Is Ichthammol natural? NOI 0.00

Q: Is Ichthammol natural?

Ichthammol has a Natural Origin Index (NOI) of 0.00 (scale 0–1) per ISO 16128. Complex sulfonated/ammoniated distillate of fossil bituminous shale, analogous to petrolatum/mineral oil; scored per the site's fossil-hydrocarbon convention. An NOI of 0.00 means 0% of its molecular mass is traceable to a natural, renewable source.

How we scored it

CosIng formula/IUPAC (CH4N2O2, hydroxyurea) is mismatched to ichthammol's actual structure and is disregarded per method note. Scored from the description: bituminous shale distillate, sulfonated and ammoniated - all fossil/synthetic-ammonia mass, no renewable fragment.

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

Ichthammol is produced by dry-distilling bituminous (oil) shale, then sulfonating and ammoniating the distillate. Both the hydrocarbon base and the ammonia used are fossil/mineral-processing derived, with no renewable feedstock involved.

In plain English

An antimicrobial ingredient made by processing a fossil hydrocarbon rock (oil shale) with sulfur and ammonia. Used in treatments for skin conditions. It comes from a mineral fossil source, not plants.

CosIng definition: Ichthammol. A complex product obtained by the sulfonation and ammoniation of the distillation product from bituminous schists. It may contain saturated and unsaturated hydrocarbons, nitrogen bases and thiophene derivatives

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References

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