Sodium Starch Glycolate
The superdisintegrant behind fast-dissolving tablets and capsules — a cross-linked starch excipient engineered for rapid dosage-form breakup.
Chelora Chemicals supplies pharmacopoeia-grade Sodium Starch Glycolate to formulation and tableting plants worldwide, with full documentation on every consignment.
Product identity
- CAS Number
- 9063-38-1
- Chemical name
- Carboxymethyl starch, sodium salt
- Category
- Pharmaceutical excipient
- Function
- Superdisintegrant
- Molecular form
- Polymeric (variable)
- Transport status
- Not classified as DG
- HS Code
- 3505.10
Note: SSG is supplied in Type A, B and C variants differing in sodium content, pH and cross-link level. Confirm which variant your formulation and pharmacopoeia monograph requires.
What Sodium Starch Glycolate is used for
Sodium Starch Glycolate (SSG) is a white to off-white, free-flowing powder produced by carboxymethylating starch (from potato or corn) and cross-linking it to control swelling behaviour. It is one of the most widely used superdisintegrants in solid oral dosage form manufacturing.
Its role is to swell rapidly on contact with water or gastric fluid, generating a strong, uniform expansion force that breaks a tablet apart into its constituent granules within seconds, accelerating drug dissolution and absorption. It is used across immediate-release tablets, orally disintegrating tablets (ODTs), and hard capsule formulations, and is also used in some veterinary and nutraceutical solid dosage products.
Where it sits in the value chain
- Potato / corn starch the natural polymer feedstock, chemically modified to form SSG.
- Sodium Starch Glycolate (this product) supplied to the specification your tablet or capsule process requires.
- Finished tablets / capsules the dosage forms that rely on SSG for fast, reliable disintegration.
Handling character
SSG is considered essentially non-toxic and non-hazardous under normal pharmaceutical handling, though as a fine powder it benefits from standard dust-control practice during weighing and blending. Full hazard detail is in the Safety section below.
| Parameter | Typical value |
|---|---|
| Appearance | White to off-white, free-flowing powder |
| Sodium content | 2.8% - 4.2% (grade-dependent) |
| pH (1% dispersion) | 3.0 - 7.5 (type-dependent) |
| Loss on drying | < 10% (typical) |
Important: the figures above are indicative of commercial material and are offered for planning only. The batch certificate of analysis is the governing document.
| Property | Value |
|---|---|
| Physical state | Free-flowing white powder |
| Function class | Superdisintegrant |
| Swelling behaviour | Rapid, high-volume swelling in water |
| Typical use level | 2% - 8% w/w of tablet weight |
| Solubility | Insoluble, swells and disperses in water |
Properties compiled from public pharmacopoeial reference data for CAS 9063-38-1 and rounded for readability. Treat them as orientation, not as a specification.
Where our customers put SSG to work
The superdisintegrant behind fast, reliable breakup of solid oral dosage forms.
Immediate-release tablets
Used at 2-8% to achieve rapid, reproducible tablet disintegration for fast drug release.
- Pharmacopoeia-grade specification
- Documented batch traceability
Orally disintegrating tablets (ODTs)
Used at higher levels to achieve very rapid breakup on the tongue without water.
- Type-specific grade matching
- Technical desk review on request
Hard capsule formulations
Used in capsule-fill powder blends to aid plug disintegration and release after the shell dissolves.
- Full analytical documentation available
- Retained sample held against the lot
Nutraceutical & veterinary tablets
Used in nutraceutical and veterinary solid dosage forms needing predictable disintegration.
- Industrial/pharma-grade options
- Documented batch traceability
Formulation development
Supplied in research quantities for disintegrant-level optimisation during formulation development.
- Small trial packs available
- Full documentation supplied
Contract & scheduled supply
Tableting plants running continuous production are supported with scheduled bulk delivery.
- Annual contracts with scheduled call-off
- Second source held in reserve
How we supply Sodium Starch Glycolate
Chelora Chemicals is a supplier and sourcing partner, not a manufacturer. SSG's Type A/B/C variants and pharmacopoeia compliance requirements make specification matching critical — that shapes how we manage this line.
