Concrete Admixture UAE & KSA Stock COA + SDS Supplied CIF / FOB Available Dubai & Riyadh

Sodium Gluconate — Concrete Retarder & Water Reducer | GCC

CAS No: 527-07-1 · HS Code: 2918.16

Sodium Gluconate (CAS 527-07-1) is the most effective and widely used set retarder and water reducer in ready-mix concrete, precast concrete, and construction grouting applications across the GCC. 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.

Quick Specifications

CAS Number527-07-1
HS Code2918.16
CAS Number527-07-1
Chemical NameSodium Gluconate (D-Gluconic acid, sodium salt)
AppearanceWhite to off-white free-flowing granules or powder
Purity≥ 98.0 %

Dubai HQ: P.O. Box 29096, UAE
Riyadh: 2804 Nesaab Street, KSA

Technical Specifications

PARAMETER SPECIFICATION TEST METHOD
CAS Number527-07-1
Chemical NameSodium Gluconate (D-Gluconic acid, sodium salt)
AppearanceWhite to off-white free-flowing granules or powderVisual
Purity≥ 98.0 %Titrimetric
pH (10% solution)6.2 – 7.8
Chloride Content≤ 0.07 %Volhard
Heavy Metals< 20 ppmICP-OES
Moisture≤ 0.5 %Karl Fischer
Reducing Sugars≤ 0.5 %Fehling
Bulk Density850 – 950 g/LTapped
Shelf Life24 months in sealed bags, dry conditions

Applications — UAE, Saudi Arabia & GCC

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.

Usage & 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 Available

25 Kgs Multi-Wall Paper Bags
500 Kgs Supersacks
1,000 Kgs Jumbo Bags

Storage & 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.

Need TDS or SDS Documentation?

Full Certificate of Analysis (COA), Safety Data Sheet (SDS/MSDS), and Technical Data Sheet (TDS) supplied with every shipment from Dubai or Riyadh.

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Frequently Asked Questions

For typical GCC summer ready-mix (ambient 40–48°C, water temperature 28–35°C, transit time 60–90 min): start at 0.08–0.12% sodium gluconate by weight of cement, combined with chilled water and PCE superplasticiser. Adjust based on specific cement type, C₃A content, and required initial set time. Do not exceed 0.20% without specific trials — overdosing causes prolonged retardation, possible surface dusting, and strength reduction at 28 days. For mass pours (foundations, raft slabs) on NEOM-scale projects: 0.10–0.18% may be required. Always trial with your plant's specific cement source.

Yes — sodium gluconate and PCE superplasticisers are chemically compatible and often used together in GCC high-performance concrete. PCE provides water reduction and workability; sodium gluconate provides set retardation and additional plasticising effect. The combination is standard in GCC ready-mix plants for summer concreting. Contact Raykem for combined sodium gluconate + PCE dosage recommendations for your specific mix design.