Alkyl Polyglucoside (APG) — Frequently Asked Questions

Choose by function. C8–10 grades wet quickly and stay soluble in strong alkali and salt solutions, with little foam, so they suit industrial and hard-surface cleaners and act as hydrotropes. Coco grades on C8–16 alcohols balance foam, cleansing and mildness, which suits shampoos and dishwashing liquids. C12–14 lauryl grades give the richest, creamiest foam for personal care, but they are pastes that need warming before use.

APG is kept alkaline, typically around pH 11.5–12.5, to protect it during storage. Under acidic conditions, the glucoside bond slowly hydrolyses, and the alkalinity also helps limit microbial growth. The pH is adjusted when the APG goes into the finished formulation, usually with citric or lactic acid for personal care. Allow for this acid demand in the recipe, and handle the raw material with eye protection.

Longer-chain grades, especially C12–14 lauryl glucoside, partly crystallise at room temperature, and the solid settles or makes the product hazy. This is normal and reversible. Warm the container gently, typically to around 40–50 °C, and mix thoroughly before sampling or use, so the product is homogeneous. Avoid prolonged or local overheating, which darkens APG. Short-chain grades are less affected.

Partly, and sometimes completely, but it behaves differently. APG does not thicken with salt as SLES does, so sulphate-free formulas need other thickeners or co-surfactants such as betaines, isethionates or glutamates. The foam feels different, and the alkaline raw material shifts the pH. Many brands start by replacing part of the SLES with APG, then reformulate the thickening system for a full replacement.

It can be. The glucose comes from starch crops, and the fatty alcohol from coconut or palm kernel oil, so an APG made from vegetable alcohol has fully renewable carbon. Some APGs use synthetic fatty alcohols, which lowers the bio-based share. If you make a natural-origin, vegan or palm-related claim, ask for an origin declaration covering both building blocks, and for the RSPO certificate scope where palm kernel is involved.

Alkyl polyglucosides are generally reported as readily biodegradable in standard OECD screening tests, and they have a favourable aquatic toxicity profile compared with many surfactants. This is one reason they are chosen for products with environmental claims. Biodegradability data and classifications are specific to each grade, however. Check the safety data sheet and the test data for the grade you buy before making claims on your label.