Database/Cleansing/Sodium Myreth Sulfate
Mostly natural · ISO 16128

Is Sodium Myreth Sulfate natural?

Mostly. Myristyl chain is a natural even-carbon coconut/palm-derived fatty alcohol; sulfate and sodium are mineral; the ethoxylate chain is petrochemical.

INCI nameSodium Myreth Sulfate
CAS25446-80-4
FormulaC20H41NaO7S · 448.6 Da
FunctionCleansing · Emulsifying Surfactant
FeedstockMade by ethoxylating coconut/palm-kernel-derived myristyl alcohol, sulfating, and…

How we scored it

Myristyl C14H29 ~197 Da (natural) + SO4 ~96 Da + Na ~23 Da (mineral) = 316 natural; ~3 mol EO ~132 Da (petrochemical) / 448 total = 0.71
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 ethoxylating coconut/palm-kernel-derived myristyl alcohol, sulfating, and neutralizing with sodium. Ethoxylation degree assumed at mid-range (~3 mol EO) of the stated 1-4 mol range.

In plain English

A cleansing surfactant made from coconut/palm-derived myristyl alcohol reacted with ethylene oxide and sulfated. Used in shampoos and body washes to produce foam and clean skin and hair.

CosIng definition: Poly(oxy-1,2-ethanediyl), .alpha.-sulfo-.omega.-(tetradecyloxy)-, sodium salt (1-4 mol EO average molar ratio)

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Structure

2D structure of Sodium Myreth Sulfate

sodium 2-[2-(2-tetradecoxyethoxy)ethoxy]ethyl sulfate

PubChem CID 23682189 ↗

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 Myreth Sulfate. PubChem CID 23682189. National Center for Biotechnology Information. pubchem.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov ↗
  3. 3SODIUM MYRETH SULFATE. CosIng — European Commission cosmetic ingredient database. ec.europa.eu/cosing ↗
  4. 4SODIUM MYRETH SULFATE. CosIng u2014 European Commission database for information on cosmetic substances and ingredients. https://ec.europa.eu/growth/tools-databases/cosing/search?search=SODIUM%20MYRETH%20SULFATE