Why Daily Chemical Formulations Need Alkaline Ingredients: From pH Adjustment and Saponification to Detergency Boosting and Selection Logic

1 Introduction

In skincare products, facial cleansers, soaps, laundry powders, kitchen cleaners, toothpaste, hair dyes, and depilatory products, alkaline ingredients such as sodium hydroxide, potassium hydroxide, sodium carbonate, sodium bicarbonate, triethanolamine, ammonia water, and calcium hydroxide are often found. Many people immediately associate these names with “strong alkalis,” “irritation,” or “corrosion.” Such a judgment is incomplete. In daily chemical products, alkalis are usually included to perform specific formulation functions: adjusting acidity and alkalinity, saponifying fatty acids, enhancing detergency, reducing the impact of hard water, forming gel structures, or changing the state of hair fibers.

To evaluate whether an alkali is reasonable in a daily chemical product, one should not look only at its name or the strength of its alkalinity. Instead, three questions should be considered:

① What does it change in the product?

② Why does this change contribute to the product’s function?

③ Why is it suitable for this product rather than another product?

In daily chemical formulations, alkalis are essentially ingredients that change the state of the formulation. They can convert acidic substances into salts, transform oils into soaps, make oily soils easier to remove from surfaces, enable polymers to build viscosity, and put hair into a processable state. Only by understanding these mechanisms can one truly understand the uses of different alkalis in daily chemical products.

2 What Do Alkalis Mainly Change in Daily Chemical Formulations?

The role of alkalis in daily chemical formulations mainly depends on the following types of changes.

Type of Change	Specific Effect	Typical Products
pH adjustment	Brings the product to a suitable acidity or alkalinity	Skincare products, facial cleansers, shampoos, acid-based products
Neutralization and salt formation	Enables acidic polymers or fatty acids to form usable structures	Gels, emulsions, soap-based cleansers
Saponification	Converts fatty acids or oils into soap	Bar soaps, liquid soaps, soap-based cleansers
Enhanced detergency	Helps oily soils disperse, emulsify, detach, or partially hydrolyze	Kitchen cleaners, laundry powders, hard-surface cleaners
Reduced hard-water interference	Reduces the impact of calcium and magnesium ions on washing performance	Powder detergents, pre-soak products, dishwasher cleaners
Modification of hair condition	Swells hair fibers, facilitating hair dyeing, straightening, or depilation	Hair dyes, hair straighteners, depilatory products

3 pH Adjustment and Neutralization: Why Skincare Products, Gels, and Emulsions Need Alkalis

3.1 pH Is an Important Variable Affecting Stability, Efficacy, and Tolerance

pH is used to indicate the acidity or alkalinity of an aqueous solution. The pH of a daily chemical product affects many key properties:

① ingredient stability;

② effectiveness of the preservative system;

③ performance of surfactants;

④ thickening effect of polymers;

⑤ skin, eye, or scalp tolerance;

⑥ efficacy and irritation potential of acidic active ingredients;

⑦ action intensity of hair-treatment products.

Many formulations include alkalis in order to adjust the final product to an appropriate pH range. For example, acid-based skincare products need to balance efficacy and irritation. AHA refers to alpha-hydroxy acids, with common examples including glycolic acid and lactic acid. The performance of AHA products is related to both acid concentration and final pH. If the pH is too high, the activity of the acidic ingredient may be reduced; if the pH is too low, the risk of irritation may increase. Therefore, in this type of product, the alkali serves to control acidity rather than simply neutralizing the acid completely.

In facial cleansers, shampoos, and emulsions, sodium hydroxide, potassium hydroxide, triethanolamine, aminomethyl propanol (AMP), and similar ingredients are commonly used as pH adjusters. Their addition level is usually determined by the target pH. The amount used may be very low, but it can still affect system stability, skin feel, and tolerance.

