Database/Cleansing/Sodium Trideceth-4 Carboxylate
Mostly petroleum · ISO 16128

Is Sodium Trideceth-4 Carboxylate natural?

Mostly not. Branched C13 oxo-alcohol, ethylene oxide and chloroacetic acid are all petrochemical; only the sodium counter-ion contributes natural-origin mass.

INCI nameSodium Trideceth-4 Carboxylate
CAS61757-59-3
FunctionCleansing · Cleansing Surfactant
FeedstockIsotridecyl alcohol (petrochemical oxo-alcohol from propylene) is ethoxylated…

How we scored it

Fully petrochemical tridecyl-EO4-carboxymethyl anion (433.4 Da) + Na 23.0 Da natural counter-ion = 23.0/456.4 = 0.05.
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

Isotridecyl alcohol (petrochemical oxo-alcohol from propylene) is ethoxylated and carboxymethylated, then neutralized with sodium hydroxide. CosIng description states 4 mol EO average; the supplied formula/IUPAC represent a simplified 1-EO structure and were not used.

In plain English

A synthetic cleansing ingredient made from petroleum-derived branched alcohol, ethylene oxide and a carboxylic acid group, neutralized with sodium; helps products foam and rinse clean.

CosIng definition: Poly(oxy-1,2-ethanediyl), .alpha.-(carboxymethyl)-.omega.-tridecyloxy, sodium salts (4 mol EO average molar ratio)

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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. 2SODIUM TRIDECETH-4 CARBOXYLATE. CosIng — European Commission cosmetic ingredient database. ec.europa.eu/cosing ↗
  3. 3SODIUM TRIDECETH-4 CARBOXYLATE. CosIng u2014 European Commission database for information on cosmetic substances and ingredients. https://ec.europa.eu/growth/tools-databases/cosing/search?search=SODIUM%20TRIDECETH-4%20CARBOXYLATE