Preservatives(food)
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Active Pharmaceutical Ingredients (APIs)
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microbiology-and-cell-culture-reagents
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Demulsifiers
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Amphoteric Surfactants
Amphoteric surfactants are unique surface-active agents that can act as either anionic or cationic surfactants depending on the pH of the solution. These molecules contain both acidic (carboxyl or sulfonic) and basic (amine or quaternary ammonium) functional groups, giving them high versatility, mildness, and compatibility with other surfactants. Amphoteric surfactants are widely used in personal care, household cleaning, industrial applications, pharmaceuticals, and specialty formulations where low irritation and effective cleansing are critical. Common examples include Cocamidopropyl Betaine and Lauryl Betaine.
Amphoteric Surfactants
Primary Uses
- Personal Care & Cosmetics
- Shampoos & Conditioners: Provide mild cleansing, excellent foam, and compatibility with skin and hair.
- Facial Cleansers & Body Washes: Offer gentle cleansing without stripping natural oils.
- Baby Products: Preferred in baby shampoos and body washes due to low irritation potential.
- Shaving Creams & Lotions: Aid in foam stabilization and improve skin feel.
- Household Cleaning Products
- Dishwashing Liquids: Enhance foaming and grease-cutting while being gentle on hands.
- All-Purpose Cleaners: Used for their ability to remove dirt while being non-corrosive and mild.
- Laundry Detergents: Improve wetting and soil removal, especially in sensitive skin formulas.
- Industrial & Institutional Cleaning
- Hard Surface Cleaners: Effective in low to moderate pH environments, compatible with disinfectants.
- Car Wash Soaps: Provide thick foam and reduce surface tension without damaging paint or wax coatings.
- Metal Cleaners: Aid in removing oil and particulates without causing corrosion.
- Textile & Leather Processing
- Used as wetting agents, dye leveling agents, and softeners in textile finishing.
- Employed in leather degreasing and treatment processes.
- Pharmaceutical Formulations
- Used in topical creams, emulsions, and transdermal delivery systems for stability and emulsification.
- Present in ophthalmic solutions and skin cleansers.
Secondary Uses
- Oil & Gas Industry
- Utilized as emulsifiers and foam stabilizers in enhanced oil recovery and drilling fluids.
- Help reduce interfacial tension in oil-water systems.
- Agricultural Chemicals
- Added to pesticide and herbicide formulations to improve spreadability, wetting, and leaf coverage.
- Help reduce phytotoxicity in foliar sprays.
- Electroplating & Metal Finishing
- Aid in degreasing and preparing metal surfaces without harsh corrosion.
- Paints & Coatings
- Used as dispersing agents to maintain pigment stability and improve flow properties.
- Help reduce surface tension in waterborne coatings.
- Firefighting Foams
- Improve the foam formation and spreadability in Class A and B firefighting foams.
- Printing Inks
- Used to control ink flow and reduce surface defects.
1. Basic Identification Attributes
- Chemical Family: Surfactants containing both anionic and cationic groups
- Common Types: Cocamidopropyl Betaine, Lauryl Betaine, Amphoacetates, Amphopropionates
- CAS Number: Varies by specific compound (e.g., Cocamidopropyl Betaine: 61789-40-0)
- HS Code: Typically 3402.90.10 (surface-active agents)
- Synonyms: Zwitterionic surfactants, dual-charge surfactants
2. Physical & Chemical Properties
- Physical State: Clear to pale yellow viscous liquid (depends on specific surfactant)
- Odor: Mild or characteristic fatty odor
- pH: Amphoteric behavior – cationic in acidic, anionic in alkaline conditions
- Solubility: Fully soluble in water
- Surface Tension: Typically reduces surface tension to 25–35 mN/m
- Foam Properties: High foaming; stable and fine-textured foam
- Biodegradability: Generally readily biodegradable
- Stability: Stable in wide pH range (3–10), compatible with electrolytes and other surfactants
3. Safety & Hazard Attributes
- GHS Classification: Generally not hazardous; varies by specific chemical
- NFPA Ratings (typical): Health 1, Flammability 1, Reactivity 0
- Toxicity: Low dermal and oral toxicity
- Sensitization: Very low irritation to eyes and skin, non-sensitizing in most cases
- Incompatibilities: Strong oxidizers and highly acidic or alkaline materials can degrade some amphoterics
4. Storage & Handling Attributes
- Storage Conditions: Store in cool, dry, and well-ventilated area away from sunlight
- Shelf Life: 12–24 months depending on specific compound and storage conditions
- Packaging: HDPE drums, IBCs, or sealed containers
- Handling Precautions: Use gloves and goggles when handling concentrated materials
5. Regulatory & Compliance Attributes
- FDA (USA): Some amphoterics are approved for indirect food contact
- EU (REACH): Registered substances depending on compound
- Cosmetic Regulations: Approved for use in cosmetics (e.g., INCI-listed in EU and US)
- Environmental Regulations: Must comply with discharge and biodegradability standards
6. Environmental & Health Impact
- Ecotoxicity: Low aquatic toxicity; however, always assess specific compound data
- Biodegradability: Readily biodegradable under aerobic conditions
- Bioaccumulation: Low potential for bioaccumulation
- Carcinogenicity/Mutagenicity: Not classified as carcinogenic or mutagenic
- Human Exposure: Safe for routine use in cosmetics and cleaning products
Safety Handling Precautions
- PPE: Wear chemical-resistant gloves, safety glasses, and protective clothing.
