In the Gulf's extreme heat — where concrete temperatures at mixing can exceed 35°C and ambient temperatures reach 48°C+ in summer — unretarded concrete can lose its workability within 20–30 minutes of mixing, making sodium gluconate essential for all GCC ready-mix concrete operations, long-haul transit mixing, and large pours including NEOM, Expo City legacy, and major infrastructure projects across the Gulf.
Technical specifications
| PARAMETER | SPECIFICATION | TEST METHOD |
|---|---|---|
| CAS Number | 527-07-1 | — |
| Chemical Name | Sodium Gluconate (D-Gluconic acid, sodium salt) | — |
| Appearance | White to off-white free-flowing granules or powder | Visual |
| Purity | ≥ 98.0 % | Titrimetric |
| pH (10% solution) | 6.2 – 7.8 | — |
| Chloride Content | ≤ 0.07 % | Volhard |
| Heavy Metals | < 20 ppm | ICP-OES |
| Moisture | ≤ 0.5 % | Karl Fischer |
| Reducing Sugars | ≤ 0.5 % | Fehling |
| Bulk Density | 850 – 950 g/L | Tapped |
| Shelf Life | 24 months in sealed bags, dry conditions | — |
| HS Code | 2918.16 |
Applications
- Ready-Mix Concrete — Hot Weather Retardation — Primary use across GCC ready-mix plants — sodium gluconate extends the workable life of concrete by retarding cement hydration, compensating for the accelerating effect of GCC summer temperatures. Enables transit times of 60–90 minutes in temperatures exceeding 40°C without significant slump loss.
- Mass Concrete & Large Foundation Pours — Prevents premature stiffening in large concrete pours on GCC mega-projects (NEOM, The Line, Red Sea, Qiddiya) where long transit distances, high ambient temperatures, and large pour volumes require extended set retardation.
- Precast Concrete & Delayed Demould — Controls set time in precast concrete elements, allowing extended time between casting and demoulding on GCC precast operations — consistent set time enables efficient production planning.
- High-Strength Concrete (HSC) — At high cement content (≥ 400 kg/m³) common in GCC structural concrete, sodium gluconate controls the accelerated hydration of high-cement mixes, preventing early stiffening and improving workability.
- Oilfield Cementing (Well Completion) — Critical additive in oil well cement slurries for ADNOC, Aramco, QatarEnergy, KOC, PDO, and BAPCO — retards set time of cement slurries pumped deep into high-temperature wells across GCC oilfields.
- Chelating Agent & Metal Treatment — Sodium gluconate's chelating properties make it effective for surface cleaning (descaling, rust removal) and as a cleaning agent for GCC industrial equipment and food processing facilities.
Key properties
- Outstanding set retardation performance — most effective organic retarder
- Also acts as a plasticiser/water reducer — improves concrete workability
- Performance increases with temperature — ideal for GCC hot weather concreting
- Does not significantly affect final compressive strength when used correctly
- Compatible with all standard admixture types (PCE, lignosulphonate, AEA)
- Low chloride content — meets BS 5075 and ASTM C494 requirements
- Non-toxic, biodegradable — environmentally acceptable in GCC projects
- Consistent performance — high purity (≥ 98%) ensures predictable retardation
Usage and recommendations
Typical dosage: 0.05–0.20% by weight of cement (w/c). Dosage must be accurately controlled — overdosing causes excessive retardation and strength reduction. For GCC summer concreting (≥ 40°C): use 0.10–0.15% with water temperature control (chilled water, ice) for best results. Sodium gluconate is temperature-sensitive — its retarding efficiency increases significantly above 30°C, making it uniquely suited to GCC hot weather conditions. Always trial the exact dosage with your specific cement type, as retardation varies by cement fineness and C₃A content.
Packaging
- 25 kg Multi-Wall Paper Bags
- 500 kg Supersacks
- 1,000 kg Jumbo Bags
Storage and shelf life
Store in sealed bags in a cool, dry warehouse (< 35°C, < 70% RH). Sodium gluconate is hygroscopic — caking occurs on moisture uptake. Shelf life: 24 months.