Database/Antistatic/Dimethyl Glutarate
100% petroleum · ISO 16128

Is Dimethyl Glutarate natural?

No. Glutaric acid and its methyl esters here trace to the cyclohexane-oxidation route to adipic acid, a petrochemical (benzene-derived) process.

INCI nameDimethyl Glutarate
CAS1119-40-0
FormulaC7H12O4 · 160.17 Da
FunctionAntistatic · Emollient
FeedstockManufactured as part of the 'DBE' (dibasic ester)…

How we scored it

Dimethyl ester of glutaric acid; cosmetic-grade supply is the DBE byproduct mixture from adipic-acid (nylon) manufacture. Whole molecule petrochemical, including methanol-derived methyl groups.
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

Manufactured as part of the 'DBE' (dibasic ester) mixture, a byproduct stream of adipic acid production for nylon 6,6, esterified with methanol. No commercially significant bio-based route is used for this cosmetic solvent grade.

In plain English

A lightweight solvent and skin-conditioning ingredient used to dissolve other ingredients and improve texture in creams and lotions. It's manufactured from petrochemical feedstocks as a byproduct of nylon production.

Natural alternatives with the same function

Structure

2D structure of Dimethyl Glutarate

dimethyl pentanedioate

PubChem CID 14242 ↗

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. 2Dimethyl Glutarate. PubChem CID 14242. National Center for Biotechnology Information. pubchem.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov ↗
  3. 3DIMETHYL GLUTARATE. CosIng — European Commission cosmetic ingredient database. ec.europa.eu/cosing ↗
  4. 4DIMETHYL GLUTARATE. CosIng u2014 European Commission database for information on cosmetic substances and ingredients. https://ec.europa.eu/growth/tools-databases/cosing/search?search=DIMETHYL%20GLUTARATE