Database/Cleansing/Trideceth-10 Phosphate
Mostly petroleum · ISO 16128

Is Trideceth-10 Phosphate natural?

Mostly not. The odd-numbered branched tridecyl chain signals a petrochemical oxo-alcohol, not an oleochemical fatty alcohol; only the phosphate group is natural.

INCI nameTrideceth-10 Phosphate
FunctionCleansing · Emulsifying Surfactant
FeedstockThe alkyl group is typically isotridecanol, a petrochemical…

How we scored it

Isotridecanol (branched C13 odd-chain oxo-alcohol, petrochemical) 200 Da + 10x44 Da EO (petrochemical) 441 Da + phosphate ester (mineral, natural) 80 Da = 721 Da; 80/721=0.11.
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

The alkyl group is typically isotridecanol, a petrochemical branched C13 alcohol from propylene oligomerization/oxo synthesis, which is ethoxylated then phosphated. No natural source exists for this odd-carbon alcohol.

In plain English

A cleansing and emulsifying ingredient based on a synthetic branched alcohol, ethoxylated and finished with a phosphate group. Used in cleansers to help remove oil and create foam.

CosIng definition: Poly(oxy-1,2-ethanediyl), .alpha.-tridecyl-.omega.-hydroxy-, phosphate

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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. 2TRIDECETH-10 PHOSPHATE. CosIng — European Commission cosmetic ingredient database. ec.europa.eu/cosing ↗
  3. 3TRIDECETH-10 PHOSPHATE. CosIng u2014 European Commission database for information on cosmetic substances and ingredients. https://ec.europa.eu/growth/tools-databases/cosing/search?search=TRIDECETH-10%20PHOSPHATE