The document discusses the Hydrophile-Lipophile Balance (HLB) system, which quantifies the balance between the hydrophilic and lipophilic parts of nonionic surfactants to guide emulsification performance. It explains how to calculate HLB values and their corresponding applications in various emulsification processes and surfactant choices. Additionally, it provides examples and recommendations for formulating emulsions based on the calculated HLB values of ingredients.

1. By : Mala Pidiyanti.
R&I Dept., CV LIDAH BUAYA
Januari 2014
FORMULATING WITH HLB
VALUE CALCULATION

2. Hydrophile Lipophile Balance
• The relationship ( or balance ) between the hydrophilic portion of
the nonionic surfactant to the lipophilic portion
• It was invented in 1954 by William C. Griffin of the Atlas Powder
Company ( bought by ICI in 1971 )
• As a guidance to good emulsification performance
• HLB values are calculated for nonionic surfactants only
• The HLB value is an indication of the solubility of the surfactant

3. The chemistry of a nonionic surfactant ?
• Each surfactant has a hydrophilic group and a lipophilic group
• The hydrophilic group is usually a polyhydric alcohol or
ethylene oxide
• The lipophilic group is usually a fatty acid or a fatty alcohol
• The lower the HLB value the more lipophilic or oil soluble the
surfactant is
• The higher the HLB value the more water soluble or
hydrophilic the surfactant is
• HLB Value range is between 1 - 20

4. SURFACTAN PROPERTIES BASED ON HLB VALUE
The HLB value can be used to predict the surfactant properties of a molecule :
A value from 4 - 8 indicates an anti-foaming agent
A value from 7 - 11 indicates a W/O (water in oil) emulsifier
A value from 12 - 16 indicates O/W (oil in water) emulsifier
A value from 11 - 14 indicates a wetting agent
A value from 12 - 15 indicates a detergent
A value of 16 - 20 indicates a solubiliser or
hydrotrope

5. HLB/WATER DIPERSIBILITY
RELATIONSHIP

6. Calculating “HLB VALUE” with Grifin’s Methods

7. Another Methods of Calculating HLB Value
• Calculate the hydrophilic groups of the surfactant on a
molecular weight basis and then divide that number by 5
Example : oleth-20 is a 20 mole ethoxylate of oleyl alcohol
the molecular weight of the 20 moles of ethylene oxide ( one
mole ETO =44 )
20 x 44 = 880
add this number to the molecular weight of the oleyl alcohol
 880+ 270 (oleyl alcohol) = 1150 ( the mol. wt)
• Percentage of 20 mole ethoxylate from 20-oleth?
 880/1150 = 76.5%
• 76.5% divided by 5 = 15.3
15.3 is the HLB value of oleth-20

8. HLB SYSTEM : HLB VALUE MEET HLB
REQUIRED
√ HLB Value : The balance between the hydrophilic portion to
the lipophilic portion of the nonionic surfactant
√ HLB Required : the value of HLB that required by every
Lipophilic ingredient in the O/W emulsions.
√ HLB System is matching the HLB value of your surfactant
with the Lipohilic ingredient in the emulsion system.

9. Some general “HLB required” for O/W emulsions
OIL (LIPOPHILIC) CLASS REQUIRED
HLB
Vegetable Oil Family 6-8
Silicones Oil 8-12
Petroleum Oil and wax 10 -12
Typical Ester Emmolient 12-14
Fatty Acid and Fatty alcohol 14-16

10. Formulating with HLB value
• mixing unlike oils together
– use surfactants with HLB’s of 1 to 3
• making water-in-oil emulsions
– use surfactants with HLB’s of 4 to 6
• wetting powders into oils
– use surfactants with HLB’s of 7 to 9
• making self emulsifying oils
– use surfactants with HLB’s of 7 to 10
• making oil-in-water emulsions
– use surfactant blends with HLB’s of 8 to16
• making detergent solutions
– use surfactants with HLB’s of 13 to 15
• for solubilizing oils ( micro-emulsifying ) into water
– use surfactant blends with HLB’s of 13 to 18

11. CALCULATING HLB VALUE IN
EMULSION SYSTEM
Example :
A simple O/W lotion formula
– mineral oil 8 %
– caprylic/capric triglyceride 2 %
– isopropyl isostearate 2 %
– cetyl alcohol 4 %
– emulsifiers 4 %
– polyols 5 %
– water soluble active 1 %
– water 74 %
– perfume q.s.
– preservative q.s.

12. Calculations:
add up the oil phase ingredients
– mineral oil 8 %
– caprylic/capric triglyceride 2 %
– isopropyl isostearate 2 %
– cetyl alcohol 4 %
» 16
– emulsifiers 4 %
– polyols 5 %
– water soluble active 1 %
– water 74 %
– perfume q.s.
– preservative q.s.

13. Calculations:
divide each by the total to get the contribution
to the oil phase
• Mineral oil 8 / 16 = 50%
• caprylic/cap. trig. 2 / 16 = 12.5%
• isopropyl isostearate 2 / 16 = 12.5%
• cetyl alcohol 4 / 16 = 25%

14. CONCLUSIONS :
• One you know the required HLB of individual oils it is easy to
mathematically calculate the required HLB of a mixture of oils
• knowing the required HLB of an oil or an oil mixture means that
you can use the least amount of surfactant to achieve
emulsification
• Surfactant choice considerations:
1. Chemical type
– ester VS ether
– lipophilic group, e.g. lauryl VS stearyl
2. Physical form
– liquid VS solid VS beads
3. FDA “status” ( if any )
– is there an N. F. monograph
4. Price VS function
5. Blend VS single surfactant
6. Efficiency of the surfactant

15. Surfactant choice considerations:

17. 1. Philip Haw, 2005, “THE HLB SYSTEM, A TIME
SAVING GUIDE TO SURFACTANT SELECTION’,
UNIQEMA
2. Bonnie Pyzowski, Mani Dhamdhere, “Rapid
HLB-Based Method for Formulating and
Improving Emulsion Stability”,
www.angus.com