Potassium PCA is a chemical compound, PCA potassium salt.
PCA is a chemical compound, (2-Pyrrolidone-5-Carboxylic Acid), known as pyroglutamic acid is an internal amide of L-glutamic acid found in fruit, vegetables, herbs and molasses.
The name describes the structure of the molecule:
- Potassium is a chemical element with the symbol K (from Neo-Latin Kalium) and the atomic number 19. It is a metal and essential for many biological processes.
- PCA stands for pyrrolidone carboxylic acid, which is a natural component of human skin and a part of the "natural moisturizing factors" that maintain a healthy epidermis. PCA is very hygroscopic, attracting moisture from the air.
The synthesis process takes place in different steps:
- Preparation of pyrrolidone carboxylic acid (PCA). PCA can be produced by hydrolysis of N-methylpyrrolidone. This reaction involves the addition of water and is typically catalyzed by an acid or base.
- Neutralization with potassium hydroxide. PCA is neutralized with potassium hydroxide (KOH) to produce potassium PCA. This reaction involves the formation of a salt from the acid (PCA) and the base (KOH), carried out in an aqueous solution.
- Crystallization. Potassium PCA is isolated from the crystallization reaction mixture by cooling the reaction mixture to induce the formation of potassium PCA crystals.
- Filtration and Drying. The PCA potassium crystals are separated from the filtration reaction mixture and dried to remove residual water.
- Quality control test. The final product is tested to ensure it meets the required specifications. This may involve testing for purity, moisture content and other physical and chemical properties.
What it is used for and where
Potassium PCA is often used in cosmetics and personal care products as a humectant, helping to increase the water content of the upper layers of the skin.
Cosmetics
Skin conditioning agent - Humectant. Humectants are hygroscopic substances used to minimise water loss in the skin and to prevent it from drying out by facilitating faster and greater absorption of water into the stratum corneum of the epidermis. The epidermis is the most superficial of the three layers that make up the human skin (epidermis, dermis and hypodermis) and is the layer that maintains hydration in all three layers. In turn, the epidermis is composed of five layers: corneum, the most superficial, lucidum, granulosum, spinosum and basale. Humectants have the ability to retain in the stratum corneum the water they attract from the air and have the function of moisturising the skin. It is better to use them before emollients that are oil-based.
Skin conditioning agent - Miscellaneous. This ingredient has the task of modifying the condition of the skin when it is damaged or dry by reducing its flakiness and restoring its elasticity.
- Molecular Formula C5H6KNO3
- Molecular Weight 167.20 g/mol
- CAS 4810-50-8
- UNII H004M3556Q
- EC number 225-373-9
Potassium PCA 
