Database/Hair Conditioning/Pentaerythrityl Tetra C5-9 Acid Esters
Route-dependent · ISO 16128

Is Pentaerythrityl Tetra C5-9 Acid Esters natural?

It depends. The pentaerythritol core is petrochemical; the C5-C9 acid chains come either from plant oils (castor, coconut, oleic acid) or from petrochemical oxo synthesis, so the value depends on the supplier, as for Dipentaerythrityl Hexa C5-9 Acid Esters.

INCI namePentaerythrityl Tetra C5-9 Acid Esters
CAS67762-53-2
FunctionHair Conditioning · Plasticiser
FeedstockPentaerythritol (methanol-derived formaldehyde plus acetaldehyde) is esterified with…

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
Oleochemical C5-9 acidsHeptanoic acid from castor oil, caprylic from coconut, pelargonic from oleic acid; pentaerythritol from formaldehyde and acetaldehyde0.77not published
Oxo C5-9 acidsValeric, heptanoic and nonanoic acids from hydroformylated petrochemical olefins; pentaerythritol from formaldehyde and acetaldehyde0.00not published
Ask your supplier. A batch-specific certificate of origin or bio-based carbon test (ASTM D6866) settles which route applies.

How we scored it

Pentaerythritol core C5H8O4 132 Da (formaldehyde + acetaldehyde, petrochemical); four C5-C9 acyl chains taken as C7 average, 4 x 113 = 453 Da, natural if oleochemical and 0 if oxo-derived; oleochemical route 453 / 585 = 0.77, oxo route 0.00.
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

Pentaerythritol (methanol-derived formaldehyde plus acetaldehyde) is esterified with a C5-C9 fatty acid cut, assumed oleochemical (heptanoic from castor, caprylic from coconut, pelargonic from oleic acid). Valeric (C5) acid is often oxo-derived petrochemical, which would lower the value, so supplier grade data are needed.

In plain English

A light, silky emollient oil made by joining a four-armed alcohol (pentaerythritol) to short and medium-chain fatty acids. It softens skin and hair and helps products spread. The fatty acids come from plant oils or petrochemicals depending on the supplier; the alcohol part is made industrially.

CosIng definition: Carboxylic acids, C5-9, tetraesters with pentaerythritol

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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. 2PENTAERYTHRITYL TETRA C5-9 ACID ESTERS. CosIng — European Commission cosmetic ingredient database. ec.europa.eu/cosing ↗
  3. 3PENTAERYTHRITYL TETRA C5-9 ACID ESTERS. CosIng u2014 European Commission database for information on cosmetic substances and ingredients. https://ec.europa.eu/growth/tools-databases/cosing/search?search=PENTAERYTHRITYL%20TETRA%20C5-9%20ACID%20ESTERS