Home Cosmetic Science Talk Formulating Any tip for processing high surfactant content cleanser?

  • Any tip for processing high surfactant content cleanser?

    Posted by ShawnL9022 on March 21, 2022 at 3:35 pm

    I was working on a formula provided by the supplier. The GCS powder is a light free flow powder. As soon as I add them into either water or glycerin, they generate tons of foam. I tried to use a vacuum to de-gas. But the foam is too creamy to get rid of. 

    Does anyone have the experience to incorporate this powder surfactant? What order of adding material should I follow?

    Water 35.4
    Sodium Cocoyl Glycinate, powder 18
    Glycerin 38
    Cocamidoproptyl Betaine, 30% 4
    Polyquaternium-39, 10% 1
    Lauric Acid 0.4
    Myristic Acid 1
    Stearic Acid 0.4
    Glycol Distearate 1
    Behenyl Alcohol 0.3
    Citric Acid 0.5
    chemicalmatt replied 1 year, 12 months ago 5 Members · 6 Replies
  • 6 Replies
  • paprik

    Member
    March 22, 2022 at 8:19 am

    How are you mixing? 
    When mixing small batches, it’s usually hard to prevent foaming. 
    If you will use low shear, it should keep it relatively “calm”. However, if you get foam, it should go away by the next day. 

    A few questions. I don’t see any preservative? I guess you have one and just did not listed? 
    Why so much glycerin? 38% That is whipping lot. (But I saw this in one formula - was checking some suppliers now. Was for cream-type face wash. However I don’t think it’s necessary. )

  • abdullah

    Member
    March 22, 2022 at 2:47 pm

    Does Sodium Cocoyl Glycinate dissolve in water property and become clear? 

    In my experiments you need to heat some water to dissolve powder surfactants. 

    Why so much Sodium Cocoyl Glycinate? 

    You can not dissolve too much of powder surfactants in water. 
    I don’t know about this surfactant but for AOS, there is 39% solution available but you can not dissolve 39% powder AOS in water. 

  • ShawnL9022

    Member
    March 22, 2022 at 9:57 pm

    Paprik said:

    How are you mixing? 
    When mixing small batches, it’s usually hard to prevent foaming. 
    If you will use low shear, it should keep it relatively “calm”. However, if you get foam, it should go away by the next day. 

    A few questions. I don’t see any preservative? I guess you have one and just did not listed? 
    Why so much glycerin? 38% That is whipping lot. (But I saw this in one formula - was checking some suppliers now. Was for cream-type face wash. However I don’t think it’s necessary. )

    I forget to add the preservative. I was using 1% PE 815. I think the high amount of glycerin is to help  SCG to crystalize when the whole batch cools down.

  • emma1985

    Member
    March 23, 2022 at 4:25 pm

    Try adding water last if possible. Pre-disperse surfactants im glycerin. Don’t pour the water from a high height and break the water’s fall with something (like a spatula.) Not sure if this helps, sorry.

  • ShawnL9022

    Member
    March 31, 2022 at 1:47 pm

    emma1985 said:

    Try adding water last if possible. Pre-disperse surfactants im glycerin. Don’t pour the water from a high height and break the water’s fall with something (like a spatula.) Not sure if this helps, sorry.

    Thank you. Will try that

  • chemicalmatt

    Member
    April 1, 2022 at 3:15 pm

    How often have I said this: friends don’t let friends abuse glycerin. Too many formulators are co-dependent with it (“glyceroholics” maybe?) and there needs to be an intervention. LOSE THE GLYCERIN, all it does is reduce viscosity and foam (you do want some right?) then rinses away into the sewer because glycerin would much prefer to be an effluent than a hydrator, moisturizer, humectant, whatever. Heat 70% deionized water up to 75C, then add the CAPB and use MORE of that because it is a hydrotrope: makes things like SCG and all those fatty acids get along well with water. Then under very slow mixing add the SCG and mix until dissolved. Now add your copious builders, then the cationic polymer leaving pH at 7.0 or higher lest those fatty acids ppt out. A touch of Kathon CG & Versene 100 there and you’re set. Also, @Abdullah has a point: reduce the SCG and increase the CAPB and you’ll feel better afterwards. I’d like to know the identity of this supplier so I can call ’em up and give ’em a what fer’.
     

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