This section provides an overview for sorbitan as well as their applications and principles. Also, please take a look at the list of 14 sorbitan manufacturers and their company rankings. Here are the top-ranked sorbitan companies as of November, 2024: 1.AA BLOCKS, INC., 2.MilliporeSigma, 3.SEPPIC.
Table of Contents
Sorbitan is an organic compound with the molecular formula C6H12O5 and a molecular weight of 164.16, commonly known as 1,4-sorbitan. It exists as a solid at room temperature.
It is formed by the intramolecular dehydration of sorbitol, resulting in a mixture of 1,4-sorbitan (five-membered cyclic ether) and 1,5-sorbitan (six-membered cyclic ether). Sorbitan with less than 1.5% water content is a light yellow viscous product with a pH of 4-7.
Sorbitan is primarily used as a raw material for sorbitan fatty acid esters. These esters are produced by dehydrating the terminal hydroxyl groups of 1,4-Sorbitan and 1,5-Sorbitan in the presence of fatty acids like lauric acid, oleic acid, stearic acid, and palmitic acid, forming a variety of sorbitan fatty acid esters.
These esters, being nonionic surfactants, have hydrophilic groups (sorbitan) and hydrophobic groups (fatty acid esters), making them useful in applications such as emulsifiers, cosmetics, spreading agents, and industrial surfactants. Sorbitan is also utilized as an insecticidal fungicide.
Polysorbate, derived from sorbitan fatty acid esters and polyoxyethylene ether, is a more hydrophilic nonionic surfactant used in food emulsifiers, mouthwashes, and skin care products.
Sorbitan is produced by the intramolecular dehydration of sorbitol, using solid acid catalysts like zeolite. Precise control of the reaction conditions allows selective production of sorbitan without forming isosorbide.
Sorbitan surfactants are produced by direct esterification with fatty acids, using acid or alkali catalysts or lipase. Polysorbate is synthesized by adding ethylene oxide to sorbitan fatty acid esters, with the surfactant properties varying depending on the ethylene oxide quantity.
For proper storage, sorbitan should be kept in a tightly closed container in a well-ventilated place, away from direct sunlight and high temperatures. In case of skin contact, thorough washing with water and soap is recommended.
*Including some distributors, etc.
Sort by Features
Sort by Area
Lotioncrafter was established in 2002 and is headquartered in Eastsound, Washington, USA, as a manufacturer and supplier of natural materials for the development of cosmetics and toiletries. The company's product portfolio consists of Abyssinian Oil, ActifcolTM, Adifyline, Allantoin USP, and Aloe Vera 100X Powder, among others. The products find applications in skincare formulations for various purposes, including anti-aging, volume enhancement, and addressing specific concerns related to mature skin on the face, neck, and décolleté area. The company serves various industries, including cosmetics, skincare, pharmaceuticals, healthcare, and dermatology.
AA BLOCKS, INC., headquartered in San Diego, California, is a research chemical supplier specializing in providing building blocks and intermediates. Its product range encompasses diverse building blocks essential for drug development and medical and biochemical research. These include compounds like 2,2-bis(hydroxymethyl)butanoic acid and 5-(Chloromethyl)-3-phenylisoxazole, catering industries such as pharmaceutical, biotechnology, and agrochemical industries. The company's products are used by scientists and researchers to develop new drugs, therapies, and other products. Its products are also used to study the biological effects of different compounds, offering efficient and cost-effective solutions to scientists.
Toronto Research Chemicals Inc., founded in 1982 and based in Toronto, Canada, is a manufacturer of biochemicals and is a subsidiary of LGC Standards. The ISO 9001-certified company has an extensive catalog of over 350,000 products, including metabolites, impurities, and natural products APIs, which are used in several applications like environmental analysis, forensic science, and medicinal R&D. The company supports the scientific community across more than 120 countries and has 19 production laboratories. In 2019, it was bought by LGC, which provides components to customers in the pharmaceutical, clinical diagnostics, and food markets, among others.
BLDpharm was founded in 2014 and headquartered in Shanghai, China is a manufacturer and supplier of various research chemicals. The company offers a wide range of laboratory chemicals including heterocycles, boron acids, amino acids, metal catalysts, and chiral compounds. These quality products find an array of applications as inhibitors for metabolic enzymes, pharmaceutical intermediates for antipsychotic drugs, catalysts for chiral resolving reagents, and material science for OLED material and synthesis intermediates.
Millipore Sigma, formerly known as Sigma-Aldrich, was created in 175 through the merger of Sigma Chemical Company and Aldrich Chemical company and today is a subsidiary of Merck. Millipore Sigma is a life science and biotechnology company serving the industry with several products and services. Some of their product categories include peptide synthesis materials, biochemicals, building blocks, catalysts, chemical biology, chemical synthesis, flavors & fragrances, formulation, lab chemicals, lab safety, APIs, and stable isotopes. Services include characterization, contract manufacturing, custom products, software, support, testing, and mRNA development & manufacturing.
