Database/Binding/Hydroxyethyl Ethylcellulose
Mostly natural · ISO 16128

Is Hydroxyethyl Ethylcellulose natural?

Mostly. The cellulose backbone is plant-derived; ethyl and hydroxyethyl substituents come from petrochemical ethyl chloride and ethylene oxide.

INCI nameHydroxyethyl Ethylcellulose
CAS9004-58-4
FunctionBinding · Emulsifying Surfactant
FeedstockMade by reacting wood or cotton cellulose with…

How we scored it

AGU core C6H10O5 (162.1 Da, cellulose) / repeat unit (223.4 Da) assuming DS(ethyl)=1.4 (+39.3 Da) and MS(hydroxyethyl)=0.5 (+22.0 Da), both petrochemical. 162.1/223.4=0.73.
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 ethyl chloride 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 by reacting wood or cotton cellulose with ethylene oxide and an ethylating agent to add hydroxyethyl and ethyl ether groups. Substitution degree assumed from typical commercial grades, not supplier data.

In plain English

A film-forming thickener made from plant cellulose chemically modified with ethyl and hydroxyethyl groups from petrochemical ethylene sources. Used to bind formulas and control viscosity.

CosIng definition: Cellulose, ethyl ether, 2-hydroxyethyl ether

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