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Xantham in mass production - plz help!!
Hi,
I have been making small batch shampoos using xantham gum for thickening. It is working well on small batch by premixing xantham with glycerin then using an emulsion stick. I am having issues to scale the formula. Do you have any tips to get a smooth mix?
Do I need to premix the xantham and glycerin for a set time? Should I add surfactants (10% active in finished formula) or water next? Do I need to wait a time between these steps?
I add preservative after mixing the xantham and glycerin to avoid contamination. Is this too early?
Please advice ANY tips for scaling this shampoo! I really appreciate it
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4 Replies
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Hi, I’m sorry. What are your issues exactly?
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Just mix the xanthan in the glycerol until there are no lumps and it is well dispersed. We are manufacturing 1400 kg batches (not shampoo) using this method.
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^This is basically what it comes down to. If you’re going to use a dispersant, general recommendation is to use at least 3:1 ratio dispersant to gum. Glycerin is a bit more viscous than some other options like propanediol that may be easier to mix. You just want to ensure there are no dry clumps of xanthan, it should all be coated in dispersant. I would not recommend adding any water to the premix if you go this route, and you may not want to leave the premix sitting out for too long or it could pick up moisture from the environment.
If you have high shear mixing capability, you can skip glycerin since it’s probably not benefitting your shampoo to have it. Just sprinkle in the xanthan gum to the water directly and mix vigorously, you could also heat slightly to help hydrate the gum (and slow mix to help get out any air you may incorporate).Process should be: xanthan (premixed with glycerin if using)> add to water, let mix (anywhere from 5-15 minutes is my guess)> add preservative/surfactants
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@getaway shootout you should mix xantham gum with glycerin and a small amount of water (about 10-20% of the total water phase) in a separate container. Use an overhead stirrer or a high-speed blender to ensure thorough dispersion and avoid clumping. Allow this mixture to hydrate for at least 30 minutes, or even longer, depending on the desired viscosity.
After the xanthan gum/glycerin/water mixture has fully hydrated, slowly add the surfactants while mixing continuously. This helps to evenly distribute the surfactants throughout the mixture and prevent clumping.
And remember that the temperature can affect the viscosity of the mixture. You can try to maintain a consistent temperature throughout the mixing process.
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