Laneth-75 is a chemical compound, sterol-containing PEG (Polyethylene glycol) (polyethylene glycol), ethoxylate (ethylene oxide interaction reaction), ether of fatty alcohols which are resulting from wool wax (lanolin). The number next to the name indicates the units or mol of ethylene oxide.
It is typically a clear to slightly yellowish liquid. However, the colour of the final product in which Laneth-75 is used may vary considerably depending on the other ingredients used in the formulation.
The synthesised extraction process takes place in different steps:
- Extraction. The process begins with the extraction of lanolin from sheep's wool. Lanolin is a complex mixture of long-chain waxy esters, hydroxy esters, diesters, lanolin alcohols and lanolin acids.
- Separation. Lanolin is processed to separate the lanolin alcohols, which are a mixture of high molecular weight alcohols.
- Reaction with ethylene oxide. Lanolin alcohol is reacted with ethylene oxide in a process known as ethoxylation. This reaction attaches a chain of ethylene oxide units to the lanolinic alcohol molecule. The number 75 in Laneth-75 indicates that on average 75 ethylene oxide units are attached to each lanolin alcohol molecule.
What it is used for and where
Cosmetics
Surfactant - Emulsifying agent. Emulsions are thermodynamically unstable and are used to soothe or soften the skin and emulsify, so they need a specific, stabilising ingredient. This ingredient forms a film, lowers the surface tension and makes two immiscible liquids miscible. A very important factor affecting the stability of the emulsion is the amount of the emulsifying agent. Emulsifiers have the property of reducing the oil/water or water/oil interfacial tension, improving the stability of the emulsion and also directly influencing the stability, sensory properties and surface tension of sunscreens by modulating the filmometric performance.
Safety. After the ethoxylation procedure, scientific literature reports that it is not uncommon to find residues of ethylene oxide and 1,4-dioxane, chemical compounds considered carcinogenic, in the final product. It would therefore be necessary for the manufacturer to declare the purity of the ethoxylated chemical compound to be sure of the harmlessness of the ingredient. However, considering that the number of ethylene oxide units is high, penetration into the epidermis is not very deep.
CAS: 61791-20-6
Synonyms:
- aec laneth-20
- laneth-20 [inci]
- nikkol bwa-20
- peg-20 lanolin ether
- polyethylene glycol 1000 lanolin ether
- s7x5h43jbj
