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  Need advice on dissolving Salicylic Acid

  Posted by h_w on November 25, 2020 at 4:39 am

  Hi, 
  I had an experiment using Salicylic Acid (SA). I tried to dissolve SA using different solvent but it doesnt seem to dissolve perfectly. 

  1. Water
  I heat the water up to 70C. The salicylic acid indeed dissolve but when it cools down, it crystallized again.

  2. Glycerin
  I add 4g Glycerin in 0.2g SA. After that i put it in the hot bath. It does dissolve but there are some paricals that’s still present. (I think it didnt dissolve completely ?)

  3. Alcohol 90%
  I add Alcohol into the SA. It seems to dissolve but afterwards, the SA started to stick on the side of beaker glass. So I dont think alcohol dissolve the SA.

  4. Mineral oil
  I add mineral oil into the SA. Put it in the hot bath. But it doesnt seems to dissolve. 

  So how to actually dissolve SA ? and if for example, I want to make lotion or perhaps acne spot cream, can a “partially” dissolved SA be used ? For example using the Glycerin SA mixture into the lotion ?  

  Thanks for the advice ! Very appreciated  

  Dennis replied 4 years ago 4 Members · 4 Replies

  • chemistry
  • formulating
  • formulation
  • salicylic acid
• 4 Replies

• 

  ozgirl

  Member

  November 26, 2020 at 9:54 pm

  There are many posts about this topic on this forum. Just try using the search function.

• 

  jemolian

  Member

  November 27, 2020 at 12:28 am

  There are quite a few posts on solubility of SA already, so depending on your preference, the solvent varies. 

  Normally for a 1% SA cream, i use Betaine. For 2%, i use Octyldodecanol with Betaine. 

• 

  h_w

  Member

  December 2, 2020 at 4:45 am

  Should have checked it before hand. Thank you !! ???? @ozgirl @jemolian

• 

  Dennis

  Member

  December 2, 2020 at 6:43 am

  Propylene glycol worked for me. I made a 5% solution dissolved in nothing but propylene glycol. 

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