Sorbitan Oleate

Sorbitan Oleate is a mainly oil-loving, vegetable raw material-based ingredient formed by the attachment of sorbitan (a dehydrated sorbitol/sugar molecule) with the unsaturated fatty acid Oleic Acid, creating a molecule that is partly water-soluble (sorbitan part) and partly oil-soluble (oleic part). Its primary function is as an emulsifier, helping water and oil to mix together. It can also act as a wetting and dispersing agent, helping insoluble particles such as color pigments or inorganic sunscreens (zinc oxide/titanium dioxide) to disperse evenly in liquids.