Surfactant Hydrophilic-lipophilic Balance Research Articles

Encapsulation of Black Rice Bran Extract in a Stable Nanoemulsion: Effects of Thermal Treatment, Storage Conditions, and In Vitro Digestion.

This study aimed to improve the dispersibility of phenolic compounds from black rice bran through the encapsulation process within nanoemulsion. The study focused on assessing the stability of the nanoemulsions, which were prepared using a combination of surfactants with distinct hydrophilic-lipophilic balance (HLB) values and sunflower oil under different thermal treatments and storage conditions. The study revealed a significant correlation between the mixed surfactant HLB value and the nanoemulsions properties, including average particle size, polydispersity index (PDI), and ζ-potential. Specifically, an increase in the HLB value was associated with a decrease in the initial average particle size. The encapsulated polyphenols exhibited remarkable stability over a storage period of up to 30 days at different temperatures with no significant changes observed in particle size or PDI. The study also investigated the impact of different ionic strengths (0.2, 0.5, and 1.00 mol L-1 NaCl) on the physical stability and antioxidant black rice bran extract nanoemulsion, and the results revealed that adding NaCl influenced the particle size and surface charge of the nanoemulsions. Total phenolic content and DPPH results demonstrated a significant impact of salt concentration on antioxidant properties, with varying trends observed among the HLB formulations. Furthermore, the behavior of the encapsulated extracts during digestion was examined, and their antioxidant activity was evaluated.

Application of Alkyletanolamide Surfactants Based on Nyamplung (Callophylum Inophylum L.) Seed Oil in Cream Base

Cream preparation is cosmetic preparation consisting of aqueous and oil phases that immiscible. Thus, a surfactant with hydrophilic and lipophilic groups is needed to reduce the interfacial tension between the two phases. Petroleum-based surfactants such as Triethanolamine (TEA) are often used in the cosmetic industry. In this study, however, alkyletanolamide surfactant synthesized from vegetable oil was used. Nyamplung, Callophylum inophylum L. (C. inophylum) oil is one of non-commercial vegetable oil that can be used as a substitute to produce surfactants. The aims of this study was to apply surfactant synthesized from C. inophylum oil on the cream preparation and to characterize the alkylethanolamide surfactant by determining the value of hydrophilic-lipophilic balance (HLB). Four different surfactant concentration, 1.5%, 2.0%, 2.5% and 0% were tested as base for the cream preparation. The best surfactant concentration for the cream-based formulation obtained in this study was 2.5% and the surfactant HLB value obtained was 14.40 indicating that alkyletanolamide surfactants can be applied to the oil-in-water (O/W) type of cream base formula.

Nanoemulsions of terpene by-products from cannabidiol production have promising insecticidal effect on Callosobruchusmaculatus

Nanoemulsions of a terpene-rich by-product (TP) from commercial cannabidiol (CBD) production were successfully formulated and characterized. An enriched terpene distillate (DTP) was also obtained from steam distillation of TP and used for making nanoemulsions. The effects of formulation conditions including the hydrophilic lipophilic balance (HLB) value of the surfactant, TP and surfactant content, and sonication time on the properties of the emulsions were analyzed. The optimal formulation conditions were determined as surfactant HLB value of 13, TP content of 5 wt% in water, surfactant content of 2 times of TP, and sonication time of 1.5 min. A scaled-up production of the optimal nanoemulsion was also achieved using a microfluidizer and the effect of pressure and number of passes on emulsion properties was determined. The stability of the nanoemulsions was evaluated and the DTP nanoemulsion was determined to be the most stable. The nanoemulsions with desirable properties were then selected and evaluated for their insecticidal activity against the legume pest, Callosobruchus maculatus, with nanoemulsion of neem oil made under the same conditions as a control. Both TP and DTP nanoemulsions were found to exhibit excellent insecticidal activity, and the latter had the highest efficacy against the Callosobruchus maculatus.

