Database/Foam Boosting Surfactant/Behenamide MEA
Mostly natural · ISO 16128

Is Behenamide MEA natural?

Mostly. Long fatty chain is oleochemical behenic acid (natural); monoethanolamine head group is petrochemical, from ethylene oxide plus ammonia.

INCI nameBehenamide MEA
CAS94109-05-4
FormulaC24H49NO2 · 383.7 Da
FunctionFoam Boosting Surfactant · Cleansing Surfactant
FeedstockMade by reacting behenic acid, a C22 fatty…

How we scored it

Behenic acid (C22 oleochemical) acyl C22H43O 323.6 Da + monoethanolamine residue C2H6NO 60.1 Da (minus water) = 383.7 Da. 323.6/383.7 = 0.84.
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 by reacting behenic acid, a C22 fatty acid from vegetable oils, with monoethanolamine, a synthetic amine from ethylene oxide and ammonia. No significant alternative route exists.

In plain English

A foam-boosting and cleansing ingredient made from behenic acid, a fatty acid from plant oils, combined with a lab-made compound called monoethanolamine. Found in shampoos and cleansers.

Natural alternatives with the same function

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 Sodium C8-10 Alkyl Sulfate 100% natural origin

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Structure

2D structure of Behenamide MEA

N-(2-hydroxyethyl)docosanamide

PubChem CID 3023585 ↗

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. 2Behenamide MEA. PubChem CID 3023585. National Center for Biotechnology Information. pubchem.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov ↗
  3. 3BEHENAMIDE MEA. CosIng — European Commission cosmetic ingredient database. ec.europa.eu/cosing ↗
  4. 4BEHENAMIDE MEA. CosIng u2014 European Commission database for information on cosmetic substances and ingredients. https://ec.europa.eu/growth/tools-databases/cosing/search?search=BEHENAMIDE%20MEA