Esters as nonionic surfactants

RCOCl + HOCH2-CH-CH2OH RCOOCH2-CH-CH2OH + RCOOCH2-CH-CH2OOCR 

Among other surface active esters, polyglycol esters of fatty acids, alkanoyl glycerol acetates and lactates, alkyl lactates, esters of fatty acids and pentaerythritol, glucose, methylglucose, mannose, sucrose, and, especially, sorbitol are often exploited. The latter, sorbitan acylates, are particularly known as Spans , Arlacels , and Arlamol ISML - all of ICI production. These mild and low-toxic emulsifiers are widely applied in food, pharmaceutical, personal care and other consumer and industrial products. 

As can be seen, several additional hydroxyl groups are available for esterification. Thus, a variety of economically attractive sugar esters with a wide range of HLB may be prepared on a synthetic or enzymatic way. This very mild sucrose acylates are useful as edible emulsifiers and food-grade cleaners. When used in breadmaking, sucrose monoesters and diesters improve the 

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