3.2 Alkalis Can Neutralize Acidic Polymers and Build Viscosity in the System

In gels, gel creams, emulsions, and hair-styling products, alkalis are often used to neutralize acidic raw materials so that the system can develop viscosity and structure. A typical example is carbomer, a class of crosslinked polyacrylic acid polymers. Carbomer molecules contain acidic groups. When they are not sufficiently neutralized, the polymer chains remain relatively coiled and the system has low viscosity. After a suitable alkali is added, the acidic groups are neutralized and ionized. Due to electrostatic repulsion, the polymer chains extend, absorb water, swell, and increase the viscosity of the system, forming a gel structure. This process can be summarized as follows:

Stage	Change in the System	Product Performance
Carbomer dispersion	Polymer chains are not fully extended	Low viscosity
Alkali neutralization	Acidic groups are converted into salt-form structures	Polymer chains extend
Water absorption and swelling	A three-dimensional network forms	Viscosity increases and a gel forms

When sodium hydroxide, potassium hydroxide, triethanolamine (TEA), or aminomethyl propanol (AMP) appears in gels, gel creams, or some emulsions, it does not mean that the product relies on strong alkali for cleansing. Their common role is to neutralize acidic polymers or fatty acid systems, thereby affecting viscosity, transparency, emulsified structure, and product appearance.

3.3 The Presence of an Alkali in the Ingredient List Does Not Mean the Finished Product Is Strongly Alkaline

The presence of sodium hydroxide in an ingredient list does not mean that the product contains a large amount of free strong alkali. It may already have reacted with acidic ingredients through neutralization, or it may simply be used to fine-tune the final pH.

To determine whether this type of product is mild, one should not only check whether it contains a certain alkali. Instead, attention should be paid to: ① the final product pH; ② the purpose of adding the alkali; ③ control of free alkali; ④ whether the product is leave-on or rinse-off; ⑤ irritation and safety evaluation of the finished product, as well as compatibility with other ingredients.

4 Saponification: Why Sodium Hydroxide and Potassium Hydroxide Determine the Form of Soap

4.1 The Main Active Cleansing Components in Soap-Based Cleansers Are Fatty Acid Salts

In bar soaps, soap-based facial cleansers, liquid soaps, and some paste-like cleansing products, the typical role of alkalis is saponification. Oil saponification usually refers to the reaction between triglycerides in oils and alkalis such as NaOH or KOH, producing fatty acid salts and glycerol. If the raw material is a free fatty acid, it mainly undergoes a neutralization reaction with the alkali to form fatty acid salts, which are soaps. A soap molecule has two structural parts: one end is lipophilic and can interact with oily soils, while the other end is hydrophilic and can be carried away by water. Therefore, soap can reduce interfacial tension, helping oily soils disperse and rinse away with water.

Oil (triglyceride) + NaOH/KOH → sodium/potassium fatty acid salts + glycerol

Fatty acid + NaOH/KOH/TEA and other alkalis → fatty acid salts + water

In a mature saponification system, the main cleansing function is performed by the generated fatty acid salts, rather than by a large amount of free strong alkali acting directly on the skin.

4.2 NaOH Produces Sodium Soap, While KOH Produces Potassium Soap

Both sodium hydroxide and potassium hydroxide are strong alkalis and can be used for saponification, but the soaps they produce differ in product form.

Alkali	Soap Produced	Product Characteristics	Common Applications
Sodium hydroxide, NaOH	Sodium soap	Usually harder, with better moldability	Bar soaps, solid soaps, soap-based facial cleansers
Potassium hydroxide, KOH	Potassium soap	Usually softer and more soluble	Liquid soaps, soft soaps, paste soaps

This shows that fatty acid salts formed with sodium ions and potassium ions differ in solubility, hardness, and texture, ultimately affecting the product form. When making solid soaps or hard soap bases, NaOH is usually the focus. When making liquid soaps, soft soaps, or paste soaps, KOH is more commonly used.

4.3 The Key Factors in Soap-Based Products Are Free Alkali and Final pH

Soap-based products usually have strong cleansing power, and their finished product pH is often alkaline. However, to judge whether a soap-based product is suitable for skin use, important factors include: ① whether saponification is complete; ② whether free alkali is controlled; ③ whether the finished product pH is reasonable; ④ whether the fatty acid composition is appropriate; ⑤ whether mild surfactants are incorporated; ⑥ whether moisturizing or irritation-reducing ingredients are added; ⑦ whether the product is intended for the face, body, or hands. The mildness of a soap-based product depends on the overall formulation, final pH, free alkali control, and usage method.

