Methoxy PEG-10 Cocoate is a chemical compound, derived from coconut fatty acids, PEG-10.

The name describes the structure of the molecule

• Methoxy - Indicates the presence of a methoxy group.
• PEG-10 - Indicates that the molecule contains polyethylene glycol with an average number of 10 ethylene oxide units.
• Cocoate - Refers to the fatty acid derived from coconut oil.

Description of raw materials used in production

• Coconut oil or coconut fatty acids - Provides the fatty acids needed to produce the cocoate.
• Ethylene oxide - Used to ethoxylate the coconut fatty acid, making it water-soluble and enhancing its emulsifying properties.
• Methanol - Used to introduce the methoxy group.

Synthesis process

• Ethoxylation - Fatty acids derived from coconut oil react with ethylene oxide to form PEGylated cocoate.
• Methylation - The ethoxylated product undergoes a methylation reaction with methanol to introduce the methoxy group, thereby forming Methoxy PEG-10

What it is used for and where

Cosmetics

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.

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.

Applications

• Hair Care Products - Might be used in shampoos and conditioners to improve spreadability and feel on the scalp and hair.
• Solvent or Vehicle - Can enhance the solubility of other active ingredients or functional components in products.

Since the PEG (Polyethylene glycol) family is very numerous and can be found in cosmetic, industrial, pharmaceutical, medical and other products, we need to make an introductory statement on the subject, which is rather complex from a safety point of view because these products not only come into contact with the skin, but, as in the case of medical products, are ingested.

PEGs (polyethylene glycol) polymerise condensed ethylene oxide and water and are referred to as polyethylene glycols, but are actually complex chemical components, polymers bonded together. For example, plastic is polyethylene and has a hard consistency, while polyethylene combined with glycol forms a liquid. PEGylation is produced not only as etherification, but also as transesterification, which is the transformation of an alcohol by an ester.

The number appearing after the abbreviation PEG represents the molecular weight and the higher this number is, the less it penetrates the skin.

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: 77846-79-8