Strategies for Improved Stability of Methanol-in-Diesel Emulsions

Abstract This study is motivated by the need to present a robust methodology for preparing stable methanol-in-diesel emulsions for use in compression ignition engines with the specific objective of maximizing the methanol content. Specifically, it involved exploring the feasibility of methanol-in-diesel emulsions with conventional surfactants such as Tween-80 and Span-80 and nonconventional surfactants such as 1-dodecanol, pentanol, and butanol. The hydrophilic–lipophilic balance (HLB) values of the surfactant varied from 7 to 15 to investigate the role of the surfactant HLB on the stability of the macroemulsion. It is observed that the macroemulsion with an HLB value of 10 provides the best stability results. Using surfactant HLB value of 10, three macroemulsions with 10 wt%, 15 wt%, and 20 wt% of methanol were prepared using ultrasonication. However, only the macroemulsion with 10 wt% of methanol was observed to be stable for at least 20 days after preparation. Next, the microemulsions of diesel–methanol were produced by using nonconventional surfactants such as 1-dodecanol, pentanol, and butanol. Among these, 1-dodecanol was found out as the most suitable surfactant owing to its ability to form microemulsions with any mixing ratio of diesel–methanol and its high cetane number (63.6). This study has clearly brought out the strategies for preparing both macro and microemulsions. Overall, the results presented in the current work are expected to aid efforts in adapting compression ignition engines for diesel–methanol fuel blends.

Improving The Quality of Coconut Cream-Based Pasta Through The Presence of Sago Starch and Surfactants: Application As An Ingredient of Rendang Seasoning

Coconut processed products (coconut cream) are widely used in the food field. However, various ways, such as adding starch and surfactants still need to be made to improve the stability of coconut cream. This study aimed to evaluate the addition of starch and surfactant on the stability of coconut cream and its use as an ingredient of rendang spices. The separation of coconut milk into coconut cream was conducted using the cold method (4oC for ± 18 hours) and cream separator method. After that, Hydrophilic-Lipophilic Balance (HLB) 5 (1%) surfactant and sago starch (3% and 5%) were added to the coconut cream to produce a coconut cream paste, which was later used as an ingredient in the rendang seasoning. The quality parameters of coconut cream such as zeta potential, viscosity, free fatty acid content were evaluated in this study. The results showed that the cream separator method with 1% surfactant HLB 5 and 3% sago starch produced coconut cream paste with a zeta potential of -30.5 mV and free fatty acid of 0.1%. This method was suitable for use as an ingredient of rendang seasoning indicated by a viscosity of 699.9 cPs, lightness of 32.51, and pH of 4.41. Therefore, the cream separator method could improve the coconut cream stability and be applied to rendang seasoning.

Brain targeting of venlafaxine HCl as a hydrophilic agent prepared through green lipid nanotechnology

This study aimed to improve venlafaxine HCl brain delivery using solid lipid nanoparticles (SLNs) made by an ultrasonication method. The impact of the ratio of two surfactants (Tween:Span) on nanoparticle behaviors and their efficiency was examined to achieve optimal brain delivery for venlafaxine. To study the solid-state of venlafaxine in SLNs and detect any potential interactions between the drug and other formulation excipients, PCS, TEM, ATR-FTIR, and DSC were employed. By reducing the HLB (Hydrophilic–lipophilic balance) of the binary surfactants, the particle size of SLN increased. The optimized nanoparticles showed an average particle size of 311.33 ± 9.29 nm when the HLB of the ratio of the surfactants (Tween:Span) was adjusted to 8. The zeta potential of SLNs decreased from −15.90 ± 0.70 to −6.95 ± 0.42 mV when the HLB of the system was reduced from 14 to 8. According to the results, the highest entrapment efficiency of 76.05 ± 1.42% was observed for the formulation with the largest particle size and the lowest HLB value (HLB 8). DSC analysis showed that venlafaxine was in an amorphous state in SLN. The findings of the ATR-FTIR also excluded any chemical interactions between excipients and the drug. Venlafaxine-SLN had a prolonged release pattern, according to the in vitro diffusion process. Venlafaxine oral absorption from SLN was also substantially higher than venlafaxine solution after single-dose oral administration of venlafaxine preparations. This research demonstrated that the venlafaxine-SLN might be employed as a potential nano-vehicle for venlafaxine brain delivery and potentially opens up new avenues for depression treatment.