5 Detergency, Builders, and Hard-Water Control: Why Detergents and Kitchen Cleaners Are Often Alkaline

5.1 Why an Alkaline Environment Helps Clean Oily Soils

In kitchen cleaners, heavy-duty degreasers, laundry powders, and hard-surface cleaners, alkalis are often used to improve cleaning efficiency. Their function is to change the state of soils and the interfacial state so that soils can be more easily removed by surfactants. The main effects of alkalis in cleaning oily soils include:

Action Pathway	Specific Mechanism	Cleaning Significance
Neutralizing acidic soils	Neutralizes oxidized oils, free fatty acids, and some acidic soils	Reduces soil adhesion
Changing the state of grease	Swells, softens, and disperses some greasy soils	Facilitates wiping and rinsing
Promoting partial hydrolysis or saponification	Under stronger alkaline conditions, longer contact time, or higher temperature, some oils may undergo hydrolysis or saponification	Forms substances that are easier to disperse
Working with surfactants	Improves emulsification, dispersion, and suspension of oily soils	Reduces soil redeposition

5.2 How Sodium Carbonate Reduces the Impact of Hard Water

The alkalis in detergents often also serve as builders. Builders are ingredients that help surfactants improve washing efficiency. They enhance overall detergency by softening water, buffering pH, dispersing soils, and reducing redeposition.

Sodium carbonate, also known as soda ash or washing soda, is commonly found in some powder detergents, pre-soak products, and hard-surface cleaners. It has two main functions:

① providing alkalinity to help remove oily and acidic soils;

② forming precipitates with calcium and magnesium ions in hard water, thereby reducing the impact of hard water on washing performance.

Sodium carbonate is not a strong chelating agent in the typical sense. Chelating agents bind metal ions by forming soluble complexes. Sodium carbonate mainly softens water by precipitating calcium and magnesium ions, making it a precipitation-type builder. Because sodium carbonate primarily works by precipitating calcium and magnesium ions, formulations usually need to combine it with dispersants, anti-redeposition systems, or other builders to control precipitate residue and surface deposition risks.

5.3 Why Sodium Silicate and Sodium Metasilicate Are Suitable for Powders and Heavy-Duty Cleaning

Sodium silicate and sodium metasilicate are commonly used in powder detergents, dishwasher cleaners, hard-surface cleaners, and commercial heavy-duty cleaners. Their main functions include: ① providing alkalinity; ② maintaining the pH of the cleaning system; ③ helping remove oily soils; ④ helping disperse soils; ⑤ providing corrosion inhibition in some systems; ⑥ improving powder particle condition and flowability.

Sodium metasilicate is usually more alkaline and is more suitable for heavy grease, commercial cleaning, dishwasher cleaning, and similar scenarios. Sodium metasilicate is not suitable as a routine pH adjuster for mild skincare products or ordinary personal care products.

5.4 Alkaline Cleaners Are Not Better Simply Because They Are More Alkaline

Increasing alkalinity is usually beneficial for removing oily soils, acidic soils, and some protein-based soils, but cleaning power is not determined by pH alone. The actual performance of a cleaning product also depends on the type and dosage of surfactants, builders, solvents, chelating agents or precipitation-type water softeners, temperature, contact time, wiping or flushing force, and the alkali resistance of the material being cleaned.

Excessive alkalinity may cause skin irritation, eye irritation, fabric damage, metal corrosion, or loss of gloss on coatings. Strongly alkaline kitchen cleaners are suitable for heavy grease, but they are not necessarily suitable for aluminum products, certain coated surfaces, wooden materials, or prolonged skin contact. The principle for selecting an alkali in a cleaner is not to pursue the highest alkalinity, but to balance detergency, material compatibility, and use safety.

6 Hair Treatment: Why Hair Dyes, Hair Straighteners, and Depilatory Products Need High pH

6.1 High pH Can Put Hair into a Processable State

Hair is mainly composed of keratin structures. For hair dyes, hair straighteners, perms, and depilatory products to work, they usually need to alter the hair surface layer or internal hair structure. High-pH conditions can swell hair fibers, help open the hair cuticle, and increase the opportunity for dye precursors, reducing agents, or depilatory active ingredients to enter or take effect. Therefore, ammonia water/ammonium hydroxide systems, sodium hydroxide, potassium hydroxide, calcium hydroxide, and similar ingredients may appear in certain hair-treatment products.

6.2 Both Efficacy and Irritation Risk Are Related to High pH

The alkaline conditions in hair-treatment products provide functionality, but they also bring irritation risks. High pH helps swell hair and process its structure, but it may also increase scalp irritation, hair dryness, cuticle damage, and eye-related risks. For high-pH products such as hair straighteners, depilatory products, and heavy-duty degreasers, one should not assume that the finished product is mild or safe simply because the related alkaline ingredients can be used in daily chemical or cosmetic research. Evaluation must also consider final pH, free alkali, contact time, rinsing method, application site, and protective instructions.

7 Functional Positioning and Selection Logic of Common Alkalis

7.1 Select Alkalis Based on Product Objectives, Not Simply on Alkalinity Strength

Different alkalis are suitable for different formulation objectives. When selecting an alkali, the first step is to determine what function the product needs to achieve, and then choose the appropriate alkaline ingredient.

Product Objective	Common Alkaline Ingredients	Reason for Selection	Key Control Points
Fine-tuning pH	Sodium hydroxide, potassium hydroxide, triethanolamine (TEA), aminomethyl propanol (AMP)	Rapidly adjusts acidity and alkalinity	Final pH, irritation, compatibility
Forming gels or adjusting viscosity	Triethanolamine (TEA), aminomethyl propanol (AMP), sodium hydroxide, potassium hydroxide	Neutralizes acidic polymers or fatty acid systems	Viscosity, transparency, electrolyte tolerance
Soapmaking by saponification	Sodium hydroxide, potassium hydroxide	Generates fatty acid salts	Free alkali, hardness, solubility, finished product pH
Detergent building	Sodium carbonate, sodium silicate, sodium metasilicate	Provides alkalinity and reduces the impact of hard water	Material compatibility, residue, powder stability
Heavy-duty grease cleaning	Sodium hydroxide, sodium metasilicate, sodium carbonate	Softens grease and helps dispersion and detachment	Corrosiveness, protective requirements, suitable surfaces
Oral care and deodorization	Sodium bicarbonate	Mild buffering, auxiliary cleaning, and deodorization	Abrasiveness, efficacy claims, oral tolerance
Hair dyeing, straightening, and depilation	Ammonia water/ammonium hydroxide system, calcium hydroxide, sodium hydroxide, potassium hydroxide	Raises pH and changes the state of hair	Contact time, irritation, usage instructions

7.2 Selection Priorities Differ by Product Type

Product Type	Common Question	How to Understand It
Skincare products	Why do skincare products contain sodium hydroxide?	In most cases, it is used to adjust pH or neutralize acidic raw materials. It does not mean the finished product is strongly alkaline.
Gel products	Why do gels contain TEA or AMP?	They are used to neutralize acidic polymers and build viscosity in the system.
Soap-based facial cleansers	Does a soap-based cleanser mean strong alkali is washing the skin directly?	The main cleansing active is the fatty acid salt generated by saponification. Free alkali and final pH should be considered.
Laundry powder	Why is sodium carbonate added?	It provides alkalinity and reduces the impact of hard water by precipitating calcium and magnesium ions.
Kitchen cleaners	Why are heavy-duty degreasers often alkaline?	Alkalis can change the state of greasy soils and help surfactants disperse and remove them.
Toothpaste and deodorizing products	Why is baking soda common?	Sodium bicarbonate can provide mild buffering, auxiliary cleaning, and deodorization.
Hair dyes	Why do hair dyes need high pH?	High pH helps hair swell and supports the function of the dye system.

8 Common Misconceptions

8.1 The Presence of Sodium Hydroxide in the Ingredient List Does Not Mean the Product Is Dangerous

Sodium hydroxide may simply be a pH adjuster, or it may already have participated in neutralization or saponification reactions. Whether the finished product is suitable for use depends on final pH, free alkali, usage method, overall formulation, and safety evaluation.

8.2 Stronger Alkalinity Does Not Mean Better Cleaning Performance

Strong alkalis help treat heavy grease, but cleaning power also depends on surfactants, builders, solvents, temperature, contact time, and mechanical action. Excessively strong alkalinity may cause irritation, corrosion, and material damage.

8.3 Soap-Based Products Should Not Be Judged Only by Whether Strong Alkali Was Used

The main cleansing active in soap-based products is the fatty acid salt generated by saponification. To judge the mildness of a soap-based product, one should consider finished product pH, free alkali, fatty acid composition, combined surfactant system, and intended application site.

8.4 Sodium Bicarbonate Is Mild, but It Is Not a Universal Ingredient

Sodium bicarbonate is suitable for mild buffering, deodorization, and auxiliary cleaning, but it is not suitable for performing strong degreasing, strongly alkaline cleaning, or complex system stabilization functions.

9. Classification and Application Table of Representative Chemicals Related to Alkaline Systems in Daily Chemical Formulations

Table 1. Inorganic Alkalis and High-pH Adjustment Products

Category	CAS No.	Aladdin Catalog No.	Name	Specification or Purity	Product Features and Applications
Volatile weak alkali / Hair-treatment alkali / pH adjuster	1336-21-6	A112077	Ammonia solution	Premium grade, 25–28%	Used for alkalinity adjustment in hair-treatment systems, pH studies in hair-dye systems, and experiments on the effects of volatile alkalis on hair swelling and formulation pH.
Inorganic strong alkali / Saponifying agent / pH adjuster	1310-73-2	S111498	Sodium hydroxide	Premium grade, ≥96%	Used for fatty acid saponification, neutralization of acidic systems, establishment of alkalinity in cleaners, pH adjustment, and acid-base titration experiments.
Inorganic strong alkali / Saponifying agent / pH adjuster	1310-58-3	P431767	Potassium hydroxide	Anhydrous, ≥99.95% metals basis	Used for preparing potassium soaps, studying liquid soap systems, neutralizing acidic components, adjusting alkalinity in cleaners, and controlling pH in high-purity systems.
Inorganic alkali / Hair-treatment alkali / pH adjuster	1305-62-0	C431719	Calcium hydroxide	Ph. Eur., suitable for analysis, ACS, premium grade	Used in high-pH systems related to depilation and hair straightening, calcium salt system experiments, alkaline buffering, and neutralization experiments.
Low-solubility inorganic alkali / Buffer	1309-42-8	M104280	Magnesium hydroxide	Ultra-pure grade, ≥99% (KT)	Used for weakly alkaline buffering, adsorption-related research, mild neutralization systems, and comparative experiments on the solubility of inorganic alkalis.

