Cloudiness in Water Essence with Succinic Acid
Question
I have an issue using Pure-Succinic (Succinic Acid, product ID 7387). I used it at 2% in a water essence formula. Initially, it dissolved well and the formula was clear. Afterwards, it gradually changed color and became white and cloudy throughout the formula. I would like the staff to help check. The ingredients of the water essence are: Water, Methyl Gluceth-20, Glycerin, Butylene Glycol, Pure-Succinic, SafeB3 (Niacinamide), ProVitaminB5 (Panthenol), Jojoba Ester (Jojoba Wax PEG-120 Esters), Waterlube, 4D Hyaluronic Acid. Thank you.
Answer
Hello, thank you for providing the details and ingredients of your water essence formulation.
Based on the information provided, the issue where the formula initially appears clear and then gradually turns cloudy after adding 2% Pure-Succinic (Succinic Acid, product ID 7387) is typically related to the solubility of Succinic Acid in the formulation.
Succinic Acid is an organic acid, and its solubility in water is highly dependent on the pH of the solution. At low pH values (especially below its first pKa, which is around 4.2), Succinic Acid exists primarily in its undissociated form, which is less soluble in water compared to its dissociated salt form (succinate).
When you add Succinic Acid to a formula containing other ingredients, the overall pH of the formula might decrease to a range that causes some or all of the Succinic Acid to precipitate or crystallize over time, leading to the observed cloudiness.
Suggested troubleshooting steps:
- Check the pH of your formula: Use a pH meter to measure the pH of your finished water essence formula. If the pH is below 4.5, this could be a major cause of the problem.
- Adjust the pH of the formula slightly upwards: If the pH is too low, try slowly adjusting the pH upwards to a range of approximately 4.5 - 5.5 using a mild base like Triethanolamine (TEA) or Sodium Hydroxide (at a low concentration). Add it dropwise while stirring and observe if the cloudiness disappears. (Note: When adjusting pH, you must also consider the stability of other ingredients in your formula, e.g., Niacinamide is most stable in the pH range of 5-7).
- Reduce the concentration of Succinic Acid: If adjusting the pH is not possible or doesn't resolve the cloudiness, อาจจะต้องพิจารณาลดความเข้มข้นของ Succinic Acid ลงครับ
- Perform Compatibility Tests: Try mixing 2% Succinic Acid with individual ingredients or groups of ingredients from your formula to see which combination might be causing the issue at the formula's pH.
- Perform Stability Tests: After modifying the formula, conduct stability tests at different temperatures (e.g., room temperature, elevated temperature 40-45°C, refrigeration) to see if the cloudiness reappears over time.
Other ingredients in your formula, such as Methyl Gluceth-20, Glycerin, Butylene Glycol, Jojoba Ester, Waterlube, 4D Hyaluronic Acid, and vitamins, can influence the formula's environment (e.g., viscosity, slight pH effect, overall solubility) and thus affect the solubility of Succinic Acid.
To provide more specific advice, please let us know the pH value of the formula where you encountered the problem.
We hope this information helps you troubleshoot the issue. Please feel free to ask if you have further questions.
