Emulsification and solubilization characteristics of Polyglycerol Fatty Acid Esters

Abstract

Although solubilizing and emulsifying technologies using surfactants are generally used in various industries by recognizing their high practicalities, not only to determine the right types and dosage of surfactants, but to select optimizing preparation methods should be a prerequisite for a desirable target formulation. This review explains emulsifying and solubilizing properties of non-ionic surfactant “Polyglycerol Fatty Acid Esters (PGFE)”, which has been widely used in countless food and cosmetic applications.

With higher flexibility in designing molecular structures, diverse molecules of PGFE can be designed and built while covering a wide range of HLB. In addition, PGFE is less affected by temperature or coexisting ingredients such as salt and polyols on the strength of its powerful hydration force. It is also well-known for having an intriguing property, which can effectively form self-assembly owing to its low CMC (Critical Micelle Concentration) level both in water and oil. In this review, we introduce application guidance with the latest research trends while focusing on the structural characteristic and specific properties of PGFE.