500g Grapefruit Seed Liquid Extract [Glycerine Based]

This extract has a proven antimicrobial action.

This product is produced by extracting the antimicrobial chemistry from the fruit peels, pulp and seeds of the grapefruit plant.

Grapefruit extract is used as an anti-oxidant, antiseptic, disinfectant and preservative in cosmetics.

Grapefruit extract is classified as completely natural and is non-toxic, environmentally safe, and quickly bio-degradable. I

Botanical Name:

Citris grandis

Common Name:

Citrus Seed Extract

Part/s Used:

Fresh seeds & fresh inner fruit peel

Extraction:

Grapefruit seeds and pulp are dried and ground into a fine powder before adding to glycerin for a high pressure and temperature extraction.  The residual powder is filtered from the mixture, ascorbic acid is added and the product is pH checked.
The glycerin content is derived from a variety of vegetable stocks that include coconut oil and palm oil.

Solubility:

Water soluble. Add to water based products after cooling.  Not soluble in oil but can be used in an emulsion and can often be added to anhydous balms where it will disperse through the balm structure (rather than dissolve).

Appearance:

Viscous yellow to brown liquid

pH as supplied:

Approx 1-3

Usage: 

The active part of this preservative sits at 30% as purchased and you would usually require between 0.5 - 1% of the active to get a good efficacy so you would need to add between 1.75 and 2% to your formulation. 

If you wish to use this as part of your products preservative system we recommend using a minimum of 2% to give some chance of controlling bacteria, yeast and mould.  This preservative is broad-spectrum but it's activity is slow on some gram negative microbes and this can provide an opportunity for microbes to take hold.  Additionally,  this ingredient works best as a preservative when your finished product is acidic.  The higher your formula pH, the less likely this is to function as a preservative.  The optimal pH for products containing this will differ depending on your formula but  pH 3.6-4 is a reasonable starting point.

General Note:  

The only way to be sure that your preservative system is working in your product is to carry out micro testing.  While we are happy to pass on information and make theoretical recommendations of how to get the best out of our ingredients we can make no guarantees without this testing.  There are two levels of test that a microbiological lab will do - one is a micro count which gives you a 'moment in time' look at the cleanliness of your formula and may also characterise the microbes present.  The second is a Preservative Efficacy Test or PET. This is highly recommended as it tests how your product performs over time when it is challenged by microbes.   You are legally required to market and sell products that are safe and microbial stability is an important part of that.

Please note: Glycerine based extracts are sold in grams/kilograms and not millilitres/Litres. Glycerine extracts have a specific gravity greater than 1.00, this means that they are more dense or heavier than water and 1g/1Kg will not equal 1ml/1Lt.