Sodium Lauroyl Glutamate

About This Product

Sodium lauroyl glutamate is an amino acid surfactant produced by condensing lauric acid with glutamic acid and neutralising with sodium hydroxide. It carries CAS number 29923-31-7 and the INCI name Sodium Lauroyl Glutamate, and is supplied as a white powder or as an aqueous solution. Its mildness follows directly from its structure and its working pH. True soap is the salt of a fatty acid and must be alkaline, around pH 9 to 10, to function; that alkalinity swells and disrupts the skin barrier, which is why soap leaves skin feeling tight. Amino acid surfactants are stable and effective at mildly acidic pH, typically 5 to 6, which is close to the skin's own surface. They also interact far less aggressively with skin proteins than sulfates do, so measured irritation is very low. The lather is fine and creamy rather than voluminous, and the after-feel is notably soft and non-stripping. Because the molecule is derived from an amino acid and a plant-derived fatty acid, it is readily biodegradable and suits natural positioning. It is more expensive than sulfate surfactants and is generally used as the primary surfactant in premium cleansers rather than as a booster. It is used in facial cleansers and foams, baby and sensitive-skin washes, shampoos, syndet bars and micellar products. Bio Green Chem supplies sodium lauroyl glutamate to specification on active matter, free amino acid, free fatty acid, sodium chloride, pH and colour.