- ▸ Used as a non-ionic spray adjuvant (wetter/spreader) in agricultural crop-protection tank mixes to reduce surface tension and improve droplet spreading and leaf cuticle penetration of herbicides, fungicides, and insecticides.
- ▸ Serves as a primary or co-surfactant in HI&I cleaning formulations such as hard-surface cleaners, dishwashing liquids, and degreasers, prized for high alkaline and electrolyte tolerance and stable foam.
- ▸ Functions as a mild, biodegradable cleansing and foaming surfactant in personal-care products including shampoos, body washes, and facial cleansers, valued as an NPE-free, sulfate-free alternative.
- ▸ Acts as a hydrotrope and solubilizer to dissolve and stabilize less-soluble actives and fragrances in concentrated electrolyte or high-alkalinity systems.
- ▸ Used as an emulsifying and wetting co-surfactant in industrial and institutional cleaning concentrates where readily biodegradable, low-toxicity surfactants are required.
A grade-specific Safety Data Sheet (SDS) — with the complete hazard classification, handling precautions, and transport information — is supplied with every shipment and available on request. Confirm all safety and regulatory details against the SDS for your specific grade.
Request SDS →Alkyl polyglucoside (APG, CAS 68515-73-1) is a nonionic surfactant made from renewable glucose and fatty alcohols. It is the go-to mild, readily biodegradable primary surfactant for sulfate-free and eco-positioned cleaners and personal care, cleaning and stabilizing foam without the irritation of harsher anionics.
Alkyl Polyglucoside: Why Formulators Choose It
APG is nonionic and substantive yet exceptionally mild, so it pairs with almost any surfactant class to cut irritation while holding detergency. It boosts and stabilizes foam, tolerates high pH and electrolyte, and carries a clean biodegradability profile — which is why it is the workhorse when a brand drops sulfates. Common uses: dish and hard-surface cleaners, shampoos and body washes, agricultural adjuvants, and industrial cleaning.
Mild Surfactants Compared
How APG compares with the surfactants it is most often formulated with or chosen instead of:
APG pairs especially well with an amphoteric betaine for foam and viscosity. Send your target actives, charge, and pH on an RFQ and we will quote the right APG grade.
Regulatory & registration requirements
- TSCA (US):
- REACH (EU):
- EC number: 500-220-1
Source: EPA TSCA Inventory (July 2025 release) · ECHA CHEM — retrieved 2026-07-12
Frequently Asked Questions
What is alkyl polyglucoside (APG) used for?
Alkyl polyglucoside is a mild nonionic surfactant used as a primary or co-surfactant in sulfate-free shampoos and body washes, dish and hard-surface cleaners, agricultural adjuvants, and industrial cleaning. It cleans, boosts foam, and lowers irritation, and it is readily biodegradable. RawSource supplies APG (CAS 68515-73-1) in bulk against the CoA.
Is APG a sulfate-free surfactant?
Yes. Alkyl polyglucoside has no sulfate group; it is a nonionic glucoside made from glucose and fatty alcohols, so it is the standard primary surfactant in sulfate-free (SLES/SLS-free) formulations. It is commonly paired with cocamidopropyl betaine to recover foam and viscosity.
How is APG different from SLES?
SLES (sodium laureth sulfate) is an anionic, high-foaming primary detergent; APG is a nonionic, milder surfactant with lower irritation. Formulators replace part or all of the SLES with APG to make a milder, sulfate-free product, often adding an amphoteric betaine for foam and thickening.
How is APG supplied in bulk?
RawSource supplies alkyl polyglucoside as an aqueous solution (typically ~50–70% active) in drums, IBCs, and bulk. Grade, active content, and MOQ are confirmed at quotation against the CoA. Submit a bulk RFQ with your target active level and application.
What is the REACH and TSCA regulatory status of Alkyl Polyglucoside (APG)?
Alkyl Polyglucoside (APG) (CAS 68515-73-1) is subject to U.S. TSCA Inventory requirements; supplying it into the EU requires valid REACH registration ((EC) No 1907/2006). RawSource cannot verify a third-party supplier's registrations — buyers should require documented TSCA and REACH compliance for their jurisdiction and volume (EC 500-220-1).