C11-13 Pareth-10 is a chemical compound, alkyl polyethylene glycol (PEG (Polyethylene glycol)) ether mixture of synthetic C11-13 fatty alcohol ethoxylated (10 mol).

The name defines the structure of the molecule:

• C11-13 refers to a mixture of fatty alcohols that have carbon chain lengths from 11 to 13.
• Pareth-10 refers to a type of polyethylene glycol (PEG) ether of a fatty alcohol. The "10" indicates that on average, there are 10 units of ethylene oxide in the molecule.

Description of raw materials used in production -

• Fatty alcohols with C11-13 chain lengths - Provide the base for the compound.
• Ethylene oxide - Used to produce the ethoxylated portion of the compound.

The synthesis process takes place in several stages:

• Preparation. The first stage concerns the preparation of C11-13 alcohols. These are typically commercially available synthetic alcohols.
• Ethoxylation. C11-13 alcohols are reacted with ethylene oxide in a process known as ethoxylation. This involves heating alcohols and ethylene oxide in the presence of a catalyst, a strong base such as potassium hydroxide. Ethylene oxide reacts with alcohols to form ethoxylated alcohols, or "pareths". The "10" in "Pareth-10" indicates that on average, each alcohol molecule is reacted with 10 ethylene oxide molecules.
• Separation and purification. The reaction mixture is cooled and C11-13 Pareth-10 is separated from the reaction mixture. This typically involves a series of washing, filtration and distillation steps to remove unreacted alcohols and ethylene oxide, as well as any by-products.
• Quality control. The final product is tested to ensure it meets the specifications required for use in cosmetics and personal care products. This includes checking its purity, color and smell.

What it is used for and where

C11-13 Pareth-10 is a compound that combines elements of fatty alcohols with a specific length and polyethylene glycols ethers. It is often used in cosmetics and personal care products for its ability to help mix oil and water ingredients together, acting as a surfactant or emulsifying agent. It can also help improve the consistency and spreadability of these products.

Cosmetics

Surfactant - Emulsifying agent. Emulsions are thermodynamically unstable. Emulsifiers have the property to reduce the oil/water or water/oil interfacial tension, improve emulsion stability and also directly influence the stability, sensory properties and surface tension of sunscreens by modulating their filmometric performance.

Surfactant - Cleansing agent. Cosmetic products used to cleanse the skin utilise the surface-active action that produces a lowering of the surface tension of the stratum corneum, facilitating the removal of dirt and impurities.

Safety.

The term 'eth' refers to the ethoxylation reaction with ethylene oxide after which residues of ethylene oxide and 1,4-dioxane, chemical compounds considered carcinogenic, may remain. The degree of safety therefore depends on the degree of purity of the compound obtained. At present, no manufacturer is known to provide this information on the label.

CAS: 308060-94-8