Database/Binding/Hydroxybutyl Methylcellulose
Mostly natural · ISO 16128

Is Hydroxybutyl Methylcellulose natural?

Mostly. Cellulose backbone is natural; methyl (methanol-derived) and hydroxybutyl (butylene-oxide-derived) ether groups are petrochemical.

INCI nameHydroxybutyl Methylcellulose
CAS9041-56-9
FunctionBinding · Emulsion Stabilising
FeedstockMade from wood-pulp or cotton cellulose reacted with…

How we scored it

Assumed methyl DS 1.4 (+19.6Da) and hydroxybutyl MS 0.2 (+14.4Da) on AGU 162Da; both substituents petrochemical. 162/196 = 0.83.
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 methyl chloride and 1,2-butylene 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 wood-pulp or cotton cellulose reacted with petrochemical methyl chloride/methanol and butylene oxide. Substitution level varies by supplier grade.

In plain English

A thickener, film-former and binder made from plant cellulose (wood pulp or cotton) chemically modified with methyl and hydroxybutyl groups to control how it dissolves and thickens water.

CosIng definition: Cellulose, hydroxybutyl methyl ether

Natural alternatives with the same function

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Structure

2D structure of Hydroxybutyl Methylcellulose

PubChem CID 3084047 ↗

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. 2Hydroxybutyl Methylcellulose. PubChem CID 3084047. National Center for Biotechnology Information. pubchem.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov ↗
  3. 3HYDROXYBUTYL METHYLCELLULOSE. CosIng — European Commission cosmetic ingredient database. ec.europa.eu/cosing ↗
  4. 4HYDROXYBUTYL METHYLCELLULOSE. CosIng u2014 European Commission database for information on cosmetic substances and ingredients. https://ec.europa.eu/growth/tools-databases/cosing/search?search=HYDROXYBUTYL%20METHYLCELLULOSE