Sorbitan Monooleate
(sor' bi tan mon'' oh oh' lee ate).

[Graphic formula same as for Sorbitan Monolaurate, except that R is (C17H33)COO.]
Sorbitan, esters, mono(Z)-9-octadecenoate.
Sorbitan monooleate [1338-43-8].
» Sorbitan Monooleate is a partial oleate ester of Sorbitol and its mono- and dianhydrides. It yields, upon saponification, not less than 72.0 percent and not more than 78.0 percent of fatty acids, and not less than 25.0 percent and not more than 31.0 percent of polyols (w/w).
Packaging and storage— Preserve in tight containers.
USP Reference standards 11
USP Isosorbide RS Click to View Structure
USP 1,4-Sorbitan RS Click to View Structure
    C6H12O5     164.16
Identification—
A: The residue of oleic acid obtained in the Assay for fatty acids has an acid value (see Fats and Fixed Oils 401) between 192 and 204, about 1 g of the residue, accurately weighed, being used, and an iodine value (see Fats and Fixed Oils 401) between 75 and 95.
B: Standard preparation—Transfer 33 mg of USP Isosorbide RS, 25 mg of USP 1,4-Sorbitan RS, and 25 mg of sorbitol to a 1-mL volumetric flask, dilute with water to volume, and mix to dissolve.
Test preparation— Transfer 500 mg of the polyols obtained in the Assay for polyols to a 2-mL volumetric flask, dilute with water to volume, and mix to dissolve.
Procedure— Apply 2 µL each of the Standard preparation and of the Test preparation to a suitable thin-layer chromatographic plate (see Chromatography 621) coated with a 0.25-mm layer of chromatographic silica gel. Allow the spots to dry, and develop the chromatogram in a solvent system consisting of a mixture of acetone and glacial acetic acid (50:1) until the solvent front has moved about three-fourths of the length of the plate. Remove the plate from the developing chamber, mark the solvent front, and allow the solvent to evaporate. Spray evenly with a mixture of equal volumes of sulfuric acid and water until the surface is uniformly wet (do not overspray), and immediately place the sprayed plate on a 200 hot plate in a well-ventilated hood. Char until white fumes of sulfur trioxide cease, and cool: the RF values of the spots obtained from the Test preparation correspond to those of the spots obtained from the Standard preparation.
Acid value 401: not more than 8.
Hydroxyl value 401: between 190 and 215.
Iodine value 401: between 62 and 76.
Saponification value 401: between 145 and 160.
Water, Method I 921: not more than 1.0%.
Residue on ignition 281: not more than 0.5%.
Assay for fatty acids— Transfer about 10 g of Sorbitan Monooleate, accurately weighed, to a 500-mL conical flask, cautiously add 100 mL of alcohol and 3.5 g of potassium hydroxide, then add a few glass beads, and mix. Connect a suitable condenser to the flask, reflux the mixture on a hot plate for 2 hours, add about 100 mL of water, and heat on a steam bath to evaporate the alcohol, adding water occasionally to replace the alcohol. Continue the evaporation until the odor of alcohol can no longer be detected, and transfer the saponification mixture, with the aid of about 100 mL of hot water, to a 500-mL separator. Using extreme caution, neutralize to litmus with a mixture of equal volumes of sulfuric acid and water, noting the volume used, and add a 10% excess of the dilute acid. Allow the solution to cool. If salts appear, add sufficient water to produce a clear solution. Cautiously add 100 mL of solvent hexane, shake thoroughly, and withdraw the lower layer into a second 500-mL separator. Similarly extract with 2 more 100-mL portions of solvent hexane. Extract the combined hexane layers with 50-mL portions of water until neutral to litmus paper, and combine the extracts with the original aqueous phase, for the Assay for polyols. Evaporate the solvent hexane in a tared beaker on a steam bath nearly to dryness, dry in vacuum at 60 for 1 hour, cool in a desiccator, and weigh the fatty acids.
Assay for polyols— Neutralize the aqueous solution of polyols retained from the Assay for fatty acids with potassium hydroxide solution (1 in 10) to a pH of 7, using a suitable pH meter. Evaporate on a steam bath to a moist residue, extract the polyols from the salts with three 150-mL portions of dehydrated alcohol, boiling the salt residue for 3 minutes, and crushing it, as necessary, with the flattened end of a stirring rod, during each extraction, filtering each extract, while hot, through a medium-porosity, sintered-glass funnel, provided with a sheet of retentive filter paper on which a layer of purified siliceous earth has been superimposed, and receiving the filtrates in a 1-liter suction flask. Transfer the clear alcoholic polyols solution to a tared beaker, evaporate the alcohol on a steam bath, dry in vacuum at 60 for 1 hour, cool in a desiccator, and weigh the polyols.
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Topic/Question Contact Expert Committee
Monograph Robert H. Lafaver, M.S.
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USP35–NF30 Page 1963