Database/Cleansing/Quaternium-87
Mostly natural · ISO 16128

Is Quaternium-87 natural?

Mostly. Long oleochemical fatty-acid chains dominate the molecule's mass; the imidazoline ring nitrogens, N-methyl group and methosulfate counter-ion are petrochemical.

INCI nameQuaternium-87
CAS92201-88-2
FunctionCleansing · Hair Conditioning
FeedstockMade by condensing two fatty acids, such as…

How we scored it

Two fatty (C9-19/C10-20) chains from fatty acids (natural, dominant mass) on a diethylenetriamine-derived imidazolinium ring (petrochemical) with N-methyl and methosulfate (petrochemical). Est. fatty mass ~65% of total.
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

Made by condensing two fatty acids, such as from tallow or vegetable oil, with diethylenetriamine to form a fatty imidazoline, then quaternising with dimethyl sulfate. Exact chain distribution isn't disclosed, so the split is estimated from typical imidazoline-quat structures.

In plain English

A conditioning ingredient used in hair care to reduce static and improve softness and combability. Made from fatty acids combined with a synthetic amine and a quaternising agent.

CosIng definition: Imidazolium compounds, 2-(C9-19 and C9-19-unsatd. Alkyl)-1-[(C10-20 and C10-20-unsatd. Amido)ethyl]-4,5-dihydro-1-Me, Me sulfates

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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. 2QUATERNIUM-87. CosIng — European Commission cosmetic ingredient database. ec.europa.eu/cosing ↗
  3. 3QUATERNIUM-87. CosIng u2014 European Commission database for information on cosmetic substances and ingredients. https://ec.europa.eu/growth/tools-databases/cosing/search?search=QUATERNIUM-87