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granules formation when adjusting pH of emulsion with NaOH
Hi everybody,
So I managed to formulate a leave-in conditioner that I like. Container is a pump.
The problem I am having is granule formation when using NaOH to raise the pH to 6. There is a comment related with this issue suggestion but it doesn’t explain what might be the cause.
I was thinking that maybe NaOH reacts with EDTA? or NaOH solution goes bad after 4 days and it´s better to do it the solution same day of production?
What I have been doing to “fix” this, it´s to use a stick blender to get the emulsion texture right. When I do this the emulsion gets thicker and the consistency is not as pump-able as it was.
Formula contains water, raw honey, 0,1% EDTA, oils, butters, btms-25, 0,5% fragrance, tocopherol and 0,5% Germall Plus.
I raise the pH to 6 because my scalp is sensitive and I am having a hard time with this as well. A whole new topic I know. I am trying to fix this issue with allantoin which can cause granules but I make sure I add it under 55ºC, and I know it´s not that because the granule formation was already happening without. The more NaOH I add the more granules I get.
Hope somebody can help me out with suggestions. Thanks!!
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13 Replies
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There should be a button on all posts that we can press to request the formula as we cannot do anything without complete information.
Please provide formula + method. 🙏
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Leave-in conditioner
water phase: 73,6%
destilled water
aloe vera
raw honey
0,1 % edta
oil phase: 25%
mango butter
sweet almond oil
2% cetyl alcohol
5% btms-25
cool down:
0,5% Germall Plus
0,1% vitamin E
0,5% fragrance
0,3% allantoin
pH adjustment:
10 % NaOH solution q.s to pH= 6
container is a pump.
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I still do not understand why people are putting anionic substances (EDTA) into cationic systems.
But I have seen it a lot. Those two will react together and form insoluble substances.
Without your full formula we won’t be able to help you much.
Do you have short hair? I don’t think pH 6 is really beneficial, as conditioners need lower pH (4-4.5) to have the strong cling moment (cationic conditioner + anionic hair). Also conditioner should be applied to the lengths and ends? Not roots?
Allantoin - I don’t think it will do anything in wash off formula.
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Thanks for replying 🙂
.product is a leave-in conditioner. I haven’t had any stability issues with EDTA. I want a pH around 6 , so I tried using sodium phytate as chelant and pH raiser but the emulsion broke straight away. Now with NaOH I have granules, so I will try triethanolamine to see how it goes.
It´s possible to pass PET just with 0,5% Germall plus without chelant??
My hair is afro 4c.
I have checked the pH of the leave-in products that I buy an the pH is around 6.
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What is the pH without naoh?
It should already be around 7
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ph is 4 without adjustment
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In the cosmetics compliance system I worked within the NaOH would be a red flag at the product registration/notification stage.
From a consumer perspective, it would not be attractive as an ingredient.
Suggest you look at altenatives.
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I have tried TEA today and still I have granules
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Can you make a sample without NaOH? Maybe it’s an issue with your manufacture method.
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Why are you adding the Allantoin at cool down? This may be your issue.
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I removed EDTA and that did the trick. The emulsion is stable either way using NaOH or EDTA. Granules appear when I use both. I think both react or the higher the pH the more EDTA messes around.
Now I wonder if Liquid Germall plus at .5% is enough or chelant is a must in my recipe.
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It might be the case that your emulsion is sensitive to low levels of electrolytes (when you react NaOH with EDTA, you form a salt).
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Hi, I have actually had honey precipitate out of soln forming sharp sugar crystals.
You should remove the honey entirely just one batch and see if you still have precipitate forming.
That will tell you if it is the honey or not.
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