Database/Cleansing/Laureth-7 Citrate
Mostly natural · ISO 16128

Is Laureth-7 Citrate natural?

Mostly. Lauryl alcohol comes from coconut or palm-kernel oil and citric acid from fermentation, while the seven ethylene oxide units are petrochemical.

INCI nameLaureth-7 Citrate
CAS161756-30-5
FunctionCleansing · Cleansing Surfactant
FeedstockDominant route ethoxylates oleochemical lauryl alcohol with 7…

How we scored it

Natural: lauryl-O C12H25O 185.33 + citryl C6H7O6 175.12 = 360.45; petrochemical 7 EO x 44.05 = 308.37; total 668.82; 360.45/668.82 = 0.54.
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

Dominant route ethoxylates oleochemical lauryl alcohol with 7 mol ethylene oxide and esterifies it with fermentation citric acid. Ziegler-synthesised lauryl alcohol would lower the value (supplier note).

In plain English

A mild cleansing surfactant, a citric acid ester of ethoxylated lauryl alcohol, used in cleansers. The fatty alcohol comes from coconut or palm kernel oil, citric acid from fermentation and the ethoxy chain from petrochemical ethylene oxide.

CosIng definition: Poly(oxy-1,2-ethanediyl), .alpha.-hydro-.omega.-dodecyloxy-, dihydrogen citrates (7 mol EO average molar ratio)

Natural alternatives with the same function

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. 2LAURETH-7 CITRATE. CosIng — European Commission cosmetic ingredient database. ec.europa.eu/cosing ↗
  3. 3LAURETH-7 CITRATE. CosIng u2014 European Commission database for information on cosmetic substances and ingredients. https://ec.europa.eu/growth/tools-databases/cosing/search?search=LAURETH-7%20CITRATE