils, and other sorbitan esters. Words from lab staff remind us how important it is to heat Span 40 gently—usually to liquid state around 55–65°C—before mixing with fats or oils. If pushed above those recommended temperatures, decomposition creeps in and some batches develop off-odors. In our day-to-day work, Span 40 has shown best results in emulsions for creams, pastes, textile oils, and as a dispersant for agrochemical actives in oil-based concentrates.
With a surfactant like Span 20 or Span 80 nearby in our warehouse, we often get requests to clarify the roles. Span 20 (Sorbitan Monolaurate) works with lighter, more water-soluble fats and has a lower melting point. Span 80 (Sorbitan Monooleate), meanwhile, handles heavier or unsaturated oils and brings a lower HLB. What makes Span 40 unique is its moderate melting point, giving ease of processing, and its affinity for palm-derived fats. In finished products, Span 40’s HLB lets it form stable oil-based emulsions where protein interactions or water resistance matter, as in some personal care or protective cream lines.
Years of hands-on practice have taught us how model selection reflects end-use demands. Food manufacturers use Span 40 for anti-staling in baked goods, with strict attention to residual acidity and absence of taste or odor. Cosmeceutical developers rely on its mildness and record of approved safety for skin contact. In lubricants, machinists appreciate the absence of corrosive or reactive by-products.
On the production side, clarity around how much Span 40 to use comes from trial and error. Too much and users see phase separation or gelling; too little and the product falls apart under temperature swings. Our recommendations come from years of scaled trials, accelerating aging, and real customer feedback. For system debottlenecking, we have helped clients troubleshoot by swapping Span 40 for lower-HLB alternatives when water resistance improves or for higher-HLB if better wetting is needed.
All batches flow through a controlled system. Our experience warns against prolonged heating or contact with open air, since this triggers hydrolysis. Over time, color darkens and acid value rises. Some customers request nitrogen blanketing for sensitive applications, and we accommodate this during drum filling. In our warehouse, we keep drums sealed, dry, and below 30°C to preserve shelf life; under those conditions, properly made Span 40 maintains quality well over two years, based on periodic re-testing statistics.
We keep full documentation for food, personal care, and technical standards in our country of origin and major export markets. All palm-derived fatty acids used for Span 40 come via certified sustainable channels, following the rising priority from buyers worldwide. More partners ask about allergen control, and we respond by tracing our inputs closely, with separate lines and cleaning cycles if peanut or tree-nut contamination ever becomes a concern.
New rules challenge us to reformulate certain blends, cutting residual solvents or phthalate traces. We’re quick to adapt, since we own the plant and can steer process changes short-term. If a downstream customer faces labeling or purity audits, our Span 40 documentation includes ingredient source, manufacturing date, and every test result, which buyers have told us is critical for their peace of mind.
Technical teams at our customer sites often ask if Span 40 can solve newer formulation needs. More product developers want “clean label” or vegan inputs; with no animal content, Span 40 lines up with their trends. In the agricultural sector, recent years brought new pesticide emulsions and foliar sprays; our product’s emulsifying balance helps farmers stretch actives and reduce visible residue on crops.
Personal care brands keep raising the bar for sensory feel, pushing us to maintain a low-odor, fast-blending Span 40 that never imparts greasiness or tack. In textile finishing, it brings consistent lubricity without leaving unwanted deposits on fabric or equipment. Users in polymer, resin, and paint applications apply Span 40 as a dispersant not only for solid fillers, but also for liquid flavorings, fragrance oils, and similar inclusions that require smooth, stable suspension.
Not all surfactants do well with high colored or strongly acidic ingredients. Where Span 40 runs into trouble—discoloring or gelling at high process temperatures—adjustments must be made. Sometimes the solution is as simple as adding after cooling, avoiding prolonged exposure to hot reactants. In well-run plants, Span 40 matches best with gentle mechanical mixing and moderate shear, as heavy pumping or pressure feed tends to generate foam during dilution.
For partners struggling with inconsistent emulsions, our on-site engineers suggest side-by-side pilot blends with different HLB surfactants, rather than chasing minor inputs. In our history, swapping a small percentage of Span 40 for a more hydrophilic or hydrophobic sorbitan ester often solves instability with minimal change to the feel or appearance of the finished good.
We keep every step, from esterification to final packing, under our own roof. This means better lot control, quicker troubleshooting, and unique customizations. Many in the market blend intermediates bought through traders; our material never leaves factory control before you receive it. That has made a difference for reliability, continuous improvement, and transparency about ingredients over our years of operation. Customers who require tailored solutions—different particle sizes, clean-room filling, or organic certification—can count on us to experiment and validate changes based on immediate feedback, not distant sourcing.
New demands in market trends push us to keep refining. Span 40 supports formulators working toward longer shelf life, milder skin feel, or improved compatibility with biodegradable oils. With regulatory agencies asking for more biobased and less contentious palm sources, we have adapted sourcing and routine testing. Every sustainability audit prompts us to improve, driving better energy recovery and waste cleanup in our own process rather than just shifting paperwork.
We regularly discuss with buyers using Span 40 in new categories: edible oil blends, low-irritant wound dressings, complex emulsion explosives, and as a process aid in fermentation. Each field brings its own quirks, and years in the plant have taught us what changes in process translate into batch variation. Span 40’s main role—supporting oil suspension in high-demand applications—is something we experience directly, running trials at full or pilot scale with our own engineering team.
Each order of Span 40 passes through our in-house technical team. If a user calls with a clumping or color problem, that feedback heads straight back into process improvements. We take pride in the fact that our best process solutions have come from these real-life calls and samples, rather than from spec sheets. When challenging shelf-life claims come up, we bring out in-depth analytical data, benchmarking Span 40 against market alternatives and years of plant-run data.
We don’t separate production from product support. While sales offices talk features, the hands shaping and testing every batch bring decades of combined chemical production know-how. This way, what leaves our gates meets not just standard specifications, but the expectations of users who trust it for both common and bespoke uses.
Span 40 reflects our manufacturing philosophy: control every variable, listen to end users, and adapt with purpose. In our business, product stability, consistent performance, and regulatory confidence come only from internal discipline—choosing every raw input carefully, checking every lot, and maintaining transparency. Challenges—new regulations, customer requests, or raw material changes—keep us moving forward. That’s where true value is built, batch by batch, for every Span 40 shipment.
