Cocamidopropylhydroxysultaine

Cocamidoropylhydroxysultaine

Cocamidopropyl Hydroxysultaine can be manufactured through 2 ways. Primarily a multi-step chemical process starting with fatty acids derived from coconut oil, primarily lauric acid.

Reaction with epichlorohydrin and sodium bisulfite: Fatty acids from coconut oil are reacted with epichlorohydrin and sodium bisulfite to form an intermediate compound. Reaction with dimethylaminopropylamine: The intermediate is then reacted with dimethylaminopropylamine to form the final product, cocamidopropyl hydroxysultaine.

Alternative pathway: Another method involves an amidation reaction where coconut oil is first converted into cocamidopropyl dimethylamine, which is then quaternized with 3-chloro-2-hydroxy-1-propanesulfonate.

The process is subject to quality control checks to ensure purity and consistency.

While the final product is a mild, amphoteric surfactant used in personal care products, in one of the manufacturing process it involves epichlorohydrin (a probable carcinogen) and sodium bisulfite (an irritant and mutagen), and in the other the risk of nitrosamine or nitrosating agent contamination.

-These are not present in the final product if properly purified.

“Although N-nitroso-derivative content has not been reported, amidopropyl sultaines comprise secondary

amides, and potentially can be nitrosated (alkyl sultaines do not have an amide that is susceptible to nitrosation). Of

the approximately 209 nitroso-amines/-amides tested, 85% have been shown to produce cancer in laboratory

animals.12 Nitrosation can occur under physiologic conditions.13 Depending on the nitrosating agent and the

substrate, nitrosation can occur under acidic, neutral, or alkaline conditions. Atmospheric NO2 may also participate

in nitrosation in aqueous solution.14 Accordingly, amidopropyl sultaines should be formulated to avoid the formation

of nitroso-amines/-amides. Additionally, materials used to manufacture these ingredients may include amines

susceptible to N-nitrosation. Thus, manufacturers should continue to use current good manufacturing practices

(cGMPs) to limit residual contamination of these ingredients with such N-nitrosatable impurities.”

https://www.cir-safety.org/sites/default/files/sultan122017TR.pdf

https://www.ewg.org/skindeep/ingredients/701523-COCAMIDOPROPYL_HYDROXYSULTAINE/