Database/Cleansing/Ammonium Myreth Sulfate
Mostly natural · ISO 16128

Is Ammonium Myreth Sulfate natural?

Mostly. Myristyl chain is a natural fatty alcohol; the ethoxylate and ammonium are petrochemical/ammonia-derived; the sulfate group counts as natural.

INCI nameAmmonium Myreth Sulfate
CAS27731-61-9
FormulaC28H62NO5S- · 524.9 Da
FunctionCleansing · Foaming
FeedstockMade from a coconut or palm-kernel fatty alcohol…

How we scored it

Est. C14 myristyl-O 213 Da (natural) + 3 EO 132 Da (petrochemical) + SO3 80 Da (natural) + NH4 18 Da (ammonia, non-natural); (213+80)/443=0.66. Supplied formula/IUPAC contradicted the CosIng description, so structure is estimated.
What counts. ISO 16128-2 scores the atoms that remain in the final ingredient. Reagents, solvents, catalysts and protecting groups used during manufacture leave no mass behind and are not counted.

Where it comes from

Made from a coconut or palm-kernel fatty alcohol reacted with ethylene oxide, then sulfated and neutralised with ammonia. Structure and EO level are estimated from the CosIng description since the supplied PubChem formula appeared mismatched.

In plain English

A cleansing, foam-boosting surfactant related to the sulfates used in shampoos. Made from a coconut- or palm-derived fatty alcohol reacted with ethylene oxide and sulfated, then neutralised with ammonia.

CosIng definition: Poly(oxy-1,2-ethanediyl), .alpha.-sulfo-.omega.-(tetradecyloxy)-, ammonium salt

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Structure

2D structure of Ammonium Myreth Sulfate

azanium;1-tetradecoxytetradecane;sulfate

PubChem CID 5463960 ↗

References

  1. 1ISO 16128-1:2016 and ISO 16128-2:2017 — Guidelines on technical definitions and criteria for natural and organic cosmetic ingredients and products. ISO, Geneva.
  2. 2Ammonium Myreth Sulfate. PubChem CID 5463960. National Center for Biotechnology Information. pubchem.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov ↗
  3. 3AMMONIUM MYRETH SULFATE. CosIng — European Commission cosmetic ingredient database. ec.europa.eu/cosing ↗
  4. 4AMMONIUM MYRETH SULFATE. CosIng u2014 European Commission database for information on cosmetic substances and ingredients. https://ec.europa.eu/growth/tools-databases/cosing/search?search=AMMONIUM%20MYRETH%20SULFATE