Cetyl esters is a chemical compound,a synthetic wax, in practice a mixture of esters resulting from the reaction of a mixture of saturated fatty alcohols containing 14 to 18 carbons in the alkyl chain, with a mixture of linear chain fatty acids, containing 14 to 18 carbons in the alkyl chain. 

The name defines the structure of the molecule:

• Cetyl is derived from cetyl alcohol, also known as 1-hexadecanol, a fatty alcohol with formula C₁₆H₃₄O. It takes its name from whale oil (Latin: cetus) from which it was isolated for the first time.
• esters are a class of organic compounds that react with water to produce alcohols and organic or inorganic acids. They are derived from an acid (in this case, various acids) in which at least one -OH group (hydroxyl) is replaced by an -O-alkyl group (alcohol).

The synthesis process takes place in several stages:

• Esterification: It is the main reaction in which cetyl alcohol reacts with an acid to produce cetyl ester. This reaction is usually catalyzed by an acid or base, or by an enzyme known as lipase.
• Purification: After the reaction, the mixture is purified to remove alcohol or unreacted acid and catalyst. This is usually done by distillation or filtration.
• Analysis: The final product is analysed to confirm its structure and purity. Techniques such as infrared spectroscopy, nuclear magnetic resonance spectroscopy or mass spectrometry are usually used.
• It appears in the form of a white powder.

What it is used for and where

Cosmetics

Skin conditioning agent - Emollient. Emollients have the characteristic of enhancing the skin barrier through a source of exogenous lipids that adhere to the skin, improving barrier properties by filling gaps in intercorneocyte clusters to improve hydration while protecting against inflammation. In practice, they have the ability to create a barrier that prevents transepidermal water loss.  Emollients are described as degreasing or refreshing additives that improve the lipid content of the upper layers of the skin by preventing degreasing and drying of the skin. The problem with emollients is that many have a strong lipophilic character and are identified as occlusive ingredients; they are oily and fatty materials that remain on the skin surface and reduce transepidermal water loss. In cosmetics, emollients and moisturisers are often considered synonymous with humectants and occlusives.

A solvent-free biocatalytic process for the synthesis of high quality cetyl laurate, myristate, palmitate and stearate has been optimized. This enzymatic procedure follows the fundamental principles of the Green Chemistry and lead to sustainable products, which can be labeled as natural and conform to the principal requirements for its use in high value-added goods. The four esters selected are the main components of spermaceti, a mixture of waxes very appreciated in cosmetic and pharmacy because of its physical properties and emolliency, which was formerly extracted from the head of the sperm whales. In this paper, the influence of the amount of biocatalyst, the commercially available Novozym(®) 435, and the temperature were studied in an open-air batch reactor before carrying out the synthesis in a high performance vacuum reactor with dry nitrogen input to shift the equilibrium towards product formation. Under optimal conditions, conversion was higher than 98.5 %. The characterization of the enzymatic cetyl esters puts in evidence that these are ultra-pure compounds, which have similar properties to the ones obtained through the conventional industrial processes with the extra benefit of being environmentally friendly (1).

Molecular Formula  C₃₂H₆₄O₂ 

Molecular Weight   508.916g/mol  

CAS   2598-99-4

or 

Molecular Formula  C₃₄H₆₈O₂

Molecular Weight   480.862g/mol

CAS : 540-10-3  

References____________________________________________________________________

(1) Serrano-Arnaldos M, Máximo-Martín MF, Montiel-Morte MC, Ortega-Requena S, Gómez-Gómez E, Bastida-Rodríguez J. Solvent-free enzymatic production of high quality cetyl esters.    Bioprocess Biosyst Eng. 2016 Apr;39(4):641-9. doi: 10.1007/s00449-016-1545-5. Epub 2016 Jan 23

Abstract. A solvent-free biocatalytic process for the synthesis of high quality cetyl laurate, myristate, palmitate and stearate has been optimized. This enzymatic procedure follows the fundamental principles of the Green Chemistry and lead to sustainable products, which can be labeled as natural and conform to the principal requirements for its use in high value-added goods. The four esters selected are the main components of spermaceti, a mixture of waxes very appreciated in cosmetic and pharmacy because of its physical properties and emolliency, which was formerly extracted from the head of the sperm whales. In this paper, the influence of the amount of biocatalyst, the commercially available Novozym(®) 435, and the temperature were studied in an open-air batch reactor before carrying out the synthesis in a high performance vacuum reactor with dry nitrogen input to shift the equilibrium towards product formation. Under optimal conditions, conversion was higher than 98.5 %. The characterization of the enzymatic cetyl esters puts in evidence that these are ultra-pure compounds, which have similar properties to the ones obtained through the conventional industrial processes with the extra benefit of being environmentally friendly.