Cocamidopropyl Betaine

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This is a common ingredient in all kinds of cleansing products from face and body washes to shampoos and foam baths. Cocamidopropyl betaine helps to stabilize bubbles, making cleansers, shampoos, and body washes sudsy.

This mild, synthetic ingredients combines well with other cleansing agents and surfactants making it easy to use in formulas. Another plus, it’s biodegradable even thought it’s artificial.

There is some concern it is associated with irritation and allergic contact dermatitis. However, when it’s used in wash off, instead of leave on products, this is less of an issue.

Cocamidopropyl betaine (CAPB) is a mixture of closely related organic compounds derived from coconut oil and dimethylaminopropylamine. CAPB is available as a viscous pale yellow solution and it is used as a surfactant in personal care products and animal husbandry. The name reflects that the major part of the molecule, the lauric acid group, is derived from coconut oil. Cocamidopropyl betaine to a significant degree has replaced cocamide DEA.

Lauramidopropyl betaine
Structural formula of lauramidopropyl betaine
Lauramidopropyl betaine, the major component of cocamidopropyl betaine
Names
IUPAC name
{[3-(Dodecanoylamino)propyl](dimethyl)ammonio}acetate
Other names
2-[(3-Dodecanamidopropyl)dimethylaminio]acetate
Identifiers
3D model (JSmol)
ChemSpider
ECHA InfoCard 100.057.308 Edit this at Wikidata
EC Number
  • 263-058-8
UNII
  • InChI=1S/C19H38N2O3/c1-4-5-6-7-8-9-10-11-12-14-18(22)20-15-13-16-21(2,3)17-19(23)24/h4-17H2,1-3H3,(H-,20,22,23,24) checkY
    Key: MRUAUOIMASANKQ-UHFFFAOYSA-N checkY
  • InChI=1/C19H38N2O3/c1-4-5-6-7-8-9-10-11-12-14-18(22)20-15-13-16-21(2,3)17-19(23)24/h4-17H2,1-3H3,(H-,20,22,23,24)
    Key: MRUAUOIMASANKQ-UHFFFAOYAL
  • CCCCCCCCCCCC(=O)NCCC[N+](C)(C)CC([O-])=O
  • CCCCCCCCCCCC(=O)NCCC[N+](C)(C)CC(=O)[O-]
  • [O-]C(=O)C[N+](CCCNC(=O)CCCCCCCCCCC)(C)C
Properties
C19H38N2O3
Molar mass 342.524 g·mol−1
Appearance Clear to slight yellow liquid
Density 1.05 g/cm3
Melting point < −10 °C (14 °F; 263 K)
Boiling point > 100 °C (212 °F; 373 K)
Soluble
Viscosity < 100 cP (30°C)
Hazards
GHS labelling:
GHS09: Environmental hazard
Warning
H315, H319, H400
NFPA 704 (fire diamond)
2
1
0
Except where otherwise noted, data are given for materials in their standard state (at 25 °C [77 °F], 100 kPa).
☒N verify (what is checkY☒N ?)
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