What Are the Best Uses of Sodium Gluconate?

Sodium Gluconate is a sodium salt of gluconic acid. It is also known by terms like D-Gluconic Acid and Monosodium Salt. Sodium Gluconate is a crystalline solid, white granular, which is very soluble in water.

Sodium Gluconate has good chelating power, especially in concentrated alkaline solutions. Due to its excellent chelating power, it is used in food additives and many industrial applications. Here we look at the best uses of Sodium Gluconate.

Food Industry

According to sodium gluconate suppliers, Monosodium Salt is mainly used in food additives. It can act as a thickener, stabilizer, and a sequestrant in the food additive. Sodium Gluconate is safe, and its use is approved by CODEX. It is primarily used in dairy products, cereals, processed meats, preserved fish, processed herbs, vegetables, fruits, and spices. Here are some specific uses of this compound in the food industry:

• It is used as a pH buffer in drinks.
• Also, it works as a taste improver for beverages. Sodium Gluconate reduces the bitterness/aftertaste of artificial sweeteners, soybean protein, minerals, and caffeine.

Cosmetic and Personal Care Products

Sodium Gluconate can form complexes with metal ions that influence the appearance and stability of cosmetic products. It is mainly used in cosmetic and personal care products due to its chelating characteristics.

Gluconates are added in shampoos and cleansers to increase their lather by sequestering hard water ions. It is also used in toothpaste to sequester calcium and help prevent gingivitis. Sodium Gluconate is also found in soaps and face creams.

Cleaning Industry

Gluconates are extensively used in cleaning products, and you can find this compound in household and industrial cleaners. It is mainly used due to its multi-functionality, where sodium Gluconate works as a sequestering agent, chelating agent, a builder, and a redeposition agent. It performs different roles in cleaning products.

• Degreaser and dishwasher detergents prevent hard water ions’ (calcium and magnesium) interference with alkalies and allow the cleaner to perform at its optimum ability.
• In laundry detergents, it works as a soil remover. It breaks the calcium bond that holds the dirt to the fabric. It also further prevents soil redepositing on the fabric.

Sodium Gluconate also protects stainless steel from caustic-based cleaners. It helps break down beer stone, milk stone, and scale. Hence, it is widely used in acid-based cleaners formulated especially for use in the food industry.

Pharmaceutical Industry

Sodium Gluconate also has uses and relevance in the medical field. It balances alkali and acid in the human body and helps recover the regular operation of the nerves. It can also be used for the prevention and cure of low sodium syndrome. Buy only from the trusted sodium gluconate suppliers to get the best quality sodium salt, appropriate to be used as pH adjuster and buffer in the following products:

• Hard capsules
• Syrups
• Orally dispersible tablets
• Suspension

Fertilizers

Sodium gluconate is used in special fertilizers and agrochemicals. Its presence in manure helps plants absorb essential minerals from the soil. 

Paper Industry

It is also largely used in the paper and pulp industries due to its chelating properties. Gluconates chelates out metallic ions that cause problems in the peroxide and hydrosulfite bleaching processes.

Construction Industry

In the construction, Sodium Gluconate is used as a concrete admix. The compound provides several benefits like improved freeze-thawing resistance, retarded setting times, reduced water, improved workability, reduced cracking, bleeding, and shrinkage.

Industrial Application

Electroplating

Due to its strong affinity to metal ions, it is used in metal finishing and electroplating. It acts as a sequestrant and prevents impurities from triggering undesirable reactions in the electroplating bath. The chelation property of Sodium Gluconate helps in the deterioration of anode that increases plating bath efficiency. It is also used in zinc, copper, and cadmium plating baths to increase luster.

Thus, you can see Sodium Gluconate has multiple uses, and it is part of many products that we use in daily life.