Database/Antimicrobial/Cetylpyridinium Chloride
Mostly natural · ISO 16128

Is Cetylpyridinium Chloride natural?

Mostly. Cetyl group is an oleochemical fatty alcohol chain; the pyridine ring is a synthetic petrochemical heterocycle; chloride is mineral.

INCI nameCetylpyridinium Chloride
CAS123-03-5
FormulaC21H38ClN · 340.0 Da
FunctionAntimicrobial · Antistatic
FeedstockMade by quaternizing pyridine (a petrochemical aromatic heterocycle)…

How we scored it

Cetyl C16H33 ~225 Da (natural fatty alcohol) + Cl ~35 Da (mineral) = 260 natural; pyridine ring C5H5N ~79 Da (petrochemical) / 340 total = 0.77
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 quaternizing pyridine (a petrochemical aromatic heterocycle) with cetyl chloride derived from coconut/palm cetyl alcohol. Cetyl alcohol can also be petrochemical (Ziegler/oxo); supplier-dependent.

In plain English

An antimicrobial compound made from a coconut/palm-derived fatty chain joined to a synthetic ring structure. Used in mouthwash and deodorants to reduce odor-causing bacteria.

CosIng definition: Cetylpyridinium Chloride is a quaternary ammonium salt that conforms generally to the formula

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Structure

2D structure of Cetylpyridinium Chloride

1-hexadecylpyridin-1-ium chloride

PubChem CID 31239 ↗

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. 2Cetylpyridinium Chloride. PubChem CID 31239. National Center for Biotechnology Information. pubchem.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov ↗
  3. 3CETYLPYRIDINIUM CHLORIDE. CosIng — European Commission cosmetic ingredient database. ec.europa.eu/cosing ↗
  4. 4CETYLPYRIDINIUM CHLORIDE. CosIng u2014 European Commission database for information on cosmetic substances and ingredients. https://ec.europa.eu/growth/tools-databases/cosing/search?search=CETYLPYRIDINIUM%20CHLORIDE