Low pH on hydroalcoholic lotions

evasalmaevasalma Member
in Formulating
Hello,

I need to buffer my lotion which contains 75% ethanol at pH 5.75-6.0.
As you understand the pH due to ethanol is high.

Tried some citrate buffers but didn't work out due to the salt created.

Do you have any ideas/another way to keep the pH low?

Thank you in advance
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Comments

  • AbdullahAbdullah Member
    What ingredients does it have?

    Does it have water😉?
  • PharmaPharma Member, Pharmacist
    Higher % alcohol can result in wrong pH readings with certain glass electrodes.
    However, ethanol does not really affect pH and you can as well set the pH before adding alcohol ;) .
    By preference, use a 'buffer' which is soluble in 75% ethanol. However, there aren't too many cosmetically suitable buffers which work around pH 5.75-6... there aren't too many biologically compatible buffers in that range anyway. In addition to that, for most of those the charged forms aren't soluble in such high amounts of ethanol.
    A: it would be wise to use diisopropylamine or alternatively aminomethyl propanol aka AMP-95 as ethanol soluble base.
    B: you'd now 'only' need to find a suitable buffering acid... alas, there aren't too many to choose from... carbonate would be suitable at pH 6 upwards but you might run into difficulties working with dry ice as starting material. Acetic acid would be easier to handle but only works up to 5.6. Short to medium chain fatty such as caproic, capric, or caprylic acid would be better suited due to their good solubility in ethanol (in their acid form but also likely in their salt form). On the flip side, the product would reek like a horny goat. Hence, lauric acid and an ethanol soluble amine would be my pick (please note, such carboxylic acid buffers will only buffer to a pH of <6 and hence will only poorly protect a rise in pH whilst buffering well against pH lowering).
    C: If you opt for the opposite combo of a buffering base with a strong acid, the acid part is fairly easy to cover but the base part... derivatives of imidazole, pyridine, and aniline come to mind. Sadly, most of the ones soluble in ethanol can't be used if you value your customers health (and, again, their olfaction).
  • evasalmaevasalma Member
    Thank you for your answer.

    Since I'm new to formulating, I need some clarifications.

    A: You mean use these 2 instead of the ethanol I'm using currently right?

    B: I tried acetic acid and as you said, I had the smell problem. I will try again with lauric acid. 

    C: Yeah, that's not an option.
  • evasalmaevasalma Member
    Yes, the rest 30% is water and perfume!
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