Cetrimonium methosulfate is a chemical compound, a salt of trimonio, a linear chain alkyl.

It is typically found in solid form, a white powder or often in the form of white, waxy pellets or flakes. It is soluble in water and alcohol, making it easily incorporated into various cosmetic formulations.

The synthesised extraction process takes place in different steps:

• Extraction. The process starts with the extraction of fatty acids from natural sources such as vegetable oils or animal fats.
• Neutralisation. The fatty acids are neutralised with an alkali, such as sodium hydroxide, to form soap.
• Quaternisation. The soap is then reacted with a quaternary ammonium compound, such as trimethylamine, in a process known as quaternisation. This reaction replaces one of the hydrogen atoms of the ammonium compound with a longer chain molecule derived from fatty acids, forming Cetrimonium methosulphate.
• Sulphation. In the last step, Cetrimonium methosulfate is reacted with sulphuric acid to introduce a sulphate group, improving its ability to bind to water and other molecules.

What it is used for and where

The resulting compound Cetrimonium Methosulfate is a cationic surfactant, i.e. it has a positive charge. This enables it to bind to the negatively charged surfaces of hair and skin, providing conditioning and relaxing benefits in hair care products.

Cosmetics

Antistatic agent. Static electricity build-up has a direct influence on products and causes electrostatic adsorption. The antistatic ingredient reduces static build-up and surface resistivity on the surface of the skin and hair.

Cosmetic biocide. Ingredient that must possess broad-spectrum antibacterial and antifungal activity against film formation caused by bacteria.

Surfactant - Emulsifying agent. Emulsions are thermodynamically unstable and are used to soothe or soften the skin and emulsify, so they need a specific, stabilising ingredient. This ingredient forms a film, lowers the surface tension and makes two immiscible liquids miscible. A very important factor affecting the stability of the emulsion is the amount of the emulsifying agent. Emulsifiers have the property of reducing the oil/water or water/oil interfacial tension, improving the stability of the emulsion and also directly influencing the stability, sensory properties and surface tension of sunscreens by modulating the filmometric performance.

Safety

The CIR Expert Panel on Cosmetic Ingredient Safety concluded that Cetrimonium methosulfate is safe under current use and concentration practices.described in this safety assessment when formulated so as not to be irritating (1)

Synonyms: 

Ammonium, hexadecyltrimethyl, methyl sulfate; Cetyltrimethylammonium methyl sulfate; 1-Hexadecanaminium, N,N,N-trimethyl-, methyl sulfate (1:1); 1-hexadecanaminium, N, N, N-trimethyl-, methyl sulfate; hexadecyltrimethylammonium methosulfate; N, N, N-trimethyl-1-hexadecanaminium methyl sulfate

Trade name:Crodazosoft DBQ

• Molecular Formula   C₂₀H₄₅NO₄S
• Molecular Weight   395.6 g/mol
• CAS: 65060-02-8
• UNII    277IG2X9QC
• EC Number   265-352-1

References_____________________________________________________________________

(1) Becker, L. C., Bergfeld, W. F., Belsito, D. V., Hill, R. A., Klaassen, C. D., Liebler, D., ... & Andersen, F. A. (2012). Safety assessment of trimoniums as used in cosmetics. International journal of toxicology, 31(6_suppl), 296S-341S.