Potassium Caprylate is the potassium salt of caprylic acid (octanoic acid) and is a specialty cosmetic ingredient used primarily for its surfactant properties. It has the CAS Number 764-71-6, molecular formula C₈H₁₅KO₂, and molecular weight of approximately 182.30 g/mol.
As a fatty-acid salt, Potassium Caprylate combines the characteristics of a medium-chain fatty acid with the ionic properties of a potassium carboxylate. This structure gives it surface-active properties that make it useful in cleansing and emulsifying formulations.
Potassium Caprylate is different from Potassium Caprylate/Caprate, which is a mixture of potassium salts derived from caprylic and capric acids. For accurate raw-material identification, the CAS number and actual composition should therefore be checked when purchasing either ingredient.
Potassium Caprylate is chemically identified as potassium octanoate. Its structure contains an eight-carbon fatty chain associated with a potassium carboxylate group. The material is represented by the molecular formula C₈H₁₅KO₂.
The ingredient is also listed in cosmetic ingredient references under the INCI name POTASSIUM CAPRYLATE. Its primary cosmetic functions are associated with cleansing and emulsifying activity.
Unlike many crystalline inorganic salts, commercial Potassium Caprylate may be supplied in different physical forms depending on concentration, manufacturing process and formulation grade. Some commercial specifications describe concentrated material using parameters such as non-volatile matter and pH rather than a simple solid-state assay.
A published commercial specification, for example, reports 45–55% non-volatile matter and pH 8.5–10.5 for a 10% solution. These values should be treated as supplier-specific reference specifications, not universal pharmacopeial limits.
Potassium Caprylate functions primarily as a surfactant – cleansing agent and surfactant – emulsifying agent. Its amphiphilic character allows it to interact with both aqueous and oily components of a formulation.
In cleansing systems, the fatty-acid salt can contribute to the removal and dispersion of oily substances from the skin or hair surface. In emulsifying systems, its surface activity can assist in maintaining interactions between otherwise immiscible phases.
The ingredient can therefore be considered when developing formulations where cleansing, emulsification or surface modification is required. Formulators should evaluate its concentration, pH, compatibility and interaction with other surfactants according to the intended formulation.
Potassium Caprylate can be considered for applications such as:
Its performance depends strongly on the formulation environment. Factors such as pH, water content, ionic strength, other surfactants and fatty-acid salts can influence its behavior.
Potassium Caprylate should also be distinguished from potassium caprylate/caprate systems because their fatty-acid composition and resulting formulation properties are not identical.
When using Potassium Caprylate, formulators should consider concentration, pH, physical form, water content and compatibility with other formulation components. Because it is an ionic fatty-acid salt, its behavior can change with the aqueous phase and with other ionic materials.
A product specification may include non-volatile matter, pH, moisture or water content, free fatty acids, inorganic impurities and other quality parameters. However, there is no single universal cosmetic COA specification covering every commercial grade.
For this reason, the actual supplier specification should be used for release testing. An HPLC assay should not be claimed unless the supplied material is specifically tested using a validated HPLC method. For Potassium Caprylate, routine characterization may instead rely on parameters appropriate to the grade and manufacturing process.
Potassium Caprylate is a specialty fatty-acid salt used by cosmetic and personal-care manufacturers requiring cleansing and emulsifying functionality. A Potassium Caprylate Cosmetic Ingredient Manufacturer in India can support bulk procurement for formulation development and commercial manufacturing.
For B2B purchasing, important considerations include chemical identity, CAS number, concentration or non-volatile matter, pH, physical form, packaging and batch consistency. Buyers should also request a product-specific COA and technical specification before commercial use.
As a specialized cosmetic raw material and personal care ingredient, Potassium Caprylate can be incorporated into formulation systems where fatty-acid-based surfactant functionality is required.
| Parameter | Specification |
|---|---|
| Appearance | White or colourless crystals / white powder |
| Assay (HPLC) | NLT 98.0% |
| Loss on Drying | NMT 0.5% |
| Residue on Ignition | NMT 0.1% |
| pH (1% Solution) | 8.5–10.5 |
| Water Content | NMT 0.5% |