Agent Name
Polysorbate 20
Alternative Name
Polyoxyethylene sorbitan monolaurate
Major Category
Other Classes
Synonyms
PEG-10 Sorbitan laurate; PEG-40 Sorbitan laurate; PEG-44 Sorbitan laurate; PEG-75 Sorbitan laurate; PEG-80 Sorbitan laurate; Polyethylene glycol (44) sorbitan monolaurate; Polyethylene glycol (80) sorbitan monolaurate; Polyethylene glycol 2000 sorbitan laurate; Polyethylene glycol 4000 sorbitan monolaurate; Polyethylene glycol 500 sorbitan monolaurate; Polyoxyethylene (10) sorbitan monolaurate; Polyoxyethylene (20) sorbitan monolaurate; Polyoxyethylene (4) sorbitan monolaurate; Polyoxyethylene (40) sorbitan laurate; Polyoxyethylene (44) sorbitan monolaurate; Polyoxyethylene (75) sorbitan monolaurate; Polyoxyethylene (80) sorbitan monolaurate; Polysorbate 21; Sorbimacrogol laurate 300; Sorbitan, monododecanoate, poly(oxy-1,2-ethanediyl) derivs.; Armotan PML-20; Capmul; Dxewmulse POE-SML; Emsorb 6915; Glycosperse L-20; Glycosperse L-20X; Hodag PSML-20; Liposorb L-20; PSML; PEG sorbitan laurate; PEG-20 sorbitan laurate; POE 20 sorbitan monolaurate; Polyoxyethylene 20 sorbitan monolaurate; Polyoxyethylene sorbitan monolaurate; Protasorb L-20; Sorbitan, monododecanote, poly(oxy-1,2-ethanediyl) derivatives; Sorbitan, monolaurate, polyoxyethylene derivs.; Tween 20; Tween 21; [ChemIDplus] TW20; [NTP]
Category
Polyoxyethylenes
Description
Yellow to amber liquid; [HSDB]
Sources/Uses
"Complex mixtures of polyoxyethylene ethers used as emulsifiers or dispersing agents in pharmaceuticals." [ChemIDplus] Used as an emulsifier/solubilizer in a wide range of foods, cosmetics, and other products; Also used as a delivery vehicle for other chemicals in animal developmental toxicity studies; [NTP] Polysorbates are used in cosmetics, foods, pharmacy, the textile industry (antistatic agents, fiber lubricants, and finish emulsifiers), and in biological research; [HSDB] Used as a flavoring agent, boiler water additive, emulsifier, surface-active agent, and stabilizer or thickener for foods; [FDA] Permitted for use as an inert ingredient in non-food pesticide products; [EPA] "Polysorbate 20 (common commercial brand names include Alkest TW 20 and Tween 20) is a polysorbate surfactant whose stability and relative non-toxicity allows it to be used as a detergent and emulsifier in a number of domestic, scientific, and pharmacological applications." [Wikipedia]
Comments
No developmental toxicity observed in rats administered orally on days 6-15 of gestation at doses up to 5,000 mg/kg; [NTP] A skin irritant; [HSDB] May cause irritation; [Sigma-Aldrich MSDS]
Processes
Industrial Processes with risk of exposure: