Hydrogenated Palmtrimonium Chloride is a quaternary ammonium compound derived from the hydrogenation of palm oil (Elaeis guineensis). The alkyl groups in this compound are derived from hydrogenated palm oil, and it is widely used in the cosmetic and personal care industries for its conditioning and antistatic properties.

Chemical Composition and Structure

Hydrogenated Palmtrimonium Chloride is composed of an alkyltrimethylammonium chloride structure, where the alkyl groups are derived from hydrogenated palm oil. This hydrogenation process ensures that the alkyl chains are saturated, enhancing the compound's stability and effectiveness as a conditioning agent.

Physical Properties

Hydrogenated Palmtrimonium Chloride typically appears as a white to off-white solid or a semi-solid wax at room temperature. It has a mild, neutral odor and is soluble in water, forming a clear to slightly hazy solution. The hydrogenated alkyl chains contribute to its conditioning and antistatic properties.

Production Process

Harvesting and Selection: The fruits of the oil palm (Elaeis guineensis) are harvested and carefully selected to ensure the quality of the palm oil.
Oil Extraction: The oil is extracted from the mesocarp of the fruit through mechanical pressing or solvent extraction.
Hydrogenation: The extracted palm oil undergoes controlled hydrogenation to convert the unsaturated fatty acids into saturated fatty acids, resulting in hydrogenated palm oil.
Quaternization: The hydrogenated palm oil is then reacted with trimethylamine and a chlorinating agent to form the quaternary ammonium compound, Hydrogenated Palmtrimonium Chloride.
Purification: The resulting compound is purified to remove any unreacted materials and by-products, ensuring a high-quality final product.
Quality Control: Rigorous quality tests are conducted to evaluate the purity, stability, and composition of Hydrogenated Palmtrimonium Chloride, including chemical and microbiological analyses.

Applications

Hair Care: Used in conditioners, hair masks, and leave-in treatments for its conditioning properties, enhancing hair smoothness, manageability, and reducing static.
Skin Care: Included in lotions and creams for its emollient and antistatic properties, providing a smooth and soft feel to the skin.
Personal Care Products: Utilized in various personal care formulations such as body washes and antiperspirants for its conditioning and antistatic benefits.

Environmental and Safety Considerations

The production of palm oil has been associated with deforestation, habitat destruction, and biodiversity loss. Efforts to source palm oil from sustainable and certified sources (such as RSPO-certified palm oil) are crucial to mitigate these impacts.

Cosmetic safety

Restricted cosmetic ingredient as V/44 a Relevant Item in the Annexes of the European Cosmetics Regulation 1223/2009. Substance or ingredient reported: Alkyl (C12-C22) trimethyl ammonium bromide and chloride. Maximum concentration in ready for use preparation 0.1%

INCI


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.

Hair conditioning agent. A significant number of ingredients with specific and targeted purposes may co-exist in hair shampoo formulations: cleansers, conditioners, thickeners, matting agents, sequestering agents, fragrances, preservatives, special additives. However, the indispensable ingredients are the cleansers and conditioners as they are necessary and sufficient for hair cleansing and manageability. The others act as commercial and non-essential auxiliaries such as: appearance, fragrance, colouring, etc. Hair conditioning agents have the task of increasing shine, manageability and volume, and reducing static electricity, especially after treatments such as colouring, ironing, waving, drying and brushing. They are, in practice, dispersants that may contain cationic surfactants, thickeners, emollients, polymers. The typology of hair conditioning agents includes: intensive conditioners, instant conditioners, thickening conditioners, drying conditioners. They can perform their task generally accompanied by other different ingredients.

Preservative. Any product containing organic, inorganic compounds, water, needs to be preserved from microbial contamination. Preservatives act against the development of harmful microorganisms and against oxidation of the product.
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