Emulsifiers

1. An emulsifier comprising (a) from 45 to 60% by weight of a partial glyceride, (b) from 5 to 25% by weight of an alcohol polyglycol ether, (c) from 5 to 15% by weight fatty alcohol, and (d) from 0 to 15% by weight of a wax ester wherein the monoglycende content of the partial glyceride is less than 50% by weight and wherein the monoglyceride is comprised of palmitic and stearic acid residues in a ratio by weight of from 40:60 to 60:40.

2. The emulsifier of claim 1 wherein the partial glyceride is a compound of the formula (I):

wherein R 1 CO is a linear or branched, saturated and/or unsaturated acyl group having from 6 to 24 carbon atoms, each of R 2 and R 3 is R 1 CO or OH and wherein the sum (m+n+p) is from 0 to 100, with the proviso that at least one of R 2 or R 3 is OH.

3. The emulsifier of claim 1 wherein the alcohol polyglycol ether is a compound of the formula (II):

 R 4 O(CH 2 CH 2 O) q H  (II)

wherein R 4 is a linear or branched alkyl and/or alkenyl group having from 6 to 24 carbon atoms and q is a number from 5 to 40.

4. The emulsifier of claim 1 , wherein the fatty alcohol is a compound of the formula (Ill):

R 5 OH  (III)

wherein R 5 is an aliphatic. linear or branched hydrocarbon radical having from 6 to 24 carbon atoms and from 0 to 3 double bonds.

5. The emulsifier of claim 1 wherein the wax asters corresponding to formula (IV):

R 6 CO—OR 7   (IV)

wherein R 6 CO is a linear or branched acyl group having om 6 to 24 carbon atoms and R 7 is a linear or branched alkyl group having from 1 to 22 carbon atoms, with the proviso that the total number of carbon atoms in R 6 CO and Ris at least 20.

6. A PIT or microemulsion comprised of an emulsifier of claim 1 .

7. The PIT or microemulsion of claim 6 wherein the amount of the emulsifier of claim 1 is from 1 to 15% by weight.