Is Methylcellulose natural? NOI 0.87

Q: Is Methylcellulose natural?

Methylcellulose has a Natural Origin Index (NOI) of 0.87 (scale 0–1) per ISO 16128. Cellulose backbone from wood or cotton pulp is natural; methyl ether groups are installed using petrochemical methanol or methyl chloride. An NOI of 0.87 means 87% of its molecular mass is traceable to a natural, renewable source.

How we scored it

Cellulose AGU C6H10O5 162 Da (natural) + DS 1.8 x methyl group (net +CH2, 14 Da, from methanol/methyl chloride, petrochemical) -> 162/(162+25) = 162/187 = 0.87.

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: hydroxide deprotonates C6–OH, then SN2 on methyl chloride. Each curved arrow moves one electron pair, and the film ends on the score above.

Where it comes from

Wood or cotton cellulose is etherified with petrochemical methyl chloride (or methanol) to a typical degree of substitution of about 1.8. No bio-based methylating agent is used commercially.

In plain English

A thickener and film-former made from plant cellulose, methylated with a small synthetic group to help it dissolve in water. It remains mostly plant-derived by weight.

CosIng definition: Cellulose, methyl ether

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