सॉर्बिटोल (Sorbitol)

Sorbitol, also called glucitol, is a sugar alcohol made by reducing glucose. It is a white crystalline powder that tastes sweet, about half as sweet as table sugar. It pulls moisture from the air, which is why it is used as a humectant.

• Formula: C6H14O6
• CAS number: 50-70-4
• Molar mass: 182.17 g/mol
• Melting point: about 94 to 96 °C
• Solubility: very high, about 2350 g per litre of water at 25 °C

In food labelling it is known as E420. Sorbitol in liquid form is usually sold as a 70% solution in water.

Azlok lists sorbitol powder under cosmetic raw ingredients, so treat it as a cosmetic grade for creams, lotions, soaps and hair care. The listing doesn't state a pack size, so check the product page before ordering.

It is not labelled food grade. Don't use it to sweeten food or drinks. See today's price per kg.

Cosmetics and personal care

• Humectant in creams, lotions, face washes and hair conditioners, helping the product hold water
• Humectant and body in toothpaste and mouthwash
• Transparent and melt-and-pour soap bases, where it helps clarity and slows drying

Food and pharma (food or pharma grade only)

• Sugar-free sweets, chewing gum and mints
• Keeping baked goods and syrups moist

Industry

• Raw material for sorbitan esters (the Span and Tween emulsifiers) and for vitamin C manufacture

Making a 70% solution. Weigh 70 g sorbitol powder and 30 g distilled water. Warm the water to about 50 to 60 °C and stir in the powder until clear. Let it cool and store in a closed bottle. Many formulas list sorbitol as a 70% solution, so this lets you follow them directly.

In creams and lotions. Dissolve sorbitol in the water phase before heating and emulsifying. It is used like glycerin, and formulators often use it in combination with glycerin. Typical amounts are in the low single-digit percent range of the formula; follow the level your formula or supplier gives rather than guessing.

In soap bases. Add it with the other liquids when making transparent soap, as the recipe directs. Too much makes the bar soft and sticky.

Testing. Make small batches of 100 to 200 g first and watch them for a week for stickiness, separation or crystals before scaling up.

• Sorbitol is low hazard. The dust can irritate eyes; rinse with water if any gets in.
• Eaten in large amounts, sorbitol has a laxative effect. This cosmetic pack is not for food.
• Patch test any finished product on a small area of skin for 24 to 48 hours before regular use.
• It absorbs moisture and turns lumpy or sticky. Keep the pack tightly closed in a cool, dry place.
• Sugary solutions can grow mould. Use a suitable preservative in water-based products, and boil or discard old homemade solutions.
• Keep away from children.
• Small amounts can be dissolved in water and poured down the drain.

If you sell finished cosmetics in India, the product must meet BIS standards and CDSCO rules for cosmetics, including labelling. Check the current requirements before launch.

For home formulating, soap making and small cosmetic batches, the cosmetic grade pack is the right choice. Buy enough for your trials and the first run so the material comes from the same lot.

If you make food, syrups or medicines, buy a food or pharmacopoeia grade with proper labelling instead. Brands and soap makers needing 25 kg or more can send a bulk inquiry.