Sodium myristate

Sodium myristate (CAS 822-12-8), also known as sodium tetradecanoate, is the sodium salt of myristic acid used commercially as a surfactant and emulsifier. It delivers effective foam generation, emulsification, and cleaning action across personal care, food processing, and industrial applications.

In soap and personal care formulations, it contributes firm bar texture and dense, stable lather. This makes it a preferred fatty acid soap component alongside stearate and palmitate blends for high-quality cleansing products.

Textile and leather processors use it as a scouring and degreasing agent to remove oils and contaminants from fiber and hide surfaces. This step is essential before dyeing or finishing to ensure uniform results across the material.

In food-grade applications, it functions as an emulsifier to stabilize fat-in-water systems in processed food manufacturing. It helps maintain consistency and shelf stability in various edible products and industrial food preparations.

Paper industry formulators incorporate it into surface treatments and sizing formulations where controlled foam and dispersion are required. Its chemical properties allow for precise control over the texture and finish of paper products.

Sodium myristate is supplied as a white powder or flake. Food-grade and cosmetic-grade specifications are the most commercially prevalent, with technical-grade material available for industrial textile and paper applications.

Purity levels and grade compliance vary by manufacturer, so buyers should confirm specification sheets against their requirements. Common standards for high-purity batches may include FCC or USP depending on the intended end-use.