सोडियम ग्लूकोनेट (Sodium gluconate)

Sodium gluconate is the sodium salt of gluconic acid, which is made by fermenting glucose. It comes as a white to off-white crystalline powder with almost no smell, and it dissolves very easily in water.

• Formula: C6H11NaO7
• CAS number: 527-07-1
• Molar mass: about 218.1 g/mol
• Solubility: very soluble in water, poorly soluble in alcohol

Its main job is chelation. It grabs metal ions such as calcium, magnesium and iron and holds them in solution, so they can't form scum, scale or rancid spots. It works well in alkaline conditions, which is why soap makers and alkaline cleaners use it.

Azlok lists Sodium Gluconate under cosmetic raw ingredients, for soap, shampoo and cream makers. The pack size is shown on the product page.

It is not listed as food grade, so don't use it in food. Check today's price per kg.

• Soap making: chelator in cold-process and melt-and-pour soap, helping reduce soap scum in hard water and slowing the orange spots that come from rancid oils.
• Cosmetics: chelating agent in shampoos, face washes, creams and lotions, often as an alternative to EDTA.
• Construction: retarder in concrete admixtures, to slow setting in hot weather and for long transport.
• Cleaning and metal work: in alkaline bottle-washing, metal surface cleaning and degreasing formulations.
• Textiles: in scouring and dyeing baths to hold back hard-water minerals.

1. Weigh it. You need small amounts, so use a scale reading to 0.1 g.
2. Dissolve it in water first. In cosmetics, add it to the water phase before heating or emulsifying. In cold-process soap, dissolve it in part of the water before you add the lye, or in a separate small portion of water.
3. Use level: in cosmetics and soap it is typically used at well under 1% of the total formula. Follow the range on your supplier's data sheet and adjust for how hard your water is.
4. Concrete: dosing depends on cement type and temperature and is tiny, so follow the admixture maker's or engineer's dosage, never guesswork.

Sodium gluconate is not a preservative. Water-based creams and lotions still need a proper preservative system. Patch test any finished product on the inner arm, and remember that cosmetics sold in India need to meet BIS and CDSCO rules.

• It is a mild material, but avoid breathing the dust and keep it out of your eyes. Rinse with water if it gets in.
• Wear gloves when handling it alongside lye or other strong chemicals in soap making.
• Keep it away from strong oxidisers.
• It absorbs moisture and cakes, so store it in a tightly closed container in a cool, dry place.
• Label the jar clearly so it isn't mistaken for sugar or salt, and keep it away from children.
• Small leftovers can be dissolved in plenty of water and poured down the drain.

For home soap and cosmetic batches, you use only a few grams per kilo of product, so a small pack lasts a long time. Small soap and shampoo businesses making weekly batches will find a larger pack cheaper per kg.

For concrete admixtures and industrial cleaners, quantities are much larger. If you need 25 kg or more, send a bulk inquiry with the quantity and application.