Potassium Stearate: Technical Data & Safety Compliance

📌 Product Overview

Potassium stearate (CAS No.: 593-29-3) is an anionic surfactant with the chemical formula C₁₈H₃₅KO₂ and a molecular weight of 322.57. 

It appears as a white powder with a slight fatty odour, is easily soluble in hot water or ethanol, and forms an alkaline solution in water. It is widely used in the food, cosmetics, and chemical industries, with primary functions including emulsification, stabilisation, foaming, and cleaning.

⚖️ Key Specifications  

Purity: ≥98% (biochemical grade) or ≥99% (food grade), tested by HPLC  

Acid value: 196–211 mg KOH/g (GB/T 5530 standard)  

Iodine value: ≤4.0 g I₂/100g (GB/T 5532 standard)

Loss on drying: ≤3.0% (105°C constant weight method)  

Heavy metals (Pb): ≤0.001% (ISO 17294-2)  

Arsenic (As): ≤0.0003% (GB 5009.11)  

Ethanol solubility: Complies with CP grade standards

🧪Main Application Areas

Food Industry

Function: Leavening agent, emulsifier, anti-caking agent

Application: Pastries, baked goods (China limit ≤0.18 g/kg)

Cosmetics

Function: Emulsifier and cleanser for creams/shampoos

Safe Concentration:

Residual products (e.g., face cream): ≤7.5%

Rinse-off products (e.g., shampoo): ≤45%

Industrial Applications

Textile softener, rubber saponifier, plastic release agent

Biochemical reagents (98% purity, for laboratory research use)

📦 Packaging and Storage

Packaging Specifications:  

Standard Packaging: 25 kg per bag (cardboard drum or aluminium foil bag)  

Small Packaging: 1 kg, 5 kg, 10 kg (for research and development use only)  

Storage Requirements:  

Store in a sealed, light-protected, cool, dry, and well-ventilated environment 🌡️  

Avoid high temperatures and humidity; store at room temperature (RT)  

Shelf Life: 

2 years when unopened

⚠️ Safety and Compliance

Chemical Regulations

China: Listed in the Catalogue of Cosmetic Ingredients in Use (2021).

EU:

Must comply with the limits for heavy metals (cadmium, nickel, lead) specified in Annex XVII of REACH.

Food Safety

Food-grade products must provide third-party test reports, including arsenic, lead, and microbial indicators.

Operational Safety

Avoid inhaling dust; wear protective gear during operation.

🏅 Certification and Support Services

Document Support: COA Quality Report, TDS Technical Data Sheet, MSDS Material Safety Data Sheet, CERTIFICATE OF ORIGIN

Technical Services:

PVC Production Formula Support