What is the Difference Between Cetyl Alcohol and Cetostearyl Alcohol

The key difference between cetyl alcohol and cetostearyl alcohol is that cetyl alcohol is a single chemical compound, whereas cetostearyl alcohol is a mixture of chemical compounds.

Cetyl alcohol is a type of fatty alcohol having the chemical formula CH3(CH2)15OH. Cetostearyl alcohol, on the other hand, is a mixture of fatty alcohols containing cetyl (carbon-16) compounds and stearyl alcohols (carbon-18) compounds.

CONTENTS

1. Overview and Key Difference
2. What is Cetyl Alcohol 
3. What is Cetostearyl Alcohol
4. Cetyl Alcohol vs Cetostearyl Alcohol  in Tabular Form
5. Summary – Cetyl Alcohol vs Cetostearyl Alcohol 

What is Cetyl Alcohol?

Cetyl alcohol is a type of fatty alcohol having the chemical formula CH3(CH2)15OH. It occurs as a waxy white solid or in the form of flakes at room temperature. This substance has a very faint, waxy odour as well. The name of this compound comes from the term “Cetus,” which means “whale oil” in Latin. Cetyl alcohol was first isolated from whale oil. Cetyl alcohol was first prepared from sperm whale oil by the French chemist Michel Chevreul. He heated the spermaceti (a waxy material obtained from whale oil) in the presence of caustic potash (potassium hydroxide). This heat treatment produced flakes of cetyl alcohol which were left behind for cooling. However, the modern method of cetyl alcohol production involves the reduction of palmitic acid obtained from palm oil.

Figure 01: Cetyl Alcohol

This substance is insoluble in water and very soluble in ether, benzene, and chloroform. It is also soluble in acetone and slightly soluble in alcohol.

There are many uses of cetyl alcohol, including its use in the cosmetic industry as an opacifier in shampoos, as an emollient, emulsifier, or thickening agent in skin creams and lotions. Further, this substance is useful as a lubricant for nuts and bolts. It is an active ingredient in some liquid pool covers, as well. Apart from that, we can use this substance as a non-ionic co-surfactant in emulsion applications.

Some people can be sensitive to cetyl alcohol, mainly those suffering from eczema. However, this sensitivity comes mainly due to the impurities that are present in cetyl alcohol. But sometimes, this substance is used in some medications as well.

What is Cetostearyl Alcohol?

Cetostearyl alcohol or cetearyl alcohol is a mixture of fatty alcohols containing cetyl (carbon-16) compounds and stearyl alcohols (carbon-18) compounds. The chemical formula for this mixture of compounds can be given as CH3(CH2)nCH2OH, where n can be a variable number typically ranging from 14 to 16. The other names for this compound mixture include cetyl-stearyl alcohol, ceto-stearyl alcohol, and cetyl/stearyl alcohol.

Figure 02: Cetostearyl Alcohol

This mixture of compounds is important as an emulsion stabilizer, opacifying agent, and foam-boosting surfactant. It is also important as an aqueous and non-aqueous viscosity-increasing agent. Cetearyl alcohol leaves an emollient feel on the skin and is useful in water-in-oil emulsions, oil-in-water emulsions, and anhydrous formulations. Commonly, this mixture is used in hair conditioners and other hair products.

What is the Difference Between Cetyl Alcohol and Cetostearyl Alcohol?

Cetyl alcohol can be described as a type of fatty alcohol having the chemical formula CH3(CH2)15OH. Cetostearyl alcohol or cetearyl alcohol can be described as a mixture of fatty alcohols containing cetyl (carbon-16) compounds and stearyl alcohols (carbon-18) compounds. The key difference between cetyl alcohol and cetostearyl alcohol is that cetyl alcohol is a single chemical compound, whereas cetostearyl alcohol is a mixture of chemical compounds.

The below infographic presents the differences between cetyl alcohol and cetostearyl alcohol in tabular form for side by side comparison.

Summary – Cetyl Alcohol vs Cetostearyl Alcohol

Cetyl alcohol and Cetostearyl alcohol are important organic compounds. The key difference between cetyl alcohol and cetostearyl alcohol is that cetyl alcohol is a single chemical compound, whereas cetostearyl alcohol is a mixture of chemical compounds.

Reference:

1. “Cetyl alcohol.” Britannica.

Image Courtesy:

1. “Cetyl alcohol structure” By Хорев Сергей – Own work (Public Domain) via Commons Wikimedia
2. “Fatty alcohol – generic” By Edgar181 – Own work (Public Domain) via Commons Wikimedia

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