| HS Code | 277785 |
| Product Name | Sodium Sarcosinate |
| Chemical Name | Sodium N-methylglycinate |
| Iupac Name | Sodium 2-(methylamino)acetate |
| Inci Name | Sodium Sarcosinate |
| Synonyms | N-Methylglycine sodium salt; Sodium N-methylglycinate |
| Cas Number | 4316-73-8 |
| Einecs Number | 224-338-5 |
| Chemical Formula | C3H6NNaO2 |
| Molecular Weight | 111.08 g/mol |
| Appearance | White to off-white crystalline powder or colorless to pale yellow liquid |
| Odor | Slight amine-like odor |
| Ph | 10.0-12.0 (1% aqueous solution) |
| Solubility | Soluble in water; slightly soluble in ethanol |
| Density | 1.20 g/cm3 (solid, approximate) |
| Melting Point | Decomposes above 300 °C |
| Storage Conditions | Store in a cool, dry, well-ventilated place with container tightly closed |
| Purity | ≥98% for solid; 30-40% for aqueous solution |
| Grade | Industrial grade, cosmetic grade, pharmaceutical grade |
As an accredited Sodium Sarcosinate factory, we enforce strict quality protocols—every batch undergoes rigorous testing to ensure consistent efficacy and safety standards.
| Packing | Sodium Sarcosinate is supplied in 25 kg polyethylene-lined fiber drums with sealed moisture-barrier inner liners for safe storage. |
| Container Loading (20′ FCL) | Sodium Sarcosinate loaded into a 20′ FCL container, palletized/drummed, labeled, documented, and secured for ocean freight in accordance with regulations. |
| Shipping | Sodium Sarcosinate is typically not regulated as hazardous for transport. Ship in tightly closed, properly labeled containers, protected from moisture, heat, and sunlight. Maintain ambient conditions, avoid incompatible oxidizers, use secondary containment, and comply with applicable local, national, and international shipping regulations. Keep the SDS available. |
| Storage | Store Sodium Sarcosinate in a cool, dry, well-ventilated area, away from sunlight and heat. Keep original containers tightly closed to prevent moisture absorption and contamination. Segregate from strong acids, oxidizers, and incompatible materials. Avoid dust generation, use appropriate PPE, and ensure proper labeling, secondary containment, spill containment, and compliance with local regulations and manufacturer instructions. |
| Shelf Life | Sodium Sarcosinate shelf life: 24 months when stored sealed in a cool, dry place away from moisture, heat, and oxidizers. |
Production of N-acyl sarcosinate surfactants for rinse-off personal care formulations begins with Schotten-Baumann condensation between aqueous sodium sarcosinate and saturated fatty acid chloride. The batch charge is maintained at a sodium sarcosinate-to-fatty acid chloride molar ratio of 1.05–1.15:1.00, with the sarcosinate supplied as a 30–40 wt% aqueous solution and the fatty acid chloride stream limited to C12, C14, and C18 cuts. Automatic sodium hydroxide metering holds the reaction pH at 10.0–12.0; excursions above 12.5 accelerate fatty acid soap formation, while pH below 9.5 lowers acylation rate and leaves unconverted sarcosine in the clear liquid. The reactor is a glass-lined jacketed vessel with a PTFE-diaphragm dosing pump and a turbine impeller running at 150–300 rpm, and the jacket is held at 18–35°C to strip the exotherm from amide bond formation and hydrochloric acid neutralization.
Finished acyl sarcosinate surfactant is transferred to a post-reaction acidification and filtration step, then analyzed for anionic-active matter by two-phase titration according to ISO 2271. The resulting sodium cocoyl sarcosinate, sodium lauroyl sarcosinate, and sodium myristoyl sarcosinate are used at 2–10 wt% in sulfate-free shampoo bases, liquid body washes, and facial cleansers. Compliance for personal care exports rests on EC 1223/2009, REACH EC 1907/2006, and ready biodegradability data generated under OECD 301B in the 28-day window. The primary production failure mode is localized soap formation from fast acyl chloride dosing; in-line near-infrared monitoring of residual fatty acid chloride is used to terminate dosing before insoluble soap content exceeds 0.5 wt% of the batch.
Industrial creatine monohydrate synthesis uses sodium sarcosinate as the N-methylglycinate precursor in cyanamide addition. The aqueous reaction is carried out at 65–85°C and pH 8.8–10.2 in a glass-lined or 316L stainless steel reactor equipped with pH-stat control for 50 wt% sodium hydroxide addition. Sodium sarcosinate and cyanamide are combined at a molar ratio of 1.00:1.00–1.00:1.15; excess cyanamide is held below the ratio limit because residual cyanamide must be removed to the USP monograph limit before drying. The reaction mass is held under agitation at 180–260 rpm until conversion is confirmed by high-performance liquid chromatography against the production specification, then cooled at 5–10°C/h to crystallize creatine monohydrate and avoid fine crystals that blind vacuum filter cloth.
