Database/Viscosity Controlling/Triheptanoin
Route-dependent · ISO 16128

Is Triheptanoin natural?

It depends. The seven-carbon fragments in this ester come either from castor oil or from petrochemical olefins, so the value depends on the supplier.

INCI nameTriheptanoin
CAS620-67-7
FormulaC24H44O6 · 428.6 Da
FunctionViscosity Controlling · Occlusive
FeedstockCastor-derived or oxo-process C7 acid/alcohol esterified with vegetable…

Why the score varies

This ingredient is made commercially by more than one route, and ISO 16128 scores the feedstock actually used. Without a supplier certificate of origin the value cannot be claimed.

RouteFeedstockNOIShareNotes
castor-derived heptanoic acidheptanal from castor-oil cracking (co-product of undecylenic acid), oxidised to heptanoic acid esterified with vegetable glycerin1.00significant (oleochemical C7 producers)glycerin and all three C7 chains natural
oxo-process heptanoic acidheptanoic acid from hydroformylation of petrochemical 1-hexene esterified with vegetable glycerin0.21significantthe C7 fragments are petrochemical
Ask your supplier. A batch-specific certificate of origin or bio-based carbon test (ASTM D6866) settles which route applies.

How we scored it

Heptanoic acid (and heptanol) have two commercial routes: castor-oil cracking (natural) and petrochemical oxo synthesis. Triheptanoin (glycerin core 89 Da natural + 3 heptanoyl 340 Da): castor route 1.0; oxo route 0.21.
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

Castor-derived or oxo-process C7 acid/alcohol esterified with vegetable glycerin.

In plain English

An emollient and texturizing ester made from glycerin and a synthetic seven-carbon fatty acid. The glycerin portion is plant- or fermentation-derived; the acid portion is mainly petroleum-based.

CosIng definition: Triheptanoin is the triester of glycerin and heptanoic acid. It conforms to the formula:

Natural alternatives with the same function

Agar 100% natural origin

A gelling and thickening gum extracted from red seaweed. It is used to give products body and texture,…

 Agarose 100% natural origin

A gelling and thickening ingredient extracted from red seaweed, used to give lotions and gels body.

 Algin 100% natural origin

Sodium alginate, a thickening and binding gum extracted from brown seaweed. It's harvested from algae and processed to…

 Alginic Acid 100% natural origin

A gelling and thickening gum extracted from brown seaweed, the acid form of alginate. It's harvested and purified…

 Aluminum Behenate 100% natural origin

The aluminium salt of behenic acid, a fatty acid from rapeseed or similar seed oils. Used in small…

 Aluminum Distearate 100% natural origin

An aluminium salt of stearic acid, a fatty acid from vegetable oil or animal fat. Used in powders…

Structure

2D structure of Triheptanoin

2,3-di(heptanoyloxy)propyl heptanoate

PubChem CID 69286 ↗

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. 2Triheptanoin. PubChem CID 69286. National Center for Biotechnology Information. pubchem.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov ↗
  3. 3TRIHEPTANOIN. CosIng — European Commission cosmetic ingredient database. ec.europa.eu/cosing ↗
  4. 4TRIHEPTANOIN. CosIng u2014 European Commission database for information on cosmetic substances and ingredients. https://ec.europa.eu/growth/tools-databases/cosing/search?search=TRIHEPTANOIN