CETYL ALCOHOL

PRODUCT IDENTIFICATION
CAS NO. 124-29-8, 36653-82-4

CETYL ALCOHOL
EINECS NO. 253-149-0, 253-149-0
FORMULA CH3(CH2)15OH
MOL WT. 242.44
H.S. CODE 2905.19

TOXICITY

 Oral rat LD50: 5 gm/kg
SYNONYMS Hexadecan-1-ol; Palmityl alcohol;
1-Hexadecanol; Alcohol, C16; Cetanol; Hexadecyl alcohol; Cetylol; Hexadecanol; LorolL 24; Loxanol K; Product 308; Hexadécane-1-ol (French);

DERIVATION

 

CLASSIFICATION

 

PHYSICAL AND CHEMICAL PROPERTIES
PHYSICAL STATE white flakes
MELTING POINT 48 - 49 C
BOILING POINT 334 C
SPECIFIC GRAVITY 0.818
SOLUBILITY IN WATER Insoluble
pH

 
VAPOR DENSITY 8.36
AUTOIGNITION

 
NFPA RATINGS Health: 1; Flammability: 0; Reactivity: 0

REFRACTIVE INDEX

  
FLASH POINT

135 C
STABILITY Stable under ordinary conditions

GENERAL DESCRIPTION AND APPLICATIONS
Fatty alcohols, derived from natural fats and oils, are high molecular straight chain primary alcohols. They include lauryl (C12), MyrIstyl (C14), Cetyl ( or palmityl: C16), stearyl (C18), Oleyl (C18, unsaturated), and Linoleyl (C18, polyunsaturated) alcohols. There are synthetic fatty alcohols equivalent physically and chemically to natural alcohols obtained from oleochemical sources such as coconut and palm kernel oil. Fatty alcohols are emulsifiers and emollients to make skin smoother and prevent moisture loss. Identical fatty esters are used to improve rub-out of formulas and to control viscosity and dispersion characteristics in cosmetics, personal care products and pharmaceutical ingredients. As chemical intermediates, the primary use of fatty alcohols are as raw material for the production of fatty sulfate salts and alcohol ethoxylates for foaming and cleaning purposes in the field of detergent industry. Chemical reactions of primary alcohols include esterifications, ethoxylation, sulfation, oxidation and many other reactions. Their derivatives and end use applications include;
  • Nonionic surfactants (Ethoxylates and propoxylates)
  • Anionic surfactants (Alkyl sulfates and alkyl ethoxy sulfates)
  • Chemical intermediates and  polymerization modifiers (Alkyl halides, Alkyl mercaptans)
  • Quaternary ammonium compounds for detergent sanitisers, softner for textiles, phase transfer catalyst and biocides
  • Antioxidants for plastics (Alkyl thiopropionates and alkyl phosphites)
  • Lubricant additives (Metallic and thio alkylphosphates)
  • Flavor and Fragrance (Aldehydes and ketones)
  • PVC plasticizers (Dialkyl Phthalates, adipates and trimellitates)
  • Coatings and inks (acrylate and methacrylate esters)
  • Water treatment (acrylate and methacrylate esters)

Large amount of fatty alcohols are used as special solvents, fillers in plasticizer and insulating materials for the building industry. Fatty alcohols are used as ingredients in the industries of agricultural, foodstuff, metal processing, cosmetics, lube additive, pharmaceutical, rubber, textile, perfume and flavouring as well as synthetic detergent.

SALES SPECIFICATION

APPEARANCE

 white flakes
MELTING POINT 45 - 49 C

WATER

0.1% max
IODINE VALUE

1 max (I2 g/100g)
ACID VALUE 0.2 max (mg KOH/g)
SAP VALUE

1 max (mg KOH/g)
HYDROXYL VALUE 222 - 235 (mg KOH/g)

CARBON DISTRIBUTION

C12: 1.0% max + C14: 3.0% max + C16: 95.0% min + C18: 3.0% max
TRANSPORTATION
PACKING  
HAZARD CLASS Not regulated
UN NO.  
OTHER INFORMATION
European Hazard Symbols: XI, Risk Phrases: 36/37/38, Safety Phrases: 24/25-26-36/37/38