Database/Cleansing/Sodium C14-16 Olefin Sulfonate
Mostly petroleum · ISO 16128

Is Sodium C14-16 Olefin Sulfonate natural?

Mostly not. The sulfonate and sodium are mineral-derived and natural-origin, but the C14-16 alkene chain is typically petrochemical alpha-olefin from ethylene oligomerisation.

INCI nameSodium C14-16 Olefin Sulfonate
CAS68439-57-6
FormulaC14H29NaO3S · 300.44 Da
FunctionCleansing · Foaming
FeedstockCommercial C14-16 alpha-olefins for sulfonation are predominantly produced…

How we scored it

C15H29 alkenyl chain (209, assumed petrochemical alpha-olefin) + SO3Na (103, mineral-natural); 103/312 = 0.33.
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

Commercial C14-16 alpha-olefins for sulfonation are predominantly produced from petrochemical ethylene via Ziegler oligomerisation, then sulfonated with sulfur trioxide and neutralised with sodium hydroxide. A minor natural-alkene supply chain is not commercially established in cosmetics.

In plain English

A foaming, cleansing surfactant used in shampoos, body washes and household cleaners. Made from a petroleum-derived hydrocarbon chain reacted with sulfur trioxide and neutralised with sodium. The mineral sulfonate portion is natural-origin, but the carbon backbone is typically petrochemical.

CosIng definition: Sulfonic acids, C14-16-alkane hydroxy and C14-16-alkene, sodium salts

Natural alternatives with the same function

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Structure

2D structure of Sodium C14-16 Olefin Sulfonate

sodium tetradecane-3-sulfonate

PubChem CID 23675778 ↗

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. 2Sodium C14-16 Olefin Sulfonate. PubChem CID 23675778. National Center for Biotechnology Information. pubchem.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov ↗
  3. 3SODIUM C14-16 OLEFIN SULFONATE. CosIng — European Commission cosmetic ingredient database. ec.europa.eu/cosing ↗
  4. 4SODIUM C14-16 OLEFIN SULFONATE. CosIng u2014 European Commission database for information on cosmetic substances and ingredients. https://ec.europa.eu/growth/tools-databases/cosing/search?search=SODIUM%20C14-16%20OLEFIN%20SULFONATE