Table 2. Carbonates, Percarbonates, and Silicate Cleaning Builders

Category	CAS No.	Aladdin Catalog No.	Name	Specification or Purity	Product Features and Applications
Carbonate alkali / Detergent builder	497-19-8	S432764	Sodium carbonate	Anhydrous, premium grade, suitable for analysis	Used in powder detergents, hard-surface cleaning, alkalinity adjustment, calcium and magnesium ion precipitation, and detergent builder experiments.
Bicarbonate / Mild buffer	144-55-8	S432109	Sodium bicarbonate	Anhydrous, reagent grade, high-purity grade, ≥99.5%	Used for mild buffering, toothpaste and deodorizing system research, effervescent systems, weakly alkaline cleaning, and acid-base buffering experiments.
Carbonate alkali / Potassium-salt system builder	584-08-7	P485463	Potassium carbonate	Anhydrous, high-purity grade, reagent grade, ≥99%	Used in potassium-salt cleaning systems, alkalinity adjustment, ionic strength studies in aqueous formulations, and carbonate buffer experiments.
Bicarbonate / Mild buffer	298-14-6	P432558	Potassium bicarbonate	Suitable for analysis, ACS, premium grade	Used for mild pH adjustment, potassium-salt buffer systems, low-irritation cleaning systems, and acid-base equilibrium experiments.
Carbonate alkali / Hydrated carbonate	6132-02-1	S433104	Sodium carbonate decahydrate	Ph. Eur., suitable for analysis, ISO, premium grade	Used for studies on the alkalinity of hydrated carbonates, detergent builder formulations, cleaner buffering systems, and the influence of crystal water.
Carbonate alkali / Hydrated carbonate	5968-11-6	S433038	Sodium carbonate monohydrate	High-purity grade, reagent grade, ≥99.5%	Used in powder detergent systems, carbonate alkalinity control, comparison of hydrate forms, and cleaner formulation experiments.
Oxygen bleach builder / Carbonate peroxide	15630-89-4	S189038	Sodium percarbonate	≥13% active oxygen	Used for laundry stain removal, oxygen bleaching systems, powder cleaning formulations, active oxygen release, and alkaline bleaching experiments.
Silicate alkali / Detergent builder	1344-09-8	S302436	Powdered instant sodium silicate	For synthetic detergent builders	Used for synthetic detergent building, alkalinity buffering, hard-surface cleaning, powder formulations, and corrosion-inhibition-related experiments.
Silicate alkali / Heavy-duty cleaning builder	6834-92-0	S102095	Anhydrous sodium metasilicate	SiO₂, 44–47%	Used for heavy grease cleaning, dishwasher cleaning, strongly alkaline building, silicate buffering, and detergency experiments.
Silicate alkali / Hydrated metasilicate	13517-24-3	S108358	Sodium metasilicate nonahydrate	AR, ≥98%	Used for powder cleaning, alkaline buffering, grease cleaning, comparison of silicate hydrates, and detergent builder experiments.
Silicate alkali / Hydrated metasilicate	10213-79-3	S100563	Sodium metasilicate pentahydrate	≥95%	Used for heavy-duty cleaning, powder detergents, dishware cleaning, alkalinity control, and silicate builder systems.
Silicate alkali / Potassium-salt cleaning builder	1312-76-1	P305741	Powdered instant potassium silicate	—	Used in potassium-salt cleaning systems, alkaline buffering, hard-surface cleaning, silicate building, and aqueous formulation research.

Table 3. Organic Amines, Amino Alcohols, and Amino Acid-Based pH Adjusters

Category	CAS No.	Aladdin Catalog No.	Name	Specification or Purity	Product Features and Applications
Organic amine alkali / pH adjuster	111-42-2	D431475	Diethanolamine (DEA)	Suitable for analysis, premium grade	Used for amine neutralization systems, fatty acid salt research, cleaner pH adjustment, and comparative experiments on the alkalinity of organic amines.
Organic amine alkali / pH adjuster	102-71-6	T478536	Triethanolamine	Reagent grade, ≥98%	Used for carbomer neutralization, fatty acid system neutralization, pH adjustment in emulsions and gels, and amine buffer system experiments.
Organic amine alkali / pH adjuster	141-43-5	E103808	Ethanolamine	Rectified grade, ≥99.5%	Used for alkalinity adjustment in cleaners, preparation of fatty acid salts, hair-treatment-related systems, and organic amine reaction experiments.
Organic amine buffer / Biochemical buffer base	77-86-1	T110601	Tris(hydroxymethyl)aminomethane (Tris base)	Molecular biology grade, ≥99.9% (T)	Used for buffer systems, pH control experiments, studies of mildly alkaline environments, and evaluation of formulation acid-base stability.
Amino acid-based alkali / Mild pH adjuster	74-79-3	A137768	L-Arginine	Moligand™, ≥99% (HPLC)	Used for pH adjustment in acid-based products, amino acid neutralization systems, mild skincare formulations, and acid-base buffering experiments.
Amino acid-based alkali / Mild pH adjuster	56-87-1	L598932	L-Lysine	Moligand™, ≥98%, metals <500 ppm	Used for amino acid-based pH adjustment, mild neutralization systems, low-metal-content formulation research, and buffering experiments.
Amino alcohol alkali / pH adjuster	124-68-5	A755868	2-Amino-2-methyl-1-propanol	BioReagent, ≥95%	Used for gel neutralization, pH adjustment in hair-care systems, neutralization of acidic polymers, and amino alcohol alkalinity experiments.
Amino alcohol alkali / pH adjuster	78-96-6	A108441	DL-1-Amino-2-propanol	≥99% (GC)	Used for organic amine neutralization systems, cleaner pH adjustment, preparation of fatty acid salts, and structural comparison experiments of amino alcohols.
Amino diol alkali / pH adjuster	115-70-8	A151350	2-Amino-2-ethyl-1,3-propanediol	≥98%	Used for buffer systems, gel neutralization, pH adjustment, neutralization of acidic components, and amino diol performance studies.
Amino diol alkali / pH adjuster	115-69-5	A106026	2-Amino-2-methyl-1,3-propanediol (AMPD)	≥98%	Used for gel system neutralization, mild pH adjustment, acidic polymer systems, and buffering capacity experiments.
Polyhydroxy amine / Gel neutralizer	102-60-3	T121820	N,N,N′,N′-Tetrakis(2-hydroxypropyl)ethylenediamine	≥98%	Used for carbomer neutralization, gel formation, pH adjustment, chelation assistance, and transparent gel system experiments.
Organic amine alkali / pH adjuster	122-20-3	T105008	Triisopropanolamine (TIPA)	≥95%, mixture of isomers	Used for fatty acid neutralization, cleaner pH adjustment, emulsion system research, and structural comparison experiments of organic amines.

