Sodium Hyaluronate is a popular raw material for application in skincare products, medical dressings, and healthcare supplements. However, others have problems with clumping, low viscosity, and retardation of dissolution because of the incorrect handling process during dissolution. Being a professional supplier of sodium Hyaluronate powder, we have written the most comprehensive dissolution guide that will help you effectively utilize it.
Clumping When Adding Sodium Hyaluronate Powder to Water, What to Do If It Won’t Stir?
Why does this happen? It may be caused by misuse. When the powder is added to water directly, the outer surface absorbs water and forms a gel membrane that surrounds the inner powder and prevents it from dissolving.
Powder Fineness Issues:
Irrespective of whether the powder is too fine or too coarse, some problems can crop up in dissolution. The next table explains the advantages and disadvantages of powders of different mesh sizes.
| Mesh Size Range | Particle Size | Dissolution Characteristics |
| <60 Mesh | Coarse | Rapid sedimentation, easy clumping |
| 80-100 Mesh | Medium | Balanced dissolution speed and anti-dispersion |
| >200 Mesh | Ultrafine | Prone to floating and agglomeration, requires special processing |
How to Solve This Problem?
Reverse Dissolution Method (Laboratory Standard Operation):
- Add Water First: Take an appropriate amount of purified water at 25-40°C. Distilled water is recommended to avoid the impact of calcium and magnesium ions.
- Slowly Sift the Powder: Use an 80-100 mesh sieve, stirring while sifting to avoid pouring all the powder at once.
- Stirring Tools:
- Small Amounts (<100ml): Use a glass rod to stir in the shape of an “∞” for 5 minutes.
- Large Amounts (>500ml): Use a magnetic stirrer (500-800 rpm) to fully dissolve for 20 minutes.
Comparison Test:
| Dissolution Method | Dissolution Time | Clumping Status |
| Directly Pouring Powder | >1 hour | Severe Clumping |
| Reverse Dissolution + Magnetic Stirring | 15-20 minutes | No Clumping |
Solution Appears Dilute After Dissolution, Is It a Fake Product?
Certain customers may encounter this issue when using Sodium Hyaluronate powder for the very first time. Even though the powder was dissolved according to the instructions, the resulting solution appears as watery as transparent water with little viscosity. This is not necessarily a sign of counterfeiting; it is probably caused by one of the following two reasons:
1. Incorrect Molecular Weight Selection:
The molecular weight of Sodium Hyaluronate also directly affects the viscosity of the solution. Low molecular weight Sodium Hyaluronate is dissolved into as watery as possible but as good in permeability, hence usable for serums or injectable solutions. High molecular weight Sodium Hyaluronate creates more better films, and once dissolved, has high viscoelasticity, thus usable in masks and gels.
Measured Data (25°C, 0.5% Concentration):
| Molecular Weight | Viscosity (mPa·s) | Suitable Applications |
| 100 KDa | 50-100 | Serums, microneedles |
| 1000 KDa | 2000-3000 | Masks, emulsions |
| 1500 KDa | 5000-8000 | Medical gels, wound dressings |
As seen in the table above, at the same temperature and concentration, lower molecular weights result in lower viscosities.
2. Incorrect Concentration Adjustment:
Similar to mixing milk powder, adding too much water dilutes the flavor. It is recommended to use a concentration of 0.2%-1%, which means mixing 1g of powder with 100-500ml of water. Concentrations above 1% may form a gel-like consistency.
Cloudiness or Flocculent Matter When Dissolving in Tap Water or Mineral Water
Despite following the steps, the solution becomes cloudy or contains flocculent matter resembling tofu dregs. What causes this?
This situation is usually related to water quality.
- Tap Water Contains Calcium/Magnesium Ions, Forming Insoluble Salts with Sodium Hyaluronate
- Some Mineral Waters Have a High pH (>8), Disrupting the Structural Integrity of Sodium Hyaluronate
To Avoid This Situation, We Recommend Using Suitable Water Sources:
- Distilled water or RO (reverse osmosis) water
- Professional buffered solutions (PBS pH7.0) are even more effective
If Cloudiness Has Already Occurred:
- Emergency Treatment Methods:
- Filter using a 0.22μm microfiltration membrane
- Adjust the pH to between 6.5-7.0
How Long Can the Solution Be Stored After Dissolution? How to Prevent Bacterial Contamination?
Storage Duration:
- Unsterilized Solution (Homemade): Refrigerate at 4°C for ≤3 days (adding 0.1% phenoxyethanol is recommended)
- After Sterilization (Filtration/Irradiation): 7 days at room temperature, 1 month refrigerated
Antibacterial Solutions:
- Laboratory Level: After dissolution, filter through a 0.22μm membrane and aliquot into sterile bottles
- Home/Small Batch: Add XX brand combination preservative kit (phenoxyethanol + ethylhexylglycerin, which is gentle and non-irritating)
Stanford Chemical Company (SCC) is a reliable supplier of Sodium Hyaluronate powder. We offer non-animal-derived, non-GMO high-purity Sodium Hyaluronate powder. Our products cover various grades, including food-grade, cosmetic-grade, injectable-grade, medical-grade, eye drop-grade, and cross-linked gels.
* Special discounts are also available for educators and researchers.