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Description: Sodium Cocoyl Glutamate is a surfactant derived from natural sources, commonly used in cosmetics and personal care products.
It is a mild and gentle cleansing agent that is typically found in shampoos, facial cleansers, body washes, and other products due to its ability to cleanse without causing irritation.
Sodium Cocoyl Glutamate is formed by reacting glutamic acid, an amino acid, with coconut oil-derived fatty acids.
It is biodegradable and considered environmentally friendly.
Cas Number
29911-28-2
Synonyms
Sodium N-(Cocoyl)glutamate,Glutamic acid, N-cocoyl-, sodium salt,Sodium cocoylglutamate
Introduction
Overview of Sodium Cocoyl Glutamate: Sodium Cocoyl Glutamate (SCG) is an anionic surfactant derived from coconut oil (cocoyl group) and glutamic acid.
It is a mild, biodegradable, and skin-friendly detergent, which makes it a popular choice for formulating cosmetics, personal care products, and even some pharmaceutical products.
Historical Development: SCG was developed as part of the growing demand for milder, environmentally friendly surfactants.
The discovery of using natural amino acids like glutamic acid with fatty acids from vegetable oils has been crucial in formulating safer, biodegradable alternatives to harsher surfactants (e.g., Sodium Lauryl Sulfate).
Significance in Industry: It is considered a green alternative to traditional surfactants, especially in formulations designed for sensitive skin, children's products, and eco-conscious consumers.
Chemical Properties
Molecular Structure: The molecular structure of Sodium Cocoyl Glutamate consists of a fatty acid chain (derived from coconut oil or palm kernel oil) esterified with glutamic acid.
The fatty acid chain typically contains around 12-14 carbon atoms, making it an amphiphilic molecule, with a hydrophobic tail and hydrophilic head.
The glutamate part (hydrophilic) is an amino acid derivative, providing the surfactant’s mildness and skin compatibility.
The long alkyl chain (hydrophobic) provides the molecule's detergent and emulsifying properties.
Chemical Formula: The chemical formula is typically represented as C16H31NO4Na (for the sodium salt form), but can vary slightly depending on the chain length of the coconut oil used.
Solubility: SCG is highly soluble in water and can form stable aqueous solutions in various concentrations, making it effective in both liquid and solid formulations.
It is also soluble in polar organic solvents.
pH: SCG typically operates in a neutral to mildly acidic pH range (around 5-7), which is suitable for skin care formulations and minimizes irritation.
Melting Point: The melting point of SCG depends on its purity and the exact formulation, but it typically melts at around 40–45°C.
Production Methods
Raw Materials: SCG is synthesized from two primary raw materials:
Coconut Oil: Fatty acids (mainly lauric acid) extracted from coconut oil are used as the hydrophobic part of the molecule.
Glutamic Acid: A naturally occurring amino acid, glutamic acid provides the hydrophilic component.
Synthesis Process: SCG is typically synthesized through a process called esterification, where glutamic acid reacts with fatty acids (obtained from coconut oil) in the presence of an alkali (sodium hydroxide or sodium carbonate) to form the sodium salt of the ester.
The reaction typically involves heating the fatty acids with glutamic acid under controlled conditions.
The final product is purified through filtration and neutralization.
Industrial Considerations: While the production of SCG is relatively straightforward, maintaining consistency in the fatty acid chain length is key to controlling the surfactant’s properties.
Quality control ensures purity, stability, and desired performance in end-use products.
Alternative Production Routes: Some manufacturers may utilize different esterification methods, including enzymatic or non-traditional catalysts, to produce a more sustainable or specialized form of SCG.
Applications
Cosmetics and Personal Care: SCG is a mild surfactant widely used in facial cleansers, shampoos, body washes, and facial wipes due to its gentle cleansing properties.
It is especially popular in formulations targeting sensitive skin, as it does not strip natural oils or cause irritation.
It is a key ingredient in "natural" or "green" product lines.
SCG also has emulsifying properties, making it useful in creams and lotions.
Pharmaceuticals: SCG is used in some topical pharmaceutical formulations, particularly in formulations for individuals with sensitive skin.
It also serves as a solubilizer for active ingredients in certain drug delivery systems.
Household Cleaning Products: Though less common than other surfactants, SCG is sometimes used in more eco-friendly household cleaning products.
Food Industry (limited use): Due to its non-toxic and biodegradable nature, SCG is explored in formulations for food-grade cleaning products, but it is not typically used directly in food processing.
Other Industrial Uses:
It can be found in formulations for industrial degreasers or cleaning products, particularly where a biodegradable alternative is needed.
Benefits and Drawbacks
Benefits:
Mildness: SCG is much gentler on the skin than traditional surfactants like Sodium Lauryl Sulfate (SLS), reducing irritation, dryness, and allergic reactions.
Biodegradability: It is fully biodegradable, making it a greener alternative to many synthetic surfactants that persist in the environment.
Environmental Safety: SCG’s environmental impact is minimal, making it suitable for eco-conscious consumers and companies.
