Why Need to Add Pentasodium Pentetate in Soap?

What Is the Pentasodium Pentetate?

Pentasodium Pentetate is a chelator that can also be found in soap and other hair care products. The word chelator (pronounced "key-lay-tor") comes from the Greek word chele, or claw. Think of a chelator as a tiny claw that reaches out and grabs the minerals in soap scum or soils. It can keep them from depositing on a surface. We use pentasodium pentetate in products to remove soap scum and mineral deposits that are caused by hard water. By binding to the soap scum or deposit, it allows them to be rinsed away.

Pentasodium Pentetate is a chelating agent used in cosmetics and bath products "prevent various mineral components from binding together and negatively affecting the formulation". It is the salt of Pentetic Acid, and is a compound that binds metal and inactivates metallic ions, such as calcium and magnesium, to help maintain the stability and appearance of cosmetic products. This inactivation also helps to prevent the oxidative deterioration of cosmetics and soap products.

The addition of chelating agents to hard water causes metals to form a complex with the chelating agent, creating superior foaming and cleaning performance. Pentasodium Pentetate also dissolves metals, preventing them from being deposited onto the hair, scalp and skin.

Safety Measures/Side Effects:

The absence of significant skin penetration of all chelating agents means that Pentasodium Pentetate did not pose any reproductive or developmental toxicity risk when used in cosmetics and personal care products. However, it can be an eye irritant.

The Cosmetic Database rates Pentasodium Pentetate as a low hazard when formulated to avoid irritation, but should not be used on broken skin or infants.It is better to buy baby soaps without Pentasodium Pentetate.

As far as I know both Pentasodium Pentetate and EDTA are chelating agents, but what are their differences? as in when do you use Pentasodium Pentetate and when do you use EDTA? Pentetic Acid, and its salt Pentasodium Pentetate, are compounds that bind metals, also known as chelating agents. Pentasodium Pentetate is chemically similar to EDTA (ethylenediamino tetraacetic acid), a chemical widely used as a chelating agent.

Why is it used in cosmetics and personal care products?

Pentetic Acid and Pentasodium Pentetate inactivate metallic ions, such as calcium and magnesium, to maintain stability and appearance of cosmetic products. The inactivation of other metallic ions such as iron or copper also helps to prevent the oxidative deterioration of cosmetics and personal care products.

In foods and other materials. In cosmetics and personal care products, Pentetic Acid and Pentasodium Pentetate are used in a wide range of products but can be found mostly in hair dyes and colors, noncoloring hair products, and bath products.

Soap is created using base oils and butters, by combining them with water and lye and mixing them till they convert into soap. Base oils and butters we use in our soaps include olive oil, coconut oil, castor oil, rice bran oil, shea butter, mango butter and other nourishing oils.Our lye is food-grade. Lye is an alkaline substance (this means it is the opposite of an acid - both can burn if they are strong enough). Baking soda is an example of a mild alkaline substance, and lye is a very strong alkaline substance. Lye is also used to make food products such as bagels, beer, pretzels, even olives! Lye water used to be naturally manufactured at home by soap makers - boil fireplace ashes with water and you have lye water.

Acids are on the opposite end of the pH scale from alkaline substances. Examples of mild acids are lemon juice, orange juice and vinegar. A strong acid is battery acid, also known as sulphuric acid.

Pentasodium Pentetate As described in the International Cosmetic Ingredient Dictionary and Handbook (Gottschalck and McEwen 2004), Pentasodium Pentetate functions as a chelating agent in soaps and detergents products. The Cosmetic, Toiletry, and Fragrance Association (CTFA 2004) indicate that Pentasodium Pentetate is used at concentrations from 0.008% to 3.0%, with the highest concentration in the hair tonic, dressings, etc.

General Use of Chelating Agents in Cosmetics

Akzo Nobel Functional Chemicals LLC (2002) reported an overview of literature and patents issued on the use of chelating agents in cosmetics. According to these authors, adding chelating agents to hard water complexes metals like calcium and magnesium and is beneficial for better foaming and cleaning performance. These metal ions also cause a haze in clear liquids, and the chelating agent dissolves the metals, preventing precipitation onto the scales of hair, scalp, and skin. Various patents were described in which chelating agents were said to prevent problems like rancidity of unsaturated oil and fat containing products, discoloration of dyestuffs, or degradation of fragrances (containing aldehydes and ketones). It was suggested that free radical formation can be prevented by adding chelating agents. Other patents were found claiming the prevention of body odor through the application of various chelating agents in deodorant products. The antimicrobial effect is claimed because the growth of microorganisms is inhibited by removal of the metallic co-factor (i.e. iron) by applying chelating agents.

In another patent, DTPA and EDTA in a concentration of about 10% were said to be effective in a water-based cream for preventing contact allergic reactions of the skin to metals including cobalt and copper. Inhalation of Aerosol Cosmetics Product categories in which Pentasodium Pentetate and Pentetic Acid are being used include potential aerosol applications.Bower (1999) characterized the typical diameter of anhydrous hair spray particles in the 60 to 80 μm range (typically, <1% are below 10 μm). Pump hair sprays, in contrast, have typical particle diameters of ≥80 μm. Johnsen (2004) reported that the mean particle diameter is around 38 μm in a typical aerosol spray. In practice, he stated that aerosols should have at least 99% of particle diameters in the 10 to 110 μm range. For comparison, Jensen and O’Brien (1993) reported a mean aerodynamic diameter of 4.25 ± 1.5 μm for respirable particles.