Glycerin Monostearate (GMS) Supplier South Africa

What Is Glycerin Monostearate?

Glycerin monostearate (GMS) is the monoester of glycerol and stearic acid, produced by esterification of glycerol with stearic acid or by glycerolysis of vegetable fat. GMS 40 contains 40% monoglycerides; GMS 90 (distilled monoglyceride) contains 90%+ monoglycerides and has a more defined, predictable performance. Both grades are self-emulsifying waxes that melt into oil phases and then form stable emulsions on contact with the aqueous phase, functioning simultaneously as emulsifier, consistency modifier, and viscosity builder.

Role in Cleaning and Personal Care Formulations

In cream cleaners and hand lotions, GMS forms an o/w emulsion that gives the product its creamy, white appearance, rich feel, and stable consistency. In cream soap formulations it builds lather creaminess and leaves a conditioning film on the skin. At 1–3% in shampoos, GMS produces pearlescence when the product is cooled to below its crystallisation temperature, creating the aesthetic pearl finish associated with quality hair care products. In fabric softener concentrates GMS can assist dispersion of quaternary ammonium actives.

Grades and Supply

Terracore Chemicals supplies both GMS 40 (standard grade, lower cost, slight odour from glycerolysis) and GMS 90 (distilled, deodorised, higher purity) in 25 kg bags. GMS 90 is preferred for cosmetic and food applications; GMS 40 is suitable for industrial cleaning creams and technical emulsions. We advise formulators on emulsification systems, processing temperatures, and co-emulsifier pairings.