Database/Binding/Carboxymethyl Hydroxyethylcellulose
Mostly natural · ISO 16128

Is Carboxymethyl Hydroxyethylcellulose natural?

Mostly. Wood or cotton cellulose etherified with petrochemical ethylene-oxide and chloroacetate groups, with sodium neutralization adding a small natural fraction.

INCI nameCarboxymethyl Hydroxyethylcellulose
CAS9088-04-4
FunctionBinding · Emulsion Stabilising
FeedstockMade from plant cellulose (wood pulp or cotton…

How we scored it

AGU 162 (natural). +1.0 MS hydroxyethyl=44 (petrochemical ethylene oxide). +0.9 DS carboxymethyl-Na=72 (57 petrochemical chloroacetate + 23 Na natural). Total 278; natural 183; 183/278=0.66 (assumed typical DS/MS).
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.

How it’s made

Alkali cellulose: SN2 on chloroacetate and ethylene oxide opening, then protonation. Each curved arrow moves one electron pair, and the film ends on the score above.

Where it comes from

Made from plant cellulose (wood pulp or cotton linters) reacted with ethylene oxide and sodium chloroacetate, both petrochemical reagents, to improve water solubility. Typical substitution levels are assumed since none were given in the input.

In plain English

Plant cellulose chemically modified with two small synthetic chemical groups to make it dissolve in water. Binds and thickens formulas, stabilizes emulsions, and helps form a film.

CosIng definition: Cellulose, carboxymethyl 2-hydroxyethyl ether, sodium salt

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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. 2CARBOXYMETHYL HYDROXYETHYLCELLULOSE. CosIng — European Commission cosmetic ingredient database. ec.europa.eu/cosing ↗
  3. 3CARBOXYMETHYL HYDROXYETHYLCELLULOSE. CosIng u2014 European Commission database for information on cosmetic substances and ingredients. https://ec.europa.eu/growth/tools-databases/cosing/search?search=CARBOXYMETHYL%20HYDROXYETHYLCELLULOSE