Database/Skin Conditioning/Pentylene Glycol
Route-dependent · ISO 16128

Is Pentylene Glycol natural?

It depends. Manufactured either from petrochemical pentene-derived epoxide or from renewable furfural; suppliers differ and market share is unclear.

INCI namePentylene Glycol
CAS5343-92-0
FormulaC5H12O2 · 104.15 Da
FunctionSkin Conditioning · Solvent
FeedstockPentylene Glycol can be produced via petrochemical epoxide…

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
petrochemicalpentene-derived epoxide hydrolysis0.00uncertain
bio-basedfurfural from corn cob/bagasse1.00uncertain, growing
Ask your supplier. A batch-specific certificate of origin or bio-based carbon test (ASTM D6866) settles which route applies.

How we scored it

1,2-Pentanediol: petrochemical route (pentene-derived epoxide hydrolysis) = 0.0; bio-based route (furfural from corn cob/bagasse) = 1.0; dominant commercial share uncertain
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

Epoxidation of 1-pentene (peracid), then acid hydrolysis. Each curved arrow moves one electron pair, and the film ends on the score above.

Where it comes from

Pentylene Glycol can be produced via petrochemical epoxide hydrolysis or via a route starting from furfural, a renewable feedstock from corn cobs or bagasse. Different suppliers favor different routes, and the dominant global source is unclear.

In plain English

A humectant and preservative booster used in moisturizers and serums to keep them hydrated and help other preservatives work better. It can be made from petrochemical or plant-based (corn cob) feedstocks depending on supplier.

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Structure

2D structure of Pentylene Glycol

pentane-1,2-diol

PubChem CID 93000 ↗

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. 2Pentylene Glycol. PubChem CID 93000. National Center for Biotechnology Information. pubchem.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov ↗
  3. 3PENTYLENE GLYCOL. CosIng — European Commission cosmetic ingredient database. ec.europa.eu/cosing ↗
  4. 4PENTYLENE GLYCOL. CosIng u2014 European Commission database for information on cosmetic substances and ingredients. https://ec.europa.eu/growth/tools-databases/cosing/search?search=PENTYLENE%20GLYCOL