Cetyl Alcohol

Products

Cetyl alcohol is available as a pure substance in pharmacies and drugstores. It is found in numerous pharmaceuticals and cosmetics.

Structure and properties

Cetyl alcohol is a mixture of solid alcohols consisting mainly of the linear C16 alcohol 1-hexadecanol (C16C34O, Mr = 242.4 g/mol). It exists as a white and fatty powder, as a mass, flake, or granule, and is practically insoluble in water. When melted, cetyl alcohol is miscible with vegetable or animal oils, liquid kerosene, and melted lanolin. Cetyl alcohol originally came from spermaceti, a substance extracted from the head of sperm whales. Today, palm oil, for example, is used for its production. The name is derived from the Latin name for whales (Cetacea).

Effects

Cetyl alcohol has emulsifying, stabilizing, viscosity-increasing, mattifying and skin-conditioning properties. It is used, among other things, for the production of O/W emulsions.

Areas of application

  • For the preparation of semi-solid dosage forms (e.g. creams).
  • For cosmetics and personal care products.

Adverse effects

Cetyl alcohol may rarely cause local skin irritation and allergic skin reactions such as contact dermatitis.