Alfa Aesar is based in Lancashire, United Kingdom. Alfa Aesar is part of Thermo Fisher Scientific, is a manufacturer and supplier of chemicals, metals, and life science products for research and development. Alfa Aesar’s product lines include chemicals, life science, materials & metals, catalysts, and analytical & lab ware. Chemical offerings include inorganic compounds, organic compounds, organometallic, and solvents. Life sciences include biotechnology products, cellular & molecular biology, genomics, and immunology. Materials & metal include alloys, carbon, etchants, and more. Catalysts include ferrocenes, fuel cell products, and precious metals & catalysts. Alfa Aesar also offers custom manufacturing options.
BOC Sciences is headquartered in Shirley, New York as a brand of BOCSCI Inc. The company is a developer, manufacturer, marketer, and distributor of premium chemicals, emphasizing small molecule synthesis, biosynthesis, purification, and characterization used in academia, pharmaceuticals, biotech, CDMO, material sciences, and agriculture industries, supporting research and production. The company’s products include thousands of inhibitors, nucleotides, metabolites, and isotope-labeled products. The company offers custom synthesis and manufacturing, analytical services, antibody-drug conjugate development, and strain engineering and fermentation services.
Sisco Research Laboratories Pvt. Ltd. was established in 1975 and is headquartered in Mumbai, Maharashtra, India. The company manufactures highly complex reagents and biochemicals for public and private customers across industries with over 5000 products in different grades and packing sizes across product segments. The company’s 6 product categories are General Laboratory Chemicals & Solvents, Biochemicals & Specialty Fine Chemicals, Animal Cell Culture, Nanotechnology Products, Dehydrated Culture Media & Media Kits, and Biolit™ range of DNA and Protein tools.
Chongqing Chemdad Co. Ltd., founded in 2013 and headquartered in Chongqing, China, is a supplier specializing in chemical raw materials. The company offers products, including active pharmaceutical ingredients (API), pharmaceutical raw materials, pesticide raw materials, liquid crystal intermediates, and biochemical reagents. Its R&D invests in the fields of organic synthesis, inorganic chemistry, microbial fermentation, natural product extraction, and other related fields. The company has established collaborations with numerous enterprises, including BASF, Givaudan, Shionogi, Morepen, and Elekeiroz.
ChemSrc, established in 2014, is a supplier of pharmaceutical products, a chemical database platform, and a search engine. This platform serves as a gateway to an extensive repository of chemical knowledge, offering access to unique CAS-encoded product records including synthesis routes, literature references, physical and chemical properties, and supplier information. The chemical catalog spans various categories, including organic raw materials, dyes and pigments, chemical pesticides, catalysts, additives, and more. The repository information plays a vital role in supporting research and development efforts across diverse industries by fostering scientific advancements and serving as a valuable resource.
Oleon NV, founded in Belgium in 2000, is a supplier of oleochemical products and solutions made from renewable raw materials. The company converts natural fats and oils into a wide range of oleochemical products, such as fatty acids, glycerin, technical oils, specialty oleochemicals, and biodiesel. It also offers oleochemical building blocks and ingredients in a large variety of markets such as crop protection, cosmetics, industrial ingredients, lubricants, nutrition,oilfield, and more.
HAZMAT Resource, Inc., located in Irvine, California, USA, is a distributor of hazardous materials response equipment and materials. They specialize in personal protective equipment (PPE), testing devices, and technical reference materials for hazardous materials (hazmat) response. Their product range includes PPE such as suits, gloves, boots, and respirators to safeguard hazmat responders from dangerous substances. They offer various testing devices like meters, detectors, and kits for precise identification and measurement of hazardous materials. Additionally, the company provides technical reference materials like books, manuals, and software, equipping responders with essential knowledge on hazardous material properties and safe handling procedures.
Ranking as of November 2024
Derivation MethodRank | Company | Click Share |
---|---|---|
1 | AA BLOCKS, INC. |
15.4%
|
2 | MilliporeSigma |
10.3%
|
3 | ChemSrc |
7.7%
|
4 | SEPPIC |
7.7%
|
5 | Echelon Biosciences |
7.7%
|
6 | SRL |
7.7%
|
7 | BOC Sciences |
7.7%
|
8 | Lotioncrafter |
7.7%
|
9 | Alfa Aesar, Thermo Fisher Scientific. |
7.7%
|
10 | Oleon NV |
5.1%
|
Derivation Method
The ranking is calculated based on the click share within the sorbitan page as of November 2024. Click share is defined as the total number of clicks for all companies during the period divided by the number of clicks for each company.Number of Employees
Newly Established Company
Company with a History
*Including some distributors, etc.
*Including some distributors, etc.
Country | Number of Companies | Share (%) |
---|---|---|
United States of America | 3 | 37.5% |
Canada | 1 | 12.5% |
United Kingdom | 1 | 12.5% |
India | 1 | 12.5% |
France | 1 | 12.5% |
China | 1 | 12.5% |