Lauramidopropyl Betaine(CAS#4292-10-8)–Mild Amphoteric Surfactant

1. Properties:

• Appearance: Lauramidopropyl Betaine is supplied as a colorless to light yellow clear to viscous liquid, with solid content typically ranging from 30% to 40%, available in LAB-35 and LAB-40 grades. Under certain conditions, it can also appear as a white to off-white solid.
• Solubility: Freely soluble in water. Exhibits excellent solubility and compatibility with anionic, cationic, nonionic, and other amphoteric surfactants. It is also slightly soluble in chloroform and methanol.
• Chemical Properties: As a zwitterionic (amphoteric) surfactant, Lauramidopropyl Betaine possesses both positive and negative charges within the same molecular structure. It exhibits excellent foaming properties and significant thickening ability, along with good temperature resistance, acid and alkali resistance, strong salt resistance, and a wide isoelectric point. It effectively reduces the irritation caused by anionic surfactants, has good hard water resistance, and excellent biodegradability. The molecule contains a positively charged quaternary ammonium salt and a negatively charged carboxylate forming an inner salt structure.

2. Applications:

• Personal Care & Cosmetics: Widely used as a mild cleansing agent, foam booster, viscosity builder, hair conditioning agent, antistatic agent, and skin conditioning agent in shampoos, body washes, shower gels, facial cleansers, liquid soaps, bubble baths, baby care products, and after-shave lotions. It provides rich, creamy lather and soft, conditioned feel to hair and skin. Recommended usage levels range from 3% to 20%. The CIR has assessed it safe for leave-on products at ≤6% and for rinse-off products at ≤13%.
• Household & Industrial Cleaning: Applied in hand dishwashing liquids, laundry detergents, fabric softeners, floor cleaners, and hard surface cleaners. It enhances detergency, provides anti-static effects, and exhibits good tolerance towards high levels of detergent builders, electrolytes, alkalis, and acids.
• Textile Auxiliaries: Functions as a leveling agent, wetting agent, dispersant, anti-static agent, and softener in textile dyeing and finishing processes, improving fiber feel and dye uniformity.
• Leather Processing: Acts as a leather softener and lubricant, maintaining softness and flexibility of leather materials, and can also be used in fur processing.
• Industrial Cleaning & Metalworking: Used in industrial cleaners, car wash products (automatic and hand), kitchen cleaners, as well as metal cleaners where it acts as a cleaning ingredient and anti-rust agent.
• Oil & Gas Field Chemicals: Serves as a viscoelastic surfactant (VES) for enhanced oil recovery (EOR), applicable in oilfield substrate acidification to effectively reduce oil/water interfacial tension and improve tertiary oil recovery rates. Also used in self-steering acid systems for carbonate acidification, as well as conditioning agents, wetting agents, bactericides, emulsifiers, and thickeners in oilfield applications.
• Agriculture & Pharmaceuticals: Functions as a spray adjuvant, wetting agent, dispersing agent in agricultural formulations. In pharmaceuticals, it serves as a surfactant, wetting agent, and emulsifier.

3. Preparation Method:

• Laboratory Method: Lauramidopropyl Betaine is synthesized via a two-step reaction. First, lauric acid (derived from coconut oil or palm kernel oil) is reacted with N,N-dimethyl-1,3-propanediamine (DMAPA) to form an amide intermediate. This intermediate is then quaternized with sodium monochloroacetate (SMCA) or chloroacetic acid to yield the final betaine product.
• Industrial Process: Industrial production follows the same two-step route under controlled conditions: (1) Amidation of lauric acid with DMAPA at elevated temperatures; (2) Quaternization of the tertiary amidoamine intermediate with sodium chloroacetate in aqueous medium. The product is supplied as an aqueous solution with typical active content of 30%–40%. Key quality parameters controlled include free amine content (≤0.5% max.), sodium chloride content (≤6.0%–7.0%), and pH.

4. Safety Information:

• Lauramidopropyl Betaine is considered a very low-irritant amphoteric surfactant, suitable for use in products for sensitive skin and children. Compared to stronger anionic surfactants such as sodium lauryl sulfate (SLS), it is significantly less irritating to skin and eyes.
• However, the concentrated form can cause serious eye damage (H318) and is harmful to aquatic life with long-lasting effects (H412). Avoid direct release into the environment.
• When handling concentrated solutions, wear appropriate protective gloves (nitrile or chemical-resistant), protective clothing, and chemical splash goggles or face shield.
• Handle in a well-ventilated area. Avoid breathing mists or vapors. Avoid dust and aerosol formation.
• In case of eye contact, rinse immediately with plenty of water for at least 15 minutes and seek medical attention. For skin contact, wash off with soap and water.
• Store in sealed containers below 30°C in a dry place away from direct sunlight. Protect from freezing; if material becomes hazy after cold exposure, gently heat to 35°C and mix before use.
• Shelf life is typically 12–24 months in tightly closed original containers.
• The product is readily biodegradable and has low oral toxicity (LD50 > 1190 mg/kg in rats). Always refer to the Safety Data Sheet (SDS) for complete safety information.