Sarcosinate

Sarcosinate refers to salts and esters of sarcosinic acid, the conjugate base of sarcosine, a naturally occurring amino acid derived from glycine. The term covers metal salts such as sodium sarcosinate and potassium sarcosinate, as well as N-acyl derivatives like sodium lauroyl sarcosinate.

Chemically, sarcosinates are anionic surfactants. They feature a carboxylate head group derived from sarcosine and a hydrophobic tail that may be a fatty acyl group (for example lauroyl). This structure gives them surface-active properties with moderate foaming and cleansing power, along with relatively good biodegradability.

Production typically involves neutralization of sarcosinic acid with alkali to form metal sarcosinates, or selective acylation of sarcosine to give N-acyl sarcosinates such as sodium lauroyl sarcosinate, used widely as a detergent and surfactant.

Applications include personal care products—shampoos, body washes, and cleansers—and toothpaste, as well as household detergents. Sarcosinates act as primary or co-surfactants, providing mild cleansing, wetting, and foam generation while often reducing irritation compared with some traditional sulfates. They are commonly formulated with other surfactants and conditioning agents to achieve the desired texture and performance.

Safety and environmental aspects: sarcosinates are generally regarded as mild and readily biodegradable, with low to moderate irritation potential when used within recommended concentrations. They are produced from amino acid-derived precursors and are considered to have a favorable environmental profile among surfactants.