The wet cake is washed with deionized water and dried in a fluid-bed dryer at 60–70°C until loss on drying conforms to the creatine monohydrate monograph in the USP-NF. Finished product types include crystalline creatine monohydrate, micronized creatine, and granulated creatine for sports nutrition blends, tablets, and effervescent powders. Regulatory compliance for European food supplements is documented under Directive 2002/46/EC; manufacturing hygiene follows FSSC 22000 for the crystallization and packaging halls. The principal production bottleneck is mother liquor recycling: after three recycle passes, residual sodium chloride and unreacted sarcosine elevate ionic strength and broaden the crystal size distribution, requiring a bleed stream equivalent to 10–20% of the mother liquor volume to be purged.
In alkaline bottle-washing concentrates and clean-in-place formulations, sodium sarcosinate functions as an alkaline-stable amino-acid chelating agent and low-foaming hydrotrope. It is charged at 0.5–3.0 wt% of the concentrate before the addition of 30–45 wt% potassium hydroxide; this order of addition prevents localized precipitation of potassium sarcosinate on 316L stainless steel vessel walls. Final product pH is adjusted to 12.5–13.5, and the blend is circulated through a 50 µm basket strainer before drumming. Dilution water is softened to conductivity below 50 µS/cm to avoid calcium sarcosinate haze. Because sodium sarcosinate has a lower molar chelation capacity than EDTA for calcium and magnesium, full replacement of conventional aminopolycarboxylates requires verification by calcium chloride titration and hot-alkali soil removal testing.
Hard-surface cleaning performance is evaluated under ASTM D4488-14, and the detergent concentrate is labeled according to EC 648/2004; ready biodegradability of the sarcosinate component follows OECD 301E. Published comparative cleaning performance data for sarcosinate-containing concentrates is limited, so extended-run aluminum compatibility is confirmed by immersion coupon testing under ASTM G31-12a at 50°C for 72 h before release. Finished product types include CIP alkaline concentrates, bottle-washing compounds for returnable glass, and low-NaOH hard-surface degreasers.
In semi-synthetic and synthetic metalworking fluid concentrates, sodium sarcosinate is added at 0.5–2.0 wt% as a ferrous corrosion inhibitor and pH buffering component. The feed is introduced after oil-phase emulsification because addition before emulsification competes with tall-oil fatty acid and petroleum sulfonate emulsifiers and reduces emulsion stability. The concentrate pH is adjusted to 9.0–9.5 with triethanolamine, and the batch is mixed with a counter-rotating disperser at 400–800 rpm for 30 min to reach a single-phase translucent liquid.
Corrosion performance is verified on cast iron chips according to ASTM D4627-22; for oil-containing systems with an oil phase above 15 wt%, ASTM D665 rust-prevention testing on steel rods is run before the batch is released for dilution at 3–8% in plant water. Sodium sarcosinate alone is not sufficient for aluminium alloys; a phosphate ester or silicate synergist is required. Finished product types include semi-synthetic aluminium machining coolants, cast iron grinding fluids, and multi-metal central-system coolants. Over-dosing above 2.0 wt% raises coolant conductivity; therefore the upper addition limit is a hard quality release parameter, and plant-specific tool material compatibility is confirmed before central-system conversion.
Sodium sarcosinate is included in cyanide-free gold plating electrolytes as an auxiliary complexing agent for Au(I), lowering the disproportionation tendency of gold sulfite complexes at operating pH 6.5–8.0. Publicly available bath formulations for this specific configuration are limited; where used, sodium sarcosinate is added at 5–30 g/L during make-up, after sodium sulfite and thiosulfate have dissolved in deionized water at 40–50°C. The bath is filtered continuously through a 5 µm polypropylene cartridge and operated at 55–65°C in a stainless steel or polypropylene plating tank with platinum-coated titanium anodes.
Plated parts are evaluated according to ISO 4526:2004 for decorative gold coatings and ASTM B488-18 where engineering gold deposits must meet thickness, adhesion, and porosity requirements. Finished product types include gold-plated brass hardware, watch components, decorative fittings, and connector contacts. The main process boundary is colloidal gold precipitation on tank walls when pH exceeds 8.0 or free sulfite falls below 10 g/L; maintenance involves polarographic sulfite analysis and chilled storage of the prepared bath.
Competitive Sodium Sarcosinate prices that fit your budget—flexible terms and customized quotes for every order.
For samples, pricing, or more information, please contact us at +8615380400285 or mail to sales2@ascent-chem.com.
We will respond to you as soon as possible.