Skin Compatibility: SCG has a low potential for skin irritation and is less likely to disrupt the skin's natural barrier compared to harsher alternatives.
Drawbacks:
Cost: The production of SCG tends to be more expensive compared to other more common surfactants like Sodium Lauryl Sulfate or Sodium Coco-Sulfate.
Formulation Stability: In certain formulations, SCG may not perform as well as other surfactants, especially in products requiring high foaming action.
Limited Use in High-Performance Products: It might not be suitable for high-performance applications where aggressive detergency is required (e.g., industrial degreasing).
SAFETY INFORMATION ABOUT SODIUM COCOYL GLUTAMATE
First aid measures:
Description of first aid measures:
General advice:
Consult a physician.
Show this safety data sheet to the doctor in attendance.
Move out of dangerous area:
If inhaled:
If breathed in, move person into fresh air.
If not breathing, give artificial respiration.
Consult a physician.
In case of skin contact:
Take off contaminated clothing and shoes immediately.
Wash off with soap and plenty of water.
Consult a physician.
In case of eye contact:
Rinse thoroughly with plenty of water for at least 15 minutes and consult a physician.
Continue rinsing eyes during transport to hospital.
If swallowed:
Do NOT induce vomiting.
Never give anything by mouth to an unconscious person.
Rinse mouth with water.
Consult a physician.
Firefighting measures:
Extinguishing media:
Suitable extinguishing media:
Use water spray, alcohol-resistant foam, dry chemical or carbon dioxide.
Special hazards arising from the substance or mixture
Carbon oxides, Nitrogen oxides (NOx), Hydrogen chloride gas
Advice for firefighters:
Wear self-contained breathing apparatus for firefighting if necessary.
Accidental release measures:
Personal precautions, protective equipment and emergency procedures
Use personal protective equipment.
Avoid breathing vapours, mist or gas.
Evacuate personnel to safe areas.
Environmental precautions:
Prevent further leakage or spillage if safe to do so.
Do not let product enter drains.
Discharge into the environment must be avoided.
Methods and materials for containment and cleaning up:
Soak up with inert absorbent material and dispose of as hazardous waste.
Keep in suitable, closed containers for disposal.
Handling and storage:
Precautions for safe handling:
Avoid inhalation of vapour or mist.
Conditions for safe storage, including any incompatibilities:
Keep container tightly closed in a dry and well-ventilated place.
Containers which are opened must be carefully resealed and kept upright to prevent leakage.
Storage class (TRGS 510): 8A: Combustible, corrosive hazardous materials
Exposure controls/personal protection:
Control parameters:
Components with workplace control parameters
Contains no substances with occupational exposure limit values.
Exposure controls:
Appropriate engineering controls:
Handle in accordance with good industrial hygiene and safety practice.
Wash hands before breaks and at the end of workday.
Personal protective equipment:
Eye/face protection:
Tightly fitting safety goggles.
Faceshield (8-inch minimum).
Use equipment for eye protection tested and approved under appropriate government standards such as NIOSH (US) or EN 166(EU).
Skin protection:
Handle with gloves.
Gloves must be inspected prior to use.
Use proper glove
removal technique (without touching glove's outer surface) to avoid skin contact with this product.
Dispose of contaminated gloves after use in accordance with applicable laws and good laboratory practices.
Wash and dry hands.
Full contact:
Material: Nitrile rubber
Minimum layer thickness: 0.11 mm
Break through time: 480 min
Material tested:Dermatril (KCL 740 / Aldrich Z677272, Size M)
Splash contact
Material: Nitrile rubber
Minimum layer thickness: 0.11 mm
Break through time: 480 min
Material tested:Dermatril (KCL 740 / Aldrich Z677272, Size M)
It should not be construed as offering an approval for any specific use scenario.
Body Protection:
Complete suit protecting against chemicals, The type of protective equipment must be selected according to the concentration and amount of the dangerous substance at the specific workplace.
Respiratory protection:
Where risk assessment shows air-purifying respirators are appropriate use a fullface respirator with multi-purpose combination (US) or type ABEK (EN 14387) respirator cartridges as a backup to engineering controls.
If the respirator is the sole means of protection, use a full-face supplied air respirator.
Use respirators and components tested and approved under appropriate government standards such as NIOSH (US) or CEN (EU).
Control of environmental exposure
Prevent further leakage or spillage if safe to do so.
Do not let product enter drains.
Discharge into the environment must be avoided.
Stability and reactivity:
Chemical stability:
Stable under recommended storage conditions.
Incompatible materials:
Strong oxidizing agents:
Hazardous decomposition products:
Hazardous decomposition products formed under fire conditions.
Carbon oxides, Nitrogen oxides (NOx), Hydrogen chloride gas.
Disposal considerations:
Waste treatment methods:
Product:
Offer surplus and non-recyclable solutions to a licensed disposal company.
Contact a licensed professional waste disposal service to dispose of this material.
Contaminated packaging:
Dispose of as unused product
