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Hydrophilic-lipophilic balance
The hydrophilic-lipophilic balance of a
surfactant is a measure of the degree to
which it is hydrophilic or lipophilic,
determined by calculating values for the
different regions of the molecule, as
described by Griffin in 1949[1] and 1954.[2]
Other methods have been suggested,
notably in 1957 by Davies.[3]

Griffin's method
Griffin's method for non-ionic surfactants
as described in 1954 works as follows:

HLB scale showing classification of surfactant function

where is the molecular mass of the
hydrophilic portion of the molecule, and M
is the molecular mass of the whole
molecule, giving a result on a scale of 0 to 20. An HLB value of 0 corresponds to a completely
lipophilic/hydrophobic molecule, and a value of 20 corresponds to a completely
hydrophilic/lipophobic molecule.

The HLB value can be used to predict the surfactant properties of a molecule:

< 10 : Lipid-soluble (water-insoluble)

> 10 : Water-soluble (lipid-insoluble)
1 to 3: anti-foaming agent[1]
3 to 6: W/O (water in oil) emulsifier
7 to 9: wetting and spreading agent[1]
13 to 16: detergent[1]
8 to 16: O/W (oil in water) emulsifier
16 to 18: solubiliser or hydrotrope[1]

Davies' method
In 1957, Davies suggested a method based on calculating a value based on the chemical groups of
the molecule. The advantage of this method is that it takes into account the effect of stronger and
weaker hydrophilic groups. The method works as follows:[3]

where:

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2/26/2020 Hydrophilic-lipophilic balance - Wikipedia

- Number of hydrophilic groups in the molecule

- Value of the th hydrophilic groups (see tables)

- Number of lipophilic groups in the molecule

Hydrophilic Groups Group Number

-SO4−Na+ 38.7

-COO−K+ 21.1

-COO−Na+ 19.1

N (tertiary amine) 9.4

Ester (sorbitan ring) 6.8
Ester (free) 2.4
-COOH 2.1
Hydroxyl (free) 1.9
-O- 1.3
Hydroxyl (sorbitan ring) 0.5

Lipophilic Groups Group Number

-CH- -0.475
-CH2- -0.475

CH3- -0.475

=CH- -0.475

References
1. Griffin, William C. (1949), "Classification of Surface-Active Agents by 'HLB' " (https://web.archiv
e.org/web/20140812062735/http://journal.scconline.org//pdf/cc1949/cc001n05/p00311-p00326.
pdf) (PDF), Journal of the Society of Cosmetic Chemists, 1 (5): 311–26, archived from the
original (http://journal.scconline.org//pdf/cc1949/cc001n05/p00311-p00326.pdf) (PDF) on 2014-
08-12, retrieved 2013-05-25
2. Griffin, William C. (1954), "Calculation of HLB Values of Non-Ionic Surfactants" (https://web.arc
hive.org/web/20140812062747/http://journal.scconline.org//pdf/cc1954/cc005n04/p00249-p002
56.pdf) (PDF), Journal of the Society of Cosmetic Chemists, 5 (4): 249–56, archived from the
original (http://journal.scconline.org//pdf/cc1954/cc005n04/p00249-p00256.pdf) (PDF) on
2014-08-12, retrieved 2013-05-25
3. Davies JT (1957), "A quantitative kinetic theory of emulsion type, I. Physical chemistry of the
emulsifying agent" (http://www.firp.ula.ve/archivos/historicos/57_Chap_Davies.pdf) (PDF),
Gas/Liquid and Liquid/Liquid Interface, Proceedings of the International Congress of Surface
Activity, pp. 426–38

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