Spectrastat™ KCH

Potassium Hydrogen Caprylhydroxamate

Effortless protection against yeast and mold

Spectrastat™ KCH empowers microbiologists and formulators to diversify preservation options, preventing yeast and mold growth across a pH range of 4 to 8, through an easy-to-use, safe, and sustainable ingredient that effectively preserves all formulations.

  • Prevents the growth of yeast & mold from pH 4 – 8
  • Dissolves quickly and effortlessly with simple mixing
  • Cold processable
  • Requires a low use level. A little goes a long way!
  • Helps you create custom safe & sustainable preservation mixes
  • Two benefits in one ingredient: chelation and preservation
  • Compatible with commonly used ingredients, including Zinc Oxide, proteins, and antioxidants
  • Microbiome-friendly
  • 100% natural, derived from coconut
  • Readily Biodegradable
  • Non-irritating to skin and eyes
  • Effective in emulsions, creams and lotions in addition to surfactant-based products such as shower gels, facial cleansers and shampoos
  • Free of parabens, formaldehyde donors, MIT, phenoxyethanol, and other traditional preservatives

Micro Summary

  • Strong protection against yeast and mold
  • Use in combination with bacteria control agent for broad spectrum protection

Suitable for all applications

Standards & Certifications

100% Natural
100% USDA certified biobased content
Natural Origin Index: 1.0
Readily Biodegradable
Clean Beauty Preferred
Non-palm Derived
Halal Certified
Vegan & Cruelty-free
Kosher Compliant
NSF/ANSI 305 Approved
NATRUE Approved
View Standards & Certifications

Additional Information

How to Use

Recommended Use Level:

  • O/W Emulsion: 0.1 - 0.2%
  • O/W Sunscreens: 0.1 - 0.2%
  • Cleansers: 0.15 - 0.22%
  • Wipe Juices: 0.15 - 0.22%

Use Instruction:

  • In surfactant-based formulations, add directly to water phase followed by surfactants and mix well
  • In emulsions, add to the water phase with other water phase ingredients and mix well
  • If you prefer to make a pre-mix, pre-mix with glycerin or 1,2-propanediol
  • Cold processable
  • To shorten dissolution time, heat to 40 - 45°C
  • pH will increase with the addition of Spectrastat™ KCH, however once other ingredients have been added, the pH will be reduced
  • pH adjustment immediately after adding Spectrastat™ KCH is not necessary

Please request a Safe Preservation Formulators Guide for more information.

Sustainable Design

Sustainability is embedded in Inolex's design philosophy. Spectrastat™ KCH design was guided by the Principles of Green Chemistry and life cycle thinking.

Green Chemistry & Sustainable Life Cycle Highlights:

  • renewable feedstocks
  • readily biodegradable
  • safe catalysts used
  • non-aqueous product
  • benign starting materials makes for safer chemical synthesis
  • contributes to a safely preserved formula for consumer use

Primary Feedstocks

  • Coconut

For more information about the origin and processing of this ingredient, please request a Technical & Regulatory Dossier.

Science Behind

This alternative preservation component contributes to creating a hostile environment for microbial growth as part of a Hurdle Technology approach. Spectrastat™ KCH is a critical component of your broad spectrum customized system.

  • Potassium Hydrogen Caprylhydroxamate: A multifunctional component. It is a 100% natural salt of the organic acid Caprylhydroxamic Acid, and a chelating agent that prevents the growth of yeast and mold in formulation.
  • In solution, Potassium Hydrogen Caprylhydroxamate dissociates to Caprylhydroxamic Acid and Potassium Hydroxide.
  • Unlike most organic acids used in preservation, Caprylhydroxamic Acid remains undissociated at neutral pH making it highly effective at controlling the growth of yeast and mold up to pH of 8.

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