Ointment Definition:

A semisolid preparation usually containing medicinal substances and intended for external
application.

Ointment bases used as vehicles fall into four general classes:

1) hydrocarbon bases (oleaginous ointment bases) keep medicaments in prolonged contact with
the skin, act as occlusive dressings, and are used chiefly for emollient effects;

2) absorption bases either permit the incorporation of aqueous solutions with the formation of a
water-in-oil emulsion or are water-in-oil emulsions that permit the incorporation of additional
quantities of aqueous solutions; such bases permit better absorption of some medicaments and
are useful as emollients;

3) water-removable bases (creams) are oil-in-water emulsions containing petrolatum, anhydrous

lanolin, or waxes; they may be washed from the skin with water and are thus more acceptable
for cosmetic reasons; they favor absorption of serous discharges in dermatologic conditions; and

4) water-soluble bases (greaseless ointment bases) contain only water-soluble substances.

Surfactant Basics - Definition of HLB, and How It Applies to

Emulsions
Answer ID 3277 | Updated 10/18/2017 10:11 AM

What is HLB? How is it applied to formulate emulsions?

HLB (Hydrophile-Lipophile Balance) is an empirical expression for the relationship of the

hydrophilic ("water-loving") and hydrophobic ("water-hating") groups of a surfactant. The table
below lists HLB values along with typical performance properties. The higher the HLB value, the
more water-soluble the surfactant.

The HLB system is particularly useful to identify surfactants for oil and water emulsification.
There are two basic emulsion types:

Water-in-oil (w/o): water is dispersed in oil

Oil-in-water (o/w): oil is dispersed in aqueous phase, most common emulsion type.

Water-in-oil emulsions (w/o) require low HLB surfactants.

Oil-in-water (o/w) emulsions often require higher HLB surfactants.

Surfactant selection for an o/w emulsion can be simplified if the HLB system is applied. Oils have
required HLB numbers that identify the HLB necessary to give good o/w emulsification. Often
the oil supplier can provide the required HLB value. Alternatively, there are a number of
compiled lists in the literature on the required HLB for common waxes and oils. Since overall
chemical structure (e.g., branched, linear, aromatic) is also a variable, a number of different
surfactants with the required HLB should be examined. Not all surfactants having the same HLB
value may be acceptable for an o/w emulsion. HLB values for surfactants can be calculated for
simple alcohol ethoxylates. If a surfactant is not a simple alcohol ethoxylate, the HLB value must
be determined experimentally. HLB values are additive; therefore, if two different surfactants or
oils are present, the HLB will be the weighted average of the HLB values for each component.
Example: An oil (HLB = 10.5) is a component in an aqueous cleaning solution.

There are several choices for surfactants. TRITON X-45 might be considered since it has an HLB
value of 9.8; however, it is dispersible (not soluble) in water. Another choice is a blend of TRITON
X-35 (HLB = 7.8) and TRITON X-100 (HLB = 13.4), a combination that will be water-soluble. HLB
values are additive, so to achieve the required HLB value, use the weighted average of the HLB
values for each surfactant. Required HLB = 10

Surfactant family: TRITON X Series

(0.5 TRITON X-35)(7.8) + (0.5 TRITON X-100)(13.4) = 3.9 + 6.7 = 10.6

A 1:1 blend of TRITON X-35 and X-100 Surfactants provides the required HLB value.