Database/Antistatic/Soytrimonium Chloride
Mostly natural · ISO 16128

Is Soytrimonium Chloride natural?

Mostly. Quaternary ammonium salt built on a soybean-oil fatty chain. The C18 alkyl chain and the chloride are natural; the nitrogen (from synthetic ammonia) and the three methyl groups (from methyl chloride) are petrochemical by this site's convention.

INCI nameSoytrimonium Chloride
CAS61790-41-8
FunctionAntistatic · Emulsifying Surfactant
FeedstockSoybean-oil fatty acids converted to a fatty amine…

How we scored it

Soya alkyl chain modelled as C18H37 253.5 Da (soybean-oil fatty acids, natural) + Cl 35.5 Da (mineral, natural) = 288.9 Da; N 14.0 Da (ammonia) + 3×CH3 45.1 Da (methyl chloride) = 59.1 Da petrochemical; total 348.1 Da → 288.9/348.1 = 0.83. Same method as Steartrimonium Chloride.
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

Soybean-oil fatty acids converted to a fatty amine with ammonia, then quaternised with methyl chloride.

In plain English

A conditioning ingredient made from soybean oil fatty chains attached to a small quaternary ammonium head, used in hair conditioners to reduce static and boost softness.

CosIng definition: Quaternary ammonium compounds, trimethylsoya alkyl, chlorides

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