Product Overview

Potassium Thioglycolate (CAS 34452-51-2) is the potassium salt of thioglycolic acid, a mercapto carboxylate carrying one active thiol group and one carboxylate group in the same molecule. It is supplied both as a white crystalline powder with an assay of not less than 98.0 percent and as a colorless to faintly pink aqueous solution with an assay of not less than 43.0 percent. Its core function is disulfide bond reduction, which makes it a long established active ingredient in depilatory preparations and in hair waving and straightening formulations.

Key Attributes

Key Highlights

• TWO COMMERCIAL FORMS: Available as a high assay crystalline powder and as a ready to dose aqueous solution, so formulators can choose the presentation that fits their production line.
• HIGH ASSAY POWDER: Powder grade is controlled at not less than 98.0 percent, with a neutral aqueous pH window of 6.5 to 7.5 that simplifies buffering in finished formulations.
• PROVEN ACTIVE FUNCTION: Recognized in cosmetic ingredient nomenclature for depilatory use and for hair waving or straightening use, the two largest commercial outlets for this salt.
• STRONG REDUCING POWER: The free thiol group reduces disulfide bridges in keratin, which is the mechanism behind both hair removal and permanent waving performance.
• EXCELLENT WATER SOLUBILITY: Solubility of 785.8 g/L at 20 C allows concentrated aqueous working solutions without solubilizers or co-solvents.
• FLEXIBLE ORDER QUANTITY: Minimum order quantity of 1 kg supports trial batches and small production runs before scale up to drum quantities.
• FAST LEAD TIME: Orders are normally dispatched within 2 weeks after confirmation, shipped by air or by sea according to quantity and destination.
• DOCUMENT SUPPORT: Certificate of analysis and technical data sheet accompany every shipment, with batch traceability on request.

Product Description

Potassium Thioglycolate is the monopotassium salt of mercaptoacetic acid, formed by neutralizing thioglycolic acid with a potassium base. The molecule combines a nucleophilic thiol group with a water solubilizing carboxylate, giving a solid that melts at 226-229 C, dissolves freely in water at 785.8 g/L at 20 C and holds a density of 1.365 g/cm3 at 20 C. The commercial aqueous solution is a clear colorless to faintly pink liquid with a specific gravity of 1.25 at 25 C.

The defining property of this material is its reducing activity toward disulfide bonds. In an alkaline working environment the thiolate form cleaves the cystine bridges that give keratin its rigidity, converting the protein from a fixed structure into a plastic one that can be reshaped or dissolved. This single mechanism supports the two dominant industrial uses of the salt: depilatory preparations, where the keratin network is broken down sufficiently for the hair shaft to be wiped away, and permanent wave or hair relaxing systems, where the same bond cleavage is controlled so the fibre can be reformed around a roller or straightened under tension.

Dideu Group supplies Potassium Thioglycolate in powder form packed at 25 kg per drum and in solution form packed at 250 kg per plastic drum. Customized packaging is arranged according to customer requirements. The minimum order quantity is 1 kg, standard lead time is within 2 weeks after order confirmation, and goods move by air or by sea depending on the volume of the order and the destination market.

Applications

Cosmetics and Personal Care

The principal commercial outlet for this salt. Its listed cosmetic functions are depilatory and hair waving or straightening, and it is used as the active reducing ingredient in hair removal creams, lotions and gels, as well as in professional permanent wave lotions, hair relaxers and straightening systems. Because the potassium salt is highly water soluble and works quickly in alkaline media, it is favored in rinse off formulations where short processing time matters.

Professional Hair Care

Used by salon product manufacturers as the reducing agent in cold wave and restructuring treatments. Formulators typically combine it with an alkaline buffer to set the working pH of the finished lotion, then apply an oxidizing neutralizer to rebuild the disulfide network in the new configuration.

Industrial Reducing Agent

Serves as a water soluble thiol reducing agent in formulations that require controlled disulfide reduction or oxygen scavenging in aqueous systems, including specialty processing aids where a fast acting, fully water soluble reductant is preferred over the less soluble calcium salt.

