Potassium Cetyl Phosphate - ≥98% , CAS No.17026-85-6

CAS: 17026-85-6 Cat. No.: P1523535 Peso molecolare: 398.601181

GRADE & PURITY ≥98%

Storage

Room temperature

Shipped In

Normal

Specifications

Specifiche e purezza

≥98%

Condizioni di conservazione di stoccaggio

Room temperature

Spedito in

Normal

Purezza

≥98%

Nomi e identificatori

Peso molecolare

398.601181

Application Protocols

No manufacturer-validated application protocols are provided for this item. The following general laboratory workflows (literature/industry practice) can serve as starting points; optimize for your system.

• Aqueous stock solution (low-foam method):

  1. Charge deionized water to a beaker equipped with overhead stirring. 2) Begin agitation and slowly add the weighed potassium cetyl phosphate to create a vortex-free zone. 3) Mix until fully dissolved/dispersion is uniform. 4) Optional: add 5–10% v/v ethanol or propylene glycol to improve wetting. 5) Filter if particulate remains. Record pH and adjust if required (avoid strong acid/base).

• Oil-in-water emulsion (bench scale):

  1. Prepare aqueous phase: water + KCP + humectants/electrolytes; heat to 65–75 C if needed. 2) Prepare oil phase: oils/emollients + co-emulsifiers; heat to the same temperature. 3) Under moderate–high shear, add oil phase slowly to aqueous. 4) Maintain mixing for 10–20 min, then begin cooling while adding rheology modifiers and heat-sensitive components. 5) Homogenize briefly if smaller droplet size is desired. 6) Cool to ambient while maintaining gentle stirring.

• Pigment dispersion:

  1. Pre-wet pigment with a small portion of aqueous KCP solution. 2) Use high-shear mixing or milling to break agglomerates. 3) Letdown into the main batch and adjust viscosity/surfactant level for stability.

Document viscosity, particle size, and stability over thermal cycling to qualify your conditions.

Biological Roles

Item-specific biological data are not provided for this product. The compound is supplied for research use only and is not intended for biological administration.

General considerations for anionic surfactants (literature; not item-specific):

• Membrane interactions: Anionic surfactants interact with lipid bilayers primarily through hydrophobic insertion of the alkyl chain and electrostatic repulsion/attraction at the headgroup interface. This can increase membrane permeability and disrupt protein–lipid interactions at sufficiently high concentrations.
• Protein interactions: Electrostatic and hydrophobic binding can lead to protein unfolding/denaturation, aggregation, or stabilization depending on concentration relative to critical micelle concentration (CMC) and on ionic strength. Compared to sulfate surfactants, phosphate esters may exhibit different binding stoichiometries.
• Enzymology and assays: Low levels of anionic surfactants are sometimes included to minimize nonspecific adsorption and to improve wetting in biochemical assays; compatibility must be validated empirically as activity losses can occur for sensitive enzymes.
• Cellular systems: Surfactants can affect cell membranes and signaling cascades; even ostensibly “mild” surfactants can be cytotoxic above threshold concentrations. For any biological use, determine minimal effective levels and include proper controls.

No endogenous metabolic role is known for long-chain alkyl phosphate salts of this type. For any work involving cells or biomolecules, consult the SDS and perform preliminary compatibility screens to establish safe working concentrations.

Buffer Applications

This product is not a buffering agent and does not form defined acid/base buffer systems in the laboratory sense.

Practical notes (general; not item-specific):

• Surfactant additive to buffers: Potassium cetyl phosphate may be added at low levels to aqueous buffers to improve wetting, reduce nonspecific adsorption, or aid dispersion of hydrophