Database/Buffering/Malic Acid
Route-dependent · ISO 16128

Is Malic Acid natural?

It depends. Most cosmetic-grade malic acid is synthesised from petrochemical maleic anhydride; a smaller share is fermentation- or fruit-derived.

INCI nameMalic Acid
CAS97-67-6
FormulaC4H6O5 · 134.09 Da
FunctionBuffering
FeedstockThe dominant industrial route hydrates petrochemical maleic anhydride…

Why the score varies

This ingredient is made commercially by more than one route, and ISO 16128 scores the feedstock actually used. Without a supplier certificate of origin the value cannot be claimed.

RouteFeedstockNOIShareNotes
Synthetic hydration of maleic anhydridePetrochemical maleic anhydride (benzene/butane)0.00~85%
Fermentation / natural extractionGlucose fermentation or fruit-derived1.00~15%
Ask your supplier. A batch-specific certificate of origin or bio-based carbon test (ASTM D6866) settles which route applies.

How we scored it

Two distinct commercial routes rather than one shared molecule: synthetic DL-malic acid from maleic anhydride = 0/134 = 0.0; fermentation- or fruit-derived L-malic acid = 134/134 = 1.0.
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

The dominant industrial route hydrates petrochemical maleic anhydride to racemic DL-malic acid. A minority natural-origin supply comes from fermentation of sugars or extraction linked to fruit processing.

In plain English

A tart fruit acid found naturally in apples, used to balance product pH. Most of the commercial supply is made synthetically from a petrochemical starting material, though a natural fermentation- or fruit-based version also exists.

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Structure

2D structure of Malic Acid

2-hydroxybutanedioic acid

PubChem CID 525 ↗

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. 2Malic Acid. PubChem CID 525. National Center for Biotechnology Information. pubchem.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov ↗
  3. 3MALIC ACID. CosIng — European Commission cosmetic ingredient database. ec.europa.eu/cosing ↗
  4. 4MALIC ACID. CosIng u2014 European Commission database for information on cosmetic substances and ingredients. https://ec.europa.eu/growth/tools-databases/cosing/search?search=MALIC%20ACID