Sodium iminodisuccinate on your skin: a safety profile

What is sodium iminodisuccinate?

The IUPAC name is disodium iminodisuccinate.

Also known as: disodium iminodisuccinate, IDS, Baypure DS 100, iminodisuccinic acid disodium salt.

IUPAC name

disodium iminodisuccinate

CAS number

144538-83-0

Molecular formula

C8H10N2Na2O8

Molecular weight

298.14 g/mol

SMILES

CCC1C2CC3C4C5(CC(C2C5C(=O)OCCl)N3C1O)C6=CC=CC=C6N4C

PubChem CID

92090

Regulatory consensus

2 regulatory and scientific bodies have classified Sodium iminodisuccinate. The classifications differ — that's the data.

Regulators apply different standards of evidence — animal-data weighting, exposure-pattern assumptions, epidemiological power thresholds — which is why two scientific bodies can review the same data and reach different conclusions. The disagreement is the data.

Where you encounter sodium iminodisuccinate

• detergents
• cleaners
• cosmetics
• skincare products

Safer alternatives

Lower-risk approaches that achieve a similar outcome to Sodium iminodisuccinate:

• GLDA (tetrasodium glutamate diacetate) — readily biodegradable chelator
  Trade-offs: Extremely mild (pH 5.5-6.5); biodegradable; derived from amino acids and fatty acids; premium ingredient cost; excellent consumer perception; lower foam volume than sulfate surfactants.
  Relative cost: 1.2-2×
• Citric acid — food-grade, naturally occurring
  Trade-offs: Alternative chelating agent; stability constants for target metal ions differ; biodegradability varies (EDTA poorly biodegradable, citrate fully biodegradable); downstream water treatment impact should be assessed.
  Relative cost: 2-5× conventional
• MGDA (methylglycinediacetic acid) — high biodegradability
  Trade-offs: Alternative chelating agent; stability constants for target metal ions differ; biodegradability varies (EDTA poorly biodegradable, citrate fully biodegradable); downstream water treatment impact should be assessed.
  Relative cost: 1.2-2×

Frequently asked questions