Note: When TEA, DEA, and other amine-based alkaline ingredients are used in research on cosmetic or personal care-related systems, attention should be paid to free amines, irritation, nitrosating systems, and the risk of N-nitroso compound formation. DEA and its salts are subject to strict regulatory restrictions in some markets. Before developing finished products, confirmation should be made based on target-market regulations and finished-product safety assessments.

Table 4. Buffering, Chelating, Hard-Water Control, and Inorganic Builder Synergy Products

Category	CAS No.	Aladdin Catalog No.	Name	Specification or Purity	Product Features and Applications
Green chelating agent / Hard-water control builder	51981-21-6	T303874	Tetrasodium N,N-bis(carboxymethyl)-L-glutamate	Active content ≥47%	Used for calcium and magnesium ion complexation, phosphate-free detergent builders, hard-water control in cleaners, and metal ion control experiments.
Weakly alkaline buffer / Chelation aid	68-04-2	T774745	Trisodium citrate	Anhydrous, USP	Used for mild buffering, metal ion complexation, detergent building, acid-base adjustment, and formulation stability experiments.
Chelating agent / Detergent builder	527-07-1	G432830	Sodium gluconate	Suitable for synthesis	Used for metal ion complexation, hard-water control in cleaners, alkaline system stabilization, descaling, and builder experiments.
Phosphate builder / Alkaline buffer	10101-89-0	T431234	Trisodium phosphate dodecahydrate (TSP)	Suitable for analysis, premium grade	Used for alkaline cleaning, hard-surface detergency, phosphate buffering, powder building, and heavy-duty cleaning experiments.
Borate buffer / Detergent builder	1303-96-4	S112464	Sodium tetraborate decahydrate	Chemical pure (CP), ≥99%	Used for buffer systems, weakly alkaline cleaning, powder detergent builders, borate formulations, and hydrate studies.
Phosphate builder / Hard-water control builder	7758-29-4	S433949	Sodium tripolyphosphate	Industrial grade, ≥85%	Used for detergent building, calcium and magnesium ion control, soil dispersion, powder detergents, and hard-water control experiments.
Chelating agent / Metal ion control agent	139-33-3	D684233	Disodium ethylenediaminetetraacetate	≥99%	Used for metal ion complexation, evaluation of formulation stability, hard-water control in cleaners, and analytical chelation experiments.
Phosphate builder / Dispersant	7722-88-5	S108847	Sodium pyrophosphate	AR, ≥99%	Used for calcium and magnesium ion control, detergent building, soil dispersion, toothpaste-related systems, and phosphate experiments.
Phosphate dispersant / Hard-water control builder	10124-56-8	S108858	Sodium hexametaphosphate (SHMP)	AR	Used for metal ion complexation, soil dispersion, hard-water control, detergent building, and water-treatment-related experiments.
Borate buffer / Detergent builder	12179-04-3	S741876	Borax pentahydrate	48.6% to 49.3% as B₂O₃	Used for borate buffering, powder cleaning, detergent building, comparison of hydrated borates, and alkaline system experiments.
Phosphate builder / Alkaline cleaner	7601-54-9	S113693	Anhydrous trisodium phosphate	≥96%	Used for strongly alkaline cleaning, hard-surface detergency, phosphate building, pH buffering, and comparison experiments with anhydrous salts.
Green chelating agent / Hard-water control builder	164462-16-2	T161558	Trisodium N-(1-carboxyethyl)iminodiacetate	≥95% (T)	Used for calcium and magnesium ion complexation, phosphate-free cleaning systems, descaling, hard-water control, and metal ion control experiments.
Weakly alkaline buffer / Chelation aid	6132-04-3	T433112	Trisodium citrate dihydrate	Ph. Eur., suitable for analysis, ACS, premium grade	Used for mild buffering, chelation assistance, stabilization of detergent systems, acid-base adjustment, and comparison of hydrated salts.