Low-energy formation of in-situ nanoemulsion at constant temperature for oil removal

Nanoemulsions have great potential in oil clingage removal. However, the stability and rheological properties of nanoemulsions is difficult to control, which limits their application. In this paper, the performance of in-situ nanoemulsions formation when surfactant solution contact with oil was investigated, leading to a novel idea of oil removal using nanoemulsions. It is found that the reduction of interfacial tension due to surfactant migration from the initial phase to the interface is the critical step for the formation of nanoemulsions. Therefore, on the basis of proper adjustment of the affinity between surfactant and oil/water phase, the nanoemulsion was formed by dropping oil into the surfactant solutions, which is similar to the case where the surfactant solution contact with the oil clingage. The affinity is greatly affected by the hydrophilic-lipophilic balance of surfactant and the polarity of oil and water phase. Moreover, the formation of nanoemulsion by this method also depends on the oil-water ratio and energy input. The nanoemulsions formed have high stability and good fluidity, which is beneficial for the flowback of flushing liquid. It is hoped that this research can provide supplement for the low-energy preparation of nanoemulsions and provide theoretical basis for broadening the application scope of nanoemulsions.

Investigation the Stability of Water in Oil Biofuel Emulsions Using Sunflower Oil

Targets to reduce CO2 emissions by 75% and NOx emissions by 90% by 2050 in aviation have been set by The Advisory Council for Aviation Research and Innovation in Europe. Sustainable fuels, e.g., emulsified biofuel, have demonstrated promise in reducing emissions and greenhouse gases. The aim of this project is to investigate the stability of a water in oil emulsion using sunflower oil. The primary objective is to achieve an emulsion which is stable for at least 4 days, and the secondary objective is to investigate how altering the emulsification parameter values of the surfactant hydrophilic-lipophilic balance (HLB), energy density and sonotrode depth in an ultrasonication procedure can impact the stability. The stability of each emulsion was measured over a period of 14 days. The main outcome is that two of the 14 emulsions made remained stable for at least 14 days using a surfactant HLB of five, which proved to be the optimum value from those tested. The results also show that, by using the sonotrode in a higher starting position, emulsions achieved a greater stability. Furthermore, over-processing of the emulsion was determined, with the point of over-processing lying between an energy density of 75 and 200 W.s/mL.

Responsive Janus and Cerberus emulsions via temperature-induced phase separation in aqueous polymer mixtures

Complex aqueous emulsions represent a promising material platform for the encapsulation of cells, pharmaceuticals, or nutrients, for the fabrication of structured particles, as well as for mimicking the barrier-free compartmentalization of biomolecules found in living cells. Herein, we report a novel, simple, and scalable method of creating multicomponent aqueous droplets with highly uniform internal droplet morphologies that can be controllably altered after emulsification by making use of a thermal phase separation approach. Specifically, temperature-induced phase separation inside as-formed emulsion droplets comprising aqueous mixtures of two or more hydrophilic polymers allows for the generation of Janus and Cerberus emulsion droplets with adjustable internal morphologies that are solely controlled by a balance of interfacial tensions. We demonstrate our approach by applying both, microfluidic and scalable batch production, and present a detailed model study with predictive capabilities that enables fine-tuning and dynamically altering the droplet morphology as a function of types, molecular weights, and hydrophilicities of the polymers as well as the surfactant hydrophilic-lipophilic balance. The ability to rationally design complex aqueous emulsion droplets with previously unattainable dynamic control over their morphologies after emulsification entails the potential to design new responsive soft materials with implications for a variety of applications beyond encapsulation, including the design of complex adaptive and self-regulating materials, e.g. for chemical and biological sensing applications.

An Optimized Surfactant-Based PEG-PLCL In Situ Gel Formulation For Enhanced Activity Of Rosuvastatin In Poloxamer-Induced Hyperlipidemic Rats.

BackgroundInjectable in situ gel (ISG) systems suffer from high initial drug release that may result in toxic effects.ObjectiveThis work aimed to develop an injectable sustained release rosuvastatin (RSV) ISG formulation with minimum initial drug burst and improved hyperlipidemic efficacy.MethodsSix formulation factors that affect RSV release after 0.5, 2 and 24 hrs have been screened and the significant ones were optimized utilizing an experimental design tool. The optimum ISG formulation components were physicochemically characterized. Kinetic treatment, dissolution efficiency and mean dissolution time were investigated for the developed ISG formulations. Pharmacodynamic effects of the optimized ISG formulation were studied and compared to ISG formulation loaded with free RSV and to a marketed oral drug product.ResultsThe concentration polylactide-co-ε-caprolactone (25: 75), the surfactant hydrophilic lipophilic balance (HLB) and the ratio of surfactant to polyethylene glycol 400 were significantly affecting the release of RSV during the first 24 h. Physicochemical characterization demonstrated complete dispersion of RSV in the polymeric matrix with slight changes in the drug crystalline structure. The optimized formulation demonstrated acceptable syringeability, good flow rate and was able to extend the in vitro drug release for 34 days. The ISG formulations complied with Weibull model. Pharmacodynamic study revealed a sustained reduction in the lipid profile that lasted for 21 days with a marked decrease in the lipid level during the first 24 hrs from the ISG system loaded with free RSV.ConclusionThe optimized RSV ISG formulation could be considered a promising strategy due to a reduction in dosing frequency and enhancement in hypolipidemic efficacy.