Analytical and Laboratory Reagents

Thioglycolate salts are established as sensitive analytical reagents for the determination and masking of metal ions including iron, molybdenum, silver and tin, and may be used in laboratory work as a source of the thioglycolate anion.

Microbiology and Culture Media

Thioglycolate salts function as reducing agents in culture media, lowering the oxidation reduction potential so that oxygen sensitive microorganisms can grow. This use is well documented for the thioglycolate salt family and may be evaluated for the potassium salt where the counter ion is not restrictive.

Polymer and Plastics Processing

Thioglycolic acid and its salts are used as chain transfer agents and polymerization accelerators, and as raw materials for organosulfur heat stabilizer systems in polyvinyl chloride. The potassium salt may be used as a thioglycolate source in these applications subject to compatibility with the residual metal content of the formulation.

Textile, Leather and Metal Finishing

Thioglycolate chemistry is applied in wool and blanket finishing treatments that modify keratin fibers, and in metal surface treatment processes that rely on its reducing and complexing behavior. These uses may be extended to the potassium salt where a fully water soluble reductant is required.

Organic Synthesis Intermediate

The combination of a thiol group and a carboxylate makes this salt a candidate building block for sulfur containing derivatives, thioethers and mercapto functional intermediates in fine chemical synthesis.

Note: the Cosmetics and Personal Care, Professional Hair Care and Industrial Reducing Agent sections reflect the documented functions of Potassium Thioglycolate itself. The sections that follow are derived from the shared thioglycolate chemistry of this salt family and are stated as potential uses. Buyers should confirm suitability and counter ion compatibility for their own formulation before scale up.

Specifications

Powder Grade

Solution Grade

Packaging and Shipping

Storage Recommendations

• Store in a cool, dry and well ventilated warehouse.
• Keep containers tightly closed whenever the material is not in use.
• Protect from direct sunlight and keep away from heat sources.
• Keep the storage area dry, since the powder form takes up moisture readily.

Shipping and Lead Time

• Mode of transport: by air or by sea, selected according to order quantity and destination.
• Lead time: within 2 weeks after order confirmation.
• Minimum order quantity: 1 kg.

Company Profile

Dideu Group is a professional supplier of fine chemicals and specialty chemicals, serving customers in global markets with a full range of products from lab scale reagents to industrial quantities. Our portfolio covers cosmetic active ingredients, pharmaceutical and agrochemical intermediates, organic sulfur compounds and custom synthesis building blocks.

We work with qualified manufacturing partners and maintain strict incoming and outgoing quality control, so every batch of Potassium Thioglycolate is released with a certificate of analysis and a technical data sheet. Orders are handled by an experienced export team that manages documentation, packing and logistics from trial quantities up to full drum and container loads. Our goal is to give buyers a dependable source of consistent material with clear technical support and honest lead times.

FAQ

1. What is the minimum order quantity?

The minimum order quantity at Dideu is 1 kg, which allows buyers to run a trial batch before committing to drum quantities. Larger orders are quoted by the kilogram and by the drum.

2. What is the lead time?

Standard lead time is within 2 weeks after order confirmation. The exact date is confirmed in writing when the order is placed, as it depends on the requested grade, packing format and total quantity.

3. Which packaging options do you offer?

The powder grade is packed at 25 kg per drum with an inner liner, and the solution grade is packed at 250 kg per plastic drum. A 1 kg trial pack is available, and customized packaging can be arranged according to customer requirements.

4. What payment terms do you accept?

Dideu accepts payment by T/T and by L/C. The specific terms are agreed with the buyer before the order is confirmed and are stated on the proforma invoice.

5. Do you provide a certificate of analysis and technical documents?

Yes. Every shipment is accompanied by a batch specific certificate of analysis and a technical data sheet. Additional documentation required for import clearance can be arranged on request.

6. How do you ship the goods?

Goods are shipped by air or by sea depending on order quantity, destination and buyer preference. Small trial orders normally move by air, while drum and container quantities move by sea.

7. Can I choose between the powder and the solution?

Both grades are stocked as standard offers. The powder at not less than 98.0 percent assay suits solid formulations and buyers who prefer to control dilution themselves, while the 43 percent solution suits aqueous production lines that dose a ready made liquid.