Sodium cocoyl isethionate

Description

1. Product Overview
Sodium Cocoyl Isethionate (SCI) is a high-purity, anionic surfactant derived from coconut fatty acids and sodium isethionate, serving as the premier mild cleansing agent for premium personal care formulations. Its primary industrial use is as a primary or secondary surfactant in solid and semi-solid synthetic detergent (syndet) bars, facial cleansers, and high-end shampoos. The key value proposition is its exceptional ability to deliver rich, creamy lather with a near-neutral pH (5.5–7.0), eliminating the harsh skin-stripping effects associated with traditional soaps and sulfates. Strategically, SCI is now the benchmark ingredient for the global shift toward “soap-free,” dermatologically safe, and sustainably sourced cleansing systems, making it mission-critical for brands targeting sensitive skin, baby care, and premium beauty segments.

2. Key Specifications & Technical Characteristics

• Chemical composition: Sodium salt of fatty acid isethionate (C8–C18 primarily from coconut oil); typically >85% active matter

• Purity level: ≥85% SCI active content (industrial grade); residual fatty acid <5%, sodium isethionate <3%

• Physical characteristics:

  • Form: White to off-white free-flowing powder or noodle/pellet

  • Color (Gardner): <2.0

  • Bulk density: 0.40–0.60 g/cm³ (powder); 0.60–0.75 g/cm³ (noodles)

  • pH (1% solution): 5.5–7.0

  • Iodine value: <2.0 (excellent color stability)

• Packaging options: 20 kg multi-wall paper bags with PE liner; 500 kg FIBC (bulk bags); custom palletization with stretch wrap

• Shelf life: 24 months from manufacture when stored below 40°C in original sealed packaging, away from moisture and direct sunlight

3. Core Industrial Applications

• Primary industry: Personal care & cosmetics manufacturing (mass prestige, dermocosmetics, baby care)

• Specific operational use cases:

  • Syndet soap bars – SCI acts as the structural backbone (20–50% of formula), enabling melt-and-pour or extrusion processing without caustic soda

  • Powder-to-foam cleansers – Provides instant foam activation upon contact with water

  • Oily skin / acne cleansers – Removes sebum without disrupting the skin barrier

• Why it performs better than alternatives:

  • vs. soap (fatty acid salts): SCI has 40–50% lower eye/skin irritation (confirmed by HET-CAM and HRIPT tests)

  • vs. SLS/SLES: SCI delivers equivalent foam volume but with 70% lower protein denaturation and no sulfate residue

  • vs. glutamates: Superior bar hardness and lower water absorption, extending final product shelf life by 6–8 months

• Efficiency advantage: Low processing temperature (70–80°C vs. 100°C+ for soap) reduces energy costs by ~25% in bar extrusion lines

4. Competitive Advantages

• Quality consistency: Batch-to-batch variability of active matter <1.5% (ISO 9001:2025 certified); HPLC-verified fatty acid chain distribution (C12: 45–55% for optimal lather)

• Supply reliability: Dual-sourced coconut fatty acids (Philippines & Indonesia) with 6-month rolling forecast buffer; 98.5% on-time-in-full (OTIF) track record for global accounts

• Logistics capability: FCL and LCL shipping from 5 regional warehouses (NA, EU, SEA, MEA, LATAM) with 3-day emergency air freight options

• Price competitiveness: Volume-based tiering achieving 12–18% landed cost advantage vs. European SCI producers; net-60 terms available for qualified buyers

• Sustainability: RSPO Mass Balance certified palm-free grades available; 100% renewable electricity in final milling; bio-based carbon content >95% (ASTM D6866)

• Technical support: Full regulatory documentation (TSCA, REACH, IECIC, COSMOS-compliant MSDS/TDS), plus co-development lab access for prototype bar formulations

5. Commercial & Supply Information

• Minimum order quantity (MOQ): 1 metric ton (MT) for powder grade; 5 MT for noodle/pellet grade

• BULK 20MT loading capacity:

  • *20-foot standard container:* 18–20 MT net (palletized: 20 pallets × 900–1,000 kg)

  • *20-foot bulk liner:* 20 MT net (FIBC totes stacked)

• Lead time: 15 days for MOQ; 30 days for 20MT bulk (ex-works) – express 7-day production available at 8% premium