Norm descriptors for predicting the hydrophile-lipophile balance (HLB) and critical micelle concentration (CMC) of anionic surfactants

The hydrophile-lipophile balance (HLB) and critical micelle concentration (CMC) are vitally important indexes to measure the performance of surfactants quantitatively. Herein, based on the concept of norm index, new norm descriptors were proposed for describing the HLB and CMC of anionic surfactants, and two QSPR models were built to calculate the two values. Results showed that the norm descriptors-based models could give satisfactory prediction effect for the HLB and CMC of anionic surfactants with the R2 of 0.9983 for HLB and R2 of 0.9130 for CMC. The satisfactory results of several validations demonstrated that these models were stable, reliable and had a very good predictive ability. Moreover, for anionic surfactants without experimental values, the predicted HLB of 19 anionic surfactants and predicted CMC of 101 anionic surfactants were respectively calculated using the proposed models. The above results indicated that the norm index was suitable for evaluating the HLB and CMC.

An efficient method to determine the Hydrophile-Lipophile Balance of surfactants using the phase inversion temperature deviation of Ci Ej /n-octane/water emulsions.

The aim of this study was to develop a fast and an efficient method to determine the Hydrophile-Lipophile Balance (HLB) number of cosmetic and pharmaceutics surfactants. This method is based on the deviation of the phase inversion temperature induced by the addition of the test compound, with respect to the phase inversion temperature of a reference system, which includes an ethoxylated surfactant. This method is called PIT-deviation. Three calibration curves are set up with three reference ethoxylated surfactants. These calibration curves make it possible to evaluate the interfacial behaviour of certain chemicals. More particularly, these curves make it possible to easily determine the surfactant HLB. In this study, a fast and accurate method has been developed to determine the hydrophilic-lipophilic balance (HLB) number of amphiphilic chemicals. This new method can be applied to establish an HLB number of all commercial amphiphilic ingredients. Compounds which have a PIT-deviation close to zero are also discussed.

Effect of surfactant HLB value on Methane hydrate formation in non-ionic surfactant-oil water emulsions systems

The methane hydrate formulation in emulsion is an important factor affecting the blockage of the subsea oil and gas transportation pipeline. In this study, to understanding the behavior of methane hydrate in different emulsion and the influence of surface active components, emulsions with the different hydrophilic lipophilic balance (HLB) value of surfactant mixture were prepared with mineral oil, deionized water and two kinds of non-ionic surfactant (Span80 and Tween80) with different rat io. And the format ion kinetics of methane hydrate in different emulsion was measured using pressure-volume-temperature (PVT) method. The experimental results demonstrate that the surfactant HLB value has a great influence on methane hydrate formulation in non-ionic surfactant-oil water emulsions systems. It could be divided into three parts. When the HLB value is below8, the emulsion is water-in-oil emulsion, and the hydrate is easy to form with the hydrophilic increasing. And methane hydrates are most likely to generated with the HLB value range from 8 to 10. And when the HLB value above 10, the emulsion is oil-in-water, and the methane hydrate is hard to form in the emulsion with 30vol% water as the continuous phase.

Molecular dynamics simulation of binary betaine and anionic surfactant mixtures at decane - Water interface