Tel: +8615380400285
Email: sales2@ascent-chem.com
Flexible payment, competitive price, premium service - Inquire now!
Sodium sarcosinate (sodium N-methylglycinate, CAS 4316-73-8, CH3NHCH2COONa, molar mass 111.08 g mol⁻¹) is the sodium salt of the amino acid derivative sarcosine. It is supplied as a white to off-white crystalline solid or as a clarified aqueous solution, depending on the supplier model. Commercial solid grades are differentiated by assay, chloride content, free sarcosine content, and water content; aqueous solution grades are generally specified by solids content, pH, and chloride. The molecule contains a secondary amine and a carboxylate group, so a 10 wt% aqueous solution is alkaline. Sodium sarcosinate should not be confused with sodium lauroyl sarcosinate or sodium cocoyl sarcosinate, which are acylated anionic surfactants carrying C12–C14 hydrophobic chains. The non-acylated salt has no long-chain hydrophobe and does not behave as a primary foaming surfactant.
| Parameter | Method / Standard | Representative value |
|---|---|---|
| Appearance | Visual | White to off-white crystalline powder |
| Assay, anhydrous basis | Potentiometric titration or HPLC | 98.0–101.0 wt% |
| Water content | Karl Fischer, ISO 760 / ASTM E203 | ≤0.5 wt% |
| pH, 10 wt% aqueous solution, 25 °C | Potentiometric pH | 11.0–12.5 |
| Chloride, as Cl | Ion chromatography | ≤0.1 wt% |
| Free sarcosine | HPLC-UV after derivatization | ≤0.5 area% |
| Heavy metals, as Pb | ICP-OES | ≤10 mg kg⁻¹ |
The values above are a representative specification profile for a high-assay solid grade compiled from technical data sheets. Aqueous solution grades are typically specified only for appearance, solids content at 30–45 wt%, pH, and chloride. Model numbers are not standardized across producers; grade selection is therefore based on physical form, residual chloride, and residual free sarcosine rather than on a single universal designation.
The structural difference between sodium sarcosinate and the acyl sarcosinates is the presence or absence of a fatty acyl chain. Sodium sarcosinate is the carboxylate salt of N-methylglycine, while sodium lauroyl sarcosinate is the amide formed by condensation of lauric acid with sarcosine. That amide-linked C12 chain confers surface activity. The free acid sarcosine is a zwitterionic solid with different solubility and pH behaviour; neutralization with sodium hydroxide produces the sodium salt and increases aqueous solubility. Sodium sarcosinate is also distinct from sodium glycinate because the N-methyl substituent reduces primary amine reactivity, which can suppress Schiff-base formation and discoloration in carbonyl-containing process streams.
| Property | Sodium sarcosinate | Sarcosine free acid | Sodium lauroyl sarcosinate | Sodium cocoyl sarcosinate |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| CAS | 4316-73-8 | 107-97-1 | 137-16-6 | 61791-59-1 mixture |
| Molar mass | 111.08 g mol⁻¹ | 89.09 g mol⁻¹ | 293.38 g mol⁻¹ | mixture |
| Hydrophobic chain | none | none | C12 acyl | C8–C18 acyl mixture |
| Surface activity | not significant | not significant | primary anionic surfactant | primary anionic surfactant |
| Representative pH, 10 wt% aqueous | 11.0–12.5 | near isoelectric | 7–9 | 7–9 |
| Typical function | intermediate, soluble sarcosine source | metabolite, intermediate | foaming surfactant, cleanser | foaming surfactant, cleanser |
The conversion of sarcosine carboxylate into an amide-linked fatty acyl derivative is the structural change that produces a surfactant. Sodium sarcosinate itself is not interchangeable with sodium lauroyl sarcosinate in cleansing formulations. At 10 wt% active matter, sodium sarcosinate does not generate foam comparable to sodium lauroyl sarcosinate in Ross-Miles foam height testing conducted according to ASTM D1173. Sodium lauroyl sarcosinate is reported in technical surfactant literature to exhibit a critical micelle concentration in the low millimolar range, whereas sodium sarcosinate does not form measurable micelles under equivalent aqueous conditions.
In large-scale manufacture, sodium sarcosinate is produced by the reaction of monomethylamine with sodium chloroacetate in alkaline aqueous medium. A typical 2000 L glass-lined reactor with baffles and a pitched-blade turbine is used for the condensation. The chloroacetate feed is added to monomethylamine while the pH is maintained at 9.5–11.0 and the temperature at 50–80 °C. After carbon treatment and plate-and-frame filtration, the clarified liquor is concentrated in a falling-film evaporator at 60–90 °C under 0.2–0.5 bar vacuum. Solid product is recovered by crystallization or spray drying. The main purity constraint is residual sodium chloride from the chloroacetate route. Aqueous solution grades may retain 0.5–2.0 wt% chloride unless additional purification such as membrane diafiltration is applied. Batch-to-batch variance in residual chloride is the principal downstream risk because chloride influences ionic strength and water activity in later acylation reactions.
