DESCRIPTION

Sorbitan Monooleate occurs as an amber-colored, oily, viscous liquid; light cream to tan beads or flakes; or a hard, waxy solid with a slight odor. It is a mixture of the partial esters of sorbitol and its mono- and dianhydrides with edible oleic acid. The constituent in greatest abundance is 1,4-sorbitan monooleate, with lesser abundance of isosorbide monooleate, sorbitan dioleate, and sorbitan trioleate. It is soluble at temperatures above its melting point in ethanol, ether, ethyl acetate, aniline, toluene, dioxane, petroleum ether, and carbon tetrachloride. It is insoluble in cold water, but dispersible in warm water.