The interfacial properties of binary betaine and anionic surfactant mixtures at decane-water interface have been studied via molecular dynamics simulations. Two betaines chosen are alkyl sulfobetaine (ASB) and alkylbenzene sulfobetaine (BSB), while three anionic surfactants chosen are sodium dodecyl sulfate (SDS), sodium dodecyl benzene sulfonate (SDBS) and sodium octadecyl sulfonate (SOS), respectively. The synergistic influences between betaines and anionic surfactants are explored using mass density profile, interfacial thickness, atomic spacing and oblique angle. Hydrophilic size of betaine has been calculated through atomic spacing and oblique angle. The calculated value of hydrophilic size is about 81 Å2, which is approximately equal to experimental saturated adsorption area and simulated critical micelle area. Two anionic surfactant layers exist, a small amount of molecules are paralleled with ASB to generate competitive adsorption. More anionic surfactants are located in the cracks of ASB hydrophobic chains to form mixed adsorption. Mixed adsorption dominates surfactant adsorbent process for betaine/anionic surfactant mixtures. SDBS distribution range is exactly same as ASB range at the oil phase, which implies the consistent of hydrophobic chain lengths between above two surfactants. Interfacial compactness can be quantitative calculated by comparing betaine number and anionic surfactant number at mixed adsorbent layer. Simulated interfacial compactness perfectly corresponds with experimental interfacial tension, which may stand for the discovery about reliable evaluation criteria of comparing different betaine mixtures. Both surfactant hydrophilic-lipophilic balance and consistency of hydrophilic-hydrophobic structure can affect interfacial properties. The mechanism about surfactant mixed adsorption is also perfected at a molecular level, which is important for the enhanced oil recovery processes.

Control of Cationic Nanogel PEGylation in Heterogeneous ARGET ATRP Emulsion Polymerization with PEG Macromonomers.

Crosslinked cationic nanoscale networks with hydrophobic cores are an environmentally robust alternative to self-assembled polymeric drug delivery carriers with respect to therapeutic encapsulation and stability to dilution. However, the ability to tune the degree of PEG incorporated into nanogels during synthesis is more challenging. In this work, biodegradable cationic nanogels were synthesized by ARGET ATRP emulsion polymerization in a single step. The density of PEG in the final nanogels ranged from zero to 40 wt % and was dependent on the feed concentration of PEG monomer, surfactant concentration, surfactant hydrophilic-lipophilic balance, and the ratio of cationic to nonionic surfactant. A comprehensive analysis of nanogel material properties as a function of PEG graft density is presented including analysis of composition, monomer conversion, thermal properties, size, surface charge, and degradation. This study provides a robust analysis for the synthesis of degradable cationic nanogels via a controlled radical polymerization with predictable degrees of PEGylation.

Tramadol HCl encapsulated niosomes for extended analgesic effect following oral administration

Currently, proniosomes are generating a lot of interest in the field of drug delivery. They are characterized by high stability, extended drug release, ease of manufacturing, and rapid reconstitution and transformation into niosomes. The current study investigated Tramadol HCl (TH) encapsulation into niosomal vesicles using proniosome technology. Tween 80 (T80), Span 80 (S80), Tween 40 (T40), and Span 40 (S40) formed the backbones for niosome preparations. Encapsulation efficiencies (EE), vesicular sizes, in vitro release, and pharmacological activities of niosomal TH preparations were evaluated based on results from the hot plate test. Size distribution analysis showed homogenous vesicles with varied particle size that could be attributed to surfactant type and cholesterol (Chol) content. TH EE increased as a function of the increase in surfactant hydrophilic–lipophilic balance. TH release increased from all formulations as Chol% was increased from 0% to 50%. TH release from niosomal formulations with different surfactant types at 10% Chol increased in a specific order: S80 > S40 > T80 > T40. Following oral administration of TH niosomes to mice, the analgesic effects showed significantly extended effects compared to the TH solution. Oral administration of TH-encapsulated niosomes could be useful for extending the drug's analgesic effects.

Effect of surfactant on morphology and pore size of polysulfone membrane

The skin layer structure can be changed by adjusting the diffusion rate of the non-solvent into the polymer solution between membrane and coagulation bath through adding surfactant into either coagulation bath or dope solution. When adding SDS in coagulation bath, the variation trend of apparent diffusion coefficient during phase separation and scanning electron microscopy morphology of resultant membranes indicated that, at the beginning SDS migrated to the membrane-bath interface during phase separation process, playing a role as mechanical barrier within 0.15 wt% SDS concentration. Once the SDS concentration exceeds CMC, the remaining SDS will form micelles act as a carrier, hence, the phase separation rate accelerated. The membranes were characterized roughness parameters, obtained by the atomic force microscopic technique. While adding surfactant in the dope solution, compared with SDS addition into the coagulation bath, apparent diffusion coefficient and SEM morphology showed the similar trend, and the excellent range of SDS concentration is 0.08 wt%-0.1 wt%. As changing the nature of surfactant in the dope solution, we found that, with the increase of surfactant hydrophile-lipophile balance (HLB) value, the rate of phase separation speeds up, the size of macrovoid increases, flux increases gradually and rejection is weakened.

