Glycol monostearate

Glycol monostearate (CAS 111-60-4), also sold as ethylene glycol monostearate or glycol stearate, is a fatty acid ester used in personal care, food, and industrial formulations.

Where is Glycol monostearate used?

• Personal care: opacifying agent in shampoos, conditioners and body washes, producing a pearlescent sheen
• Food: emulsifier in baked goods and confectionery coatings, improving fat distribution and shelf texture
• Pharmaceutical: stabiliser of oil-in-water emulsions and viscosity adjuster in topical creams and ointments
• Plastics processing: plasticizer and internal lubricant that improves flow and reduces brittleness in polymer compounds
• It functions as an emulsifier, opacifier and rheology modifier.

Good to know: Purity is typically 90% minimum; higher-purity pharmaceutical grades are also available. Food-grade and cosmetic-grade standard grades exist.

Commercial specifications

• Purity typically 90% minimum
• Higher-purity pharmaceutical grades available
• Bulk supply in 25 kg bags or fiber drums