- Derived from: baking soda
- Pronunciation: \sō-dē-əm\ˈkär-bə-nət \
- Type: Natural
- Other names: Soda ash
What Is Sodium carbonate?
Sodium carbonate, also called soda ash, is a light gray powder that occurs naturally in mineral deposits.[1,2,3]
What Does Sodium carbonate Do in Our products?
Sodium carbonate is a precipitating builder, which means it forms an insoluble substance that enhances or maintains the efficiency of cleansers.[4] It also helps control the acid-base balance of cosmetic products.[5] It is often used in exfoliants, toothpaste, bath oils and salts, bubble bath, moisturizers, and other products.[6] When dissolved in water, sodium carbonate forms carbonic acid and sodium hydroxide — an antacid that neutralizes gastric acid.[7] It is also used to produce aluminum, textiles, soap, glass, and paper.[8]
Why Puracy Uses Sodium carbonate
Sodium carbonate is a water softener; it also helps keep dirt from redepositing on things during washing and breaks up oil and grease.[10] Whole Foods has deemed the ingredient acceptable in its body care and cleaning product quality standards.[11,12] The FDA has deemed sodium carbonate as generally recognized as safe (GRAS).[13] According to the Cosmetic Ingredients Review, sodium carbonate is safe for use in cosmetic products.[14] Studies show that the ingredient does not irritate the skin and is safe for use in cosmetics and food.[15,16,17,18]
How Sodium carbonate Is Made
Commercially, there are a few ways to manufacture sodium carbonate. One method starts with crushed ore that is dissolved in a hot substance. That mixture is then filtered, crystallized, and reheated. Another method involves combining a soda ash mixture with ammonia and then filtering it.[9]
Certifications
Sources
[1] Cosmeticsinfo.org
[2]Centers for Disease Control and Prevention
[3] U.S. National Library of Medicine
[4] American Cleaning Institute
[5]Cosmeticsinfo.org
[6] Environmental Working Group
[7] U.S. National Library of Medicine
[8] Personal Care Council
[9]U.S. National Library of Medicine
[10] American Cleaning Institute
[11] Whole Foods Market
[12] Whole Foods Market
[13] Food and Drug Administration
[14] Personal Care Council
[15] Federation of American Societies for Experimenta Biology (FASEB). (1975). Evaluation of the health aspects of carbonates and bicarbonates as food ingredients. Prepared for Food and Drug Administration, Washington, D.C.
[16] Code of Federal Regulations (CFR). (1984). Title 21, Food and Drugs, Parts 184.1736, 184.1742, 184.1792, and 720.4. Washington, D.C.: U.S. Government Printing Office.
[17] Hoag, L.A., Weigele, C.E., Talamo, H., Marples, E., and Woodward, K. (1933). Effect of therapeutic doses of sodium bicarbonate on the kidneys. J. Pharmacol. Exp. Ther. 47, 233-5.
[18] Peterson, O.L., and Finland, M. (1942). The effect of food and alkali on the absorption and excretion of sulfonamide drugs after oral and duodenal administration, Am. J. Med. Sci. 204, 581-8.