Formulation of stable water-in-diesel emulsion fuel and investigation of its properties

ABSTRACTThe use of water-in-diesel emulsion fuel has the potential to significantly reduce the formation of oxides of nitrogen (NOX), particulate matter (PM), and total gaseous hydrocarbons (THC) in diesel engines without engine modification. The preparation of stable water-in-diesel emulsion fuel and its variation in properties is critical for the successful development of diesel engines. The present study was carried out to create a stable water-in-diesel emulsion fuel by analyzing the effects of different process variables on emulsion preparation, including surfactant hydrophilic–lipophilic balance (HLB), water concentration in diesel, and stirrer speed. The stability was analyzed by emulsion fuel density variation as a function of time using a photonic system on the emulsion surface. From the results obtained, it was found that sorbitan monolanrate mixed at maximum stirring speed gave optimal emulsion stability for all concentrations of water. The critical fuel properties (density, viscosity, heating value, flashpoint, and corrosiveness) were measured for stable emulsion fuel and compared to the European Standard of automotive fuel requirements. The results indicate that a concentration of water in excess of 10% failed to meet fuel requirements.

Optimized nano-transfersomal films for enhanced sildenafil citrate transdermal delivery: ex vivo and in vivo evaluation.

Sildenafil citrate (SLD) is a selective cyclic guanosine monophosphate-specific phosphodiesterase type 5 inhibitor used for the oral treatment of erectile dysfunction and, more recently, for other indications, including pulmonary hypertension. The challenges facing the oral administration of the drug include poor bioavailability and short duration of action that requires frequent administration. Thus, the objective of this work is to formulate optimized SLD nano-transfersomal transdermal films with enhanced and controlled permeation aiming at surmounting the previously mentioned challenges and hence improving the drug bioavailability. SLD nano-transfersomes were prepared using modified lipid hydration technique. Central composite design was applied for the optimization of SLD nano-transfersomes with minimized vesicular size. The independent variables studied were drug-to-phospholipid molar ratio, surfactant hydrophilic lipophilic balance, and hydration medium pH. The optimized SLD nano-transfersomes were developed and evaluated for vesicular size and morphology and then incorporated into hydroxypropyl methyl cellulose transdermal films. The optimized transfersomes were unilamellar and spherical in shape with vesicular size of 130 nm. The optimized SLD nano-transfersomal films exhibited enhanced ex vivo permeation parameters with controlled profile compared to SLD control films. Furthermore, enhanced bioavailability and extended absorption were demonstrated by SLD nano-transfersomal films as reflected by their significantly higher maximum plasma concentration (Cmax) and area under the curve and longer time to maxi mum plasma concentration (Tmax) compared to control films. These results highlighted the potentiality of optimized SLD nano-transfersomal films to enhance the transdermal permeation and the bioavailability of the drug with the possible consequence of reducing the dose and administration frequency.

Structure–interfacial properties relationship and quantification of the amphiphilicity of well-defined ionic and non-ionic surfactants using the PIT-slope method

The Phase Inversion Temperature of a reference C10E4/n-Octane/Water system exhibits a quasi-linear variation versus the mole fraction of a second surfactant S2 added in the mixture. This variation was recently proposed as a classification tool to quantify the Hydrophilic–Lipophilic Balance (HLB) of commercial surfactants. The feasibility of the so-called PIT-slope method for a wide range of well-defined non-ionic and ionic surfactants is investigated. The comparison of various surfactants having the same dodecyl chain tail allows to rank the polar head hydrophilicity as: SO3Na⩾SO4Na⩾NMe3Br>E2SO3Na≈CO2Na⩾E1SO3Na⩾PhSO3Na>IsosorbideexoSO4Na≫IsosorbideendoSO4Na≫E8⩾NMe2O>E7>E6⩾Glucosyl>E5⩾Diglyceryl⩾E4>E3>E2≈Isosorbideexo>Glyceryl>Isosorbideendo. The influence on the surfactant HLB of other structural parameters, i.e. hydrophobic chain length, unsaturation, replacement of Na+ by K+ counterion, and isomerism is also investigated. Finally, the method is successfully used to predict the optimal formulation of a new bio-based surfactant, 1-O-dodecyldiglycerol, when performing an oil scan at 25°C.