We place your order with whichever qualified producer best matches your required type, your price point and your delivery window, and confirm your jurisdiction's import requirements before booking.
We keep a second qualified source on this line, so a single-plant disruption never becomes your production problem.
- Type and pharmacopoeia compliance confirmed before we quote. USP-NF, Ph.Eur. or JP monograph matching as required.
- Export documentation managed end to end. Classification, labelling and carrier compliance confirmed before booking.
- Regulatory documentation supplied with every batch. COA, SDS and, where available, DMF/CEP reference details.
- Batch traceability to the producing plant. Full chain of custody documentation on request.
- Export machinery handled in-house. Classification, approved packing, labelling, freight booking and customs paperwork are ours to manage.
- Pharmacopoeia-grade material sourced to your process. Matched precisely to your tablet or capsule specification.
Packed the way your plant receives it
Bag, drum or bulk container — tell us your preferred format and we will quote and classify to it.
25 kg multi-wall bags
Multi-wall paper bags with poly liner for standard pharmaceutical orders.
Moisture-protected drums
Fibre drums with poly liner for moisture-sensitive handling and storage.
Bulk-volume tableting orders
Bulk bag or container-load shipment for continuous-consumption tableting plants.
Incoterms to suit you
Quoted on the Incoterm your purchasing team works to, with documentation filed before booking.
Trial / sample quantities
Small packs dispatched for formulation trials before a commercial order is placed.
Contracted call-off supply
We hold contracted tonnage and release it against your consumption calendar.
Non-hazardous excipient — standard powder handling applies
Sodium Starch Glycolate is not classified as hazardous and is widely used in approved pharmaceutical formulations. The summary below is orientation only — the safety data sheet supplied with your specific batch is the authoritative document.
Handling notes
NoteMay cause mild, transient mechanical irritation to eyes and respiratory tract as a fine powder.
Minimise dust generation during weighing and blending. Always read the SDS issued with your specific batch for full handling guidance.
Storage
Store in tightly closed containers in a cool, dry place away from moisture, as SSG is hygroscopic and will absorb ambient humidity.
Handling
Use standard dust-control measures (local exhaust or dust masks) during weighing and blending; no special protective equipment is required beyond good powder-handling practice.
Transport
Sodium Starch Glycolate is not classified as a dangerous good for transport; standard commercial shipping documentation applies.
Every batch, documented
We verify documentation before dispatch so there are no surprises at your incoming-goods bench.
Specification agreed
Type, sodium content and pharmacopoeia compliance confirmed against your formulation requirement before order placement.
Producer batch testing
The producing plant tests each batch against the agreed specification before release.
Documentation review
COA, SDS and transport paperwork checked by our desk before the shipment is booked.
Traceable dispatch
Each shipment is traceable to its producing batch, with full chain-of-custody records on request.
How SSG is made
Sodium Starch Glycolate is produced by carboxymethylating potato or corn starch with sodium chloroacetate under alkaline conditions (etherification), introducing carboxymethyl groups onto the starch backbone. The product is then cross-linked to a controlled degree, which governs its water uptake, swelling volume and solubility — the basis for the Type A, B and C classifications used commercially.
We do not publish operating process parameters here; this is background only. Full technical documentation accompanies every shipment, and any process-specific detail you need is best confirmed directly with our technical desk.
| Material class | Modified (carboxymethylated, cross-linked) starch |
|---|---|
| Starch source | Potato or corn (maize) |
| Mechanism | Rapid water uptake and swelling, promoting dosage-form breakup |
| Related excipients | Croscarmellose Sodium, Crospovidone, Microcrystalline Cellulose |
Explore the wider pharmaceutical excipients range
Sodium Starch Glycolate, answered
What is Sodium Starch Glycolate used for?
How is Sodium Starch Glycolate made?
Is Sodium Starch Glycolate hazardous?
What grade do you supply?
What packing do you offer?
Do you manufacture this yourself?
Get a quote on Sodium Starch Glycolate today
Send us your required type, pack size and delivery window. We will come back with a firm quote, lead time and full documentation.