Note: The above are representative Aladdin products related to research and formulation studies. They are mainly intended for experimental research, mechanism verification, formulation screening, or analytical testing. Whether they can be used in finished daily chemical products, cosmetics, oral care products, or other products involving human contact should be separately confirmed based on target-market regulations, quality standards, impurity limits, applicability statements, COA/SDS information, and finished-product safety assessments. Ingredients such as phosphates and borates also require special attention to use restrictions in the target market. For more product specifications, grades, and COA information, search by “product name/CAS/catalog number” on the Aladdin website.

References

[1] Cosmetic Ingredient Review Expert Panel. Safety Assessment of Inorganic Hydroxides as Used in Cosmetics. International Journal of Toxicology, 2021.

[2] Cosmetic Ingredient Review Expert Panel. Safety Assessment of Triethanolamine and Triethanolamine-Containing Ingredients as Used in Cosmetics. International Journal of Toxicology, 2013.

[3] Cosmetic Ingredient Review Expert Panel. Safety Assessment of Ammonia and Ammonium Hydroxide as Used in Cosmetics. Cosmetic Ingredient Review, Final Report, release date February 15, 2018; panel date December 4–5, 2017.

[4] Cosmetic Ingredient Review Expert Panel. Safety Assessment of Alpha Hydroxy Acids as Used in Cosmetics. Cosmetic Ingredient Review, 2013.

[5] American Cleaning Institute. Glossary of Cleaning Product Terminology.

[6] Lubrizol Advanced Materials. Neutralizing Carbopol and Pemulen Polymers in Aqueous and Hydroalcoholic Systems.

[7] Essential Industries. The Chemistry of Cleaning: Builders.

[8] Journal of the American Dental Association. Baking Soda Dentifrices and Oral Health: Review of Clinical Evidence.

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n-Dodecyl-β-D-maltoside (DDM): Structure, Properties, and Applications as a Non-ionic Surfactant

Sodium Lauroyl Sarcosinate: Structure–Property–Application of an Amino-Acid–Based Anionic Surfactant

CTAB Demystified: Structure, Properties, and Practical Uses of a Classic Cationic Surfactant

Poloxamers Explained: A Comprehensive Guide to Non-Ionic Block Copolymer Surfactants

Non-Ionic Surfactants in Focus: Alcohol Ethoxylates, Polyethylene Glycol Trimethylnonyl Ether, and Triton™ X-100

Tween 20 and Tween 80 as Non-Ionic Surfactants: Structure, Properties, and Applications

A Panoramic Guide to Surfactants: Definitions & Mechanisms, Key Metrics, Application Scenarios, and Selection Navigation (Tables 1–3)

Saponins as Natural Non-ionic Surfactants: Structure, Function, and Applications

Non-ionic Detergents Explained: From Chemical Structure to Laboratory Use