Sodium Lauroyl Glycinate is a surfactant and skin-conditioning agent derived from glycine, an amino acid, and lauric acid, a fatty acid commonly found in coconut oil. It is valued for its gentle cleansing properties and is often used in personal care products, including shampoos, facial cleansers, and body washes. Sodium Lauroyl Glycinate helps to create a rich lather while maintaining skin hydration.

Chemical Composition and Structure

The chemical composition of Sodium Lauroyl Glycinate includes:

• Lauric Acid: A saturated fatty acid with the formula C₁₂H₂₄O₂, derived from coconut oil or palm kernel oil.
• Glycine: The simplest amino acid with the formula C₂H₅NO₂.
• Sodium Salt: The sodium salt form, which enhances its solubility in water and its effectiveness as a surfactant.

Structurally, Sodium Lauroyl Glycinate features a hydrophilic head (glycinate) and a hydrophobic tail (lauric acid), allowing it to function effectively as a surfactant and emulsifier in formulations.

Physical Properties

• Appearance: Typically a clear to slightly hazy liquid or viscous solution.

• Solubility: Highly soluble in water; forms stable emulsions and foams.

• pH: Usually neutral to slightly acidic, depending on the formulation.

• Odor: Mild or odorless.

• Stability: Stable under normal storage conditions, but sensitive to extreme pH levels.

Production Process

• Synthesis: Sodium Lauroyl Glycinate is synthesized through the reaction of lauric acid with glycine and sodium hydroxide, resulting in the formation of the sodium salt.

• Purification: The resulting product is purified to remove any unreacted materials and impurities.

• Formulation: The purified Sodium Lauroyl Glycinate is incorporated into various cosmetic and personal care products.

It appears in the form of a white powder.

Applications

• Medical: Occasionally used in pharmaceutical formulations for its mild cleansing and conditioning properties.

• Cosmetics: Commonly found in shampoos, body washes, facial cleansers, and lotions for its surfactant and moisturizing benefits.

INCI Functions:

Cleansing agent. Ingredient that cleanses skin without exploiting the surface-active properties that produce a lowering of the surface tension of the stratum corneum. 

Surfactant - Cleansing agent. Cosmetic products used to cleanse the skin utilise the surface-active action that produces a lowering of the surface tension of the stratum corneum, facilitating the removal of dirt and impurities. 

• Food: Not typically used in food products; primarily utilized in personal care applications.

• Industrial Uses: Employed in industrial formulations as a mild surfactant.

Environmental and Safety Considerations

Sodium Lauroyl Glycinate is generally regarded as safe for use in cosmetics when applied according to recommended guidelines. It is well-tolerated by most skin types, making it suitable for sensitive skin formulations. Responsible sourcing and formulation practices are essential to ensure that the ingredient is free from harmful contaminants and produced sustainably.

Molecular Formula    C₁₄H₂₆NNaO₃

Molecular Weight      279.35

CAS  18777-32-7

UNII    L54QIO80PN

EC Number   291-350-5

DSSTox ID  DTXSID90172088    DTXSID101018255

IUPAC  sodium;2-(dodecanoylamino)acetate

InChl=1S/C14H27NO3.Na/c1-2-3-4-5-6-7-8-9-10-11-13(16)15-12-14(17)18;/h2-12H2,1H3,(H,15,16)(H,17,18);/q;+1/p-1

InChl Key      IKGKWKGYFJBGQJ-UHFFFAOYSA-M

SMILES  CCCCCCCCCCCC(=O)NCC(=O)[O-].[Na+]

RXCUI      1424460    2475180   

Synonyms

• sodium,2-(dodecanoylamino)acetate
• Sodium dodecanoylglycinate

References__________________________________________________________________________

Fan J, Zhang J, Yang X, Bai L, Zhou Y, Wu Z, Qin Z. Study on the Properties of the Sodium Lauroyl Glycinate and Sodium Lauroyl Lactylate Composite System. Langmuir. 2022 Dec 27;38(51):16112-16121. doi: 10.1021/acs.langmuir.2c02769. Epub 2022 Dec 13. PMID: 36512764.

Abstract. The scientific community has shown a great deal of interest in sodium lauroyl glycine (SLG) and sodium lauroyl lactylate (SLL), two sustainable and eco-friendly substances that are considered as potential bio-friendly alternatives for petrochemical-based amphiphiles. In the present work, the formation of mixed micelle for SLG and SLL surfactant in water was investigated. Meanwhile, the surface interaction and thermodynamic parameters were calculated according to the surface tension curves. The results indicated that at certain ratios, SLG/SLL surfactant mixtures had synergistic effects that could yield higher surface activity and improve application performance. When the mole fraction of SLL (αSLL) was 0.4, γcmc achieved a minimum of 22.6 mN m-1 and displayed the best foaming properties. The mixed solution exhibited the best wetting ability when αSLL was 0.6. While αSLL was 0.8, the mixed solution showed the optimum dynamic adsorption properties. And it was found that the antibacterial property of SLG and SLL could be partially preserved after compounding. These results demonstrated for the first time that the mixed environmentally friendly surfactant SLG and SLL has a promising prospect for use in the personal care, detergent, and cosmetic industries.

Bajani D, Gharai D, Dey J. A comparison of the self-assembly behaviour of sodium N-lauroyl sarcosinate and sodium N-lauroyl glycinate surfactants in aqueous and aqueo-organic media. J Colloid Interface Sci. 2018 Nov 1;529:314-324. doi: 10.1016/j.jcis.2018.06.026.