The conversion of sodium sarcosinate to sodium lauroyl sarcosinate follows a Schotten-Baumann acylation. The reaction is performed in aqueous medium with simultaneous addition of lauroyl chloride and sodium hydroxide. The process conflict is that water dissolves the sodium sarcosinate but also hydrolyses lauroyl chloride to lauric acid. Selectivity for the desired amide is controlled by acid chloride feed rate, mixing intensity, local pH, and temperature. In pilot-scale surfactant manufacture, the acid chloride is fed below the liquid surface in a 500 L high-shear reactor, while pH is held at 10.0–11.0 with 32 wt% sodium hydroxide. Jacket temperature is maintained at 15–25 °C. Acyl chloride is charged at 1.02–1.05 molar ratio to sodium sarcosinate. Lower ratios leave unreacted free amine; higher ratios generate lauric acid and soap, which reduce yield and complicate filtration.
The free sarcosine content of the starting sodium sarcosinate is controlled because free sarcosine consumes acyl chloride without producing the desired salt. A specification of free sarcosine ≤0.5 area% is imposed for surfactant-grade sodium sarcosinate. Water content below 0.3 wt% is required only for solvent-based or molten acid chloride acylations; for aqueous Schotten-Baumann chemistry, water is the reaction medium. Karl Fischer titration according to ISO 760 is used to release solid lots for anhydrous downstream use. If the pH falls below 9.0, the acylation rate decreases and acid chloride hydrolysis competes. If the pH exceeds 12.0, hydrolysis of the acid chloride increases and localized caustic degradation can occur. The reliable processing window is approximately ±0.5 pH units around the set point in high-yield campaigns.
A common production failure occurs when solid sodium sarcosinate is charged into warm water too rapidly. The hydration exotherm forms a viscous lump that traps unreacted solid and extends dissolution time. Slow addition under agitation at 20–35 °C with a low-speed high-torque impeller avoids lumping; a 40 wt% solution is usually dissolved within 30–60 min. Once dissolved, the solution should be protected from atmospheric carbon dioxide because CO2 absorption gradually lowers pH and can form carbonate. Closed storage under nitrogen is required for pH-sensitive downstream processing.
Aqueous sodium sarcosinate is used as a soluble sarcosine source in biochemical and pharmaceutical research. In such applications, the absence of a hydrophobic acyl chain is an advantage because the salt does not introduce foam or surfactant-induced interference. At pH above 11, microbial growth in the concentrated solution is unlikely, but diluted or neutralized solutions should be preserved or used promptly. For cell-culture or enzyme work, the solution is sterile-filtered through a 0.22 µm membrane; endotoxin requirements must be stated at the time of purchase because lot-specific endotoxin data are not universal. Published data for this specific configuration is limited, and users should establish lot-to-lot consistency under their own protocols.
When sodium sarcosinate is used as an amine source in pharmaceutical synthesis, the secondary amine should be included in a nitrosamine risk assessment if the process may contain nitrite or nitrosating conditions. Control strategies for mutagenic impurities in the final drug substance should follow ICH M7(R2). Sodium sarcosinate is incompatible with strong oxidizers and concentrated acids. Mixing with concentrated acid liberates sarcosine and generates heat. Mixing with sodium nitrite under acidic conditions can generate N-nitrososarcosine, so nitrite sources and acid handling should be segregated.
Solid sodium sarcosinate is hygroscopic. At relative humidity above 60%, the powder takes up water rapidly and cakes; opened packages should be resealed under inert gas. Drying is performed under vacuum at 60–80 °C for 6–12 h to reach water content below 0.5 wt%. High-temperature hot-air drying above 120 °C is not recommended because discoloration and decomposition can occur. The material is alkaline and corrodes aluminium, zinc, and tin. Transfer lines and storage tanks should be fabricated from 316L stainless steel or polypropylene. Aqueous solution storage is recommended below 30 °C with nitrogen blanketing to limit CO2 ingress and pH drift.
Shipments are made in 25 kg polyethylene-lined bags or 50 kg fibre drums for solid product, and in 200 L polyethylene drums or 1000 L IBCs for aqueous solution. Goods-in release testing for acylation campaigns should include assay by potentiometric titration or HPLC, water content by Karl Fischer according to ISO 760, chloride by ion chromatography, and free sarcosine by HPLC after derivatization. Direct UV detection of underivatized sarcosine is weak, so derivatization is used for low-level free amine determination. The product should be stored away from acids, strong oxidizers, and nitrite-containing materials.
