Sodium myristoyl glutamate

Sodium myristoyl glutamate (CAS 38517-37-2) is an amino acid-derived surfactant produced by condensing myristic acid with glutamic acid. It delivers mild surface-active performance across personal care and food-contact applications. In facial cleansers, shampoos, and body washes, it functions as a primary or co-surfactant, producing a stable lather while maintaining skin compatibility at low irritation thresholds.

Emulsion-based cosmetics, including creams and lotions, use it to stabilize oil-water interfaces and improve spreadability on skin. It is highly valued where synthetic surfactants are undesirable. In food-grade formulations, it acts as an emulsifier and wetting agent in applications requiring amino acid-derived, clean-label surface-active ingredients for specialized processing needs.

Industrial and personal care formulators also incorporate it into mild degreasing systems where residue-free cleaning and high biodegradability are essential procurement criteria for modern brands. Sodium myristoyl glutamate is typically supplied as a powder or paste. Food-grade and cosmetic-grade specifications are the most commercially available for global distribution and manufacturing.

Some suppliers offer material aligned to FCC or USP standards. Buyers should confirm active content and counterion purity when evaluating grades for regulated end-use formulations.