- Ventilation: Use in well-ventilated area to avoid aerosol formation.
- Hygiene Measures: Wash hands thoroughly after handling. Do not ingest or contact eyes.
- Storage: Keep in original containers, sealed, and away from moisture and direct sunlight.
First Aid Measures
- Inhalation: Remove to fresh air. Seek medical attention if symptoms persist.
- Skin Contact: Wash with soap and water. Seek medical advice if irritation occurs.
- Eye Contact: Rinse cautiously with water for several minutes. Remove contact lenses if applicable.
- Ingestion: Rinse mouth with water. Do NOT induce vomiting unless instructed by a physician.
Firefighting Measures
- Fire Hazard: Non-flammable. May emit fumes under thermal decomposition.
- Suitable Extinguishing Media: Water spray, foam, dry chemical, or CO₂.
- Protective Equipment: Firefighters should wear self-contained breathing apparatus (SCBA) for large fires.
- Decomposition Products: May release nitrogen oxides, carbon monoxide, carbon dioxide.
Related products
Centrimonium Chloride Solution
Centrimonium Chloride Solution (also known as Cetyltrimethylammonium Chloride), with the chemical formula C₁₉H₄₂ClN, is a quaternary ammonium compound presented here as a 30% aqueous solution. It is a cationic surfactant widely used as an antistatic agent, conditioner, and emulsifier in personal care and industrial applications. This 25kg packaged solution is highly soluble and stable, providing excellent conditioning and antimicrobial properties in hair care formulations, fabric softeners, and disinfectants.
Cetomacrogel 1000BP
Cetomacrogel 1000BP is a high molecular weight polyethylene glycol (PEG) derivative, typically used as a thickening agent, emulsifier, and stabilizer in pharmaceutical and cosmetic formulations. It appears as a white to off-white, waxy solid or flakes with a neutral odor. Known for its excellent water solubility and compatibility with various ingredients, Cetomacrogel 1000BP enhances texture, viscosity, and stability in creams, ointments, and gels. It serves as a hydrophilic vehicle base in topical and oral pharmaceutical preparations and improves product spreadability and skin feel.
Galaxy CAPB
Galaxy CAPB is a high-performance amphoteric surfactant based on Cocamidopropyl Betaine, produced from coconut fatty acids. It appears as a translucent to pale yellow liquid with mild viscosity and a mild coconut-like odor. As a zwitterionic surfactant, it provides exceptional foaming, mildness, and synergistic compatibility with other surfactants, making it ideal for personal care, household, and industrial formulations.
Galsilk 700( polyquartenum 7)
Galsilk 700( polyquartenum 7) is a water-soluble cationic polymer known chemically as Polyquaternium-7. It is widely used as a conditioning agent in personal care and cosmetic formulations, prized for its excellent substantivity to hair and skin, providing softness, smoothness, and antistatic effects. This polymer is typically supplied as a clear to slightly hazy viscous liquid or gel. It is compatible with a broad range of surfactants and ingredients, enhancing the sensory profile of shampoos, conditioners, styling products, and skincare formulations. Galsilk 700 is also valued for its film-forming properties and ability to improve product stability.
Oleic Acid
Oleic Acid is a naturally occurring monounsaturated fatty acid commonly derived from vegetable oils such as olive, sunflower, and canola oils. This oily liquid is widely used in the chemical, pharmaceutical, cosmetic, and food industries due to its excellent emollient, surfactant, and stabilizing properties. Oleic Acid 75% is a key raw material in manufacturing soaps, detergents, lubricants, and personal care products. Its amphiphilic nature makes it an effective emulsifier and penetration enhancer.
Polysorbates
Polysorbates are a class of nonionic surfactants derived from sorbitol and fatty acids, commonly used as emulsifiers, solubilizers, and dispersing agents in a wide range of industries. They improve the mixing of oil and water phases, stabilize emulsions, and enhance the texture and consistency of formulations. Polysorbates are widely used in pharmaceuticals, cosmetics, food products, and industrial applications due to their biocompatibility, low toxicity, and effectiveness at low concentrations.
Triethanolamine (TEA)
Triethanolamine (TEA) is a viscous, colorless to pale yellow liquid with a mild ammonia-like odor. It is a multifunctional organic compound widely used in cosmetics, pharmaceuticals, and industrial applications as a pH adjuster, emulsifier, surfactant, and corrosion inhibitor. Triethanolamine neutralizes fatty acids to form soaps and helps stabilize emulsions, making it essential in personal care formulations and various chemical manufacturing processes. Its versatility and compatibility with other ingredients make it a valuable additive in numerous industries.
Turkey Red Oil (Sulphated Castor Oil)
Turkey Red Oil (Sulphated Castor Oil), also known as Sulphated Castor Oil, is a water-soluble derivative of castor oil produced by the sulfonation of castor oil. It appears as a viscous, amber to dark brown liquid with excellent emulsifying, detergent, and wetting properties. Turkey Red Oil is widely used as a natural surfactant and emulsifier in various industrial and personal care applications. It is known for its biodegradability, mildness, and ability to stabilize oil-in-water emulsions. Traditionally used in textile processing as a softener and lubricant, it now finds broad usage in cosmetics, detergents, leather processing, and cleaning products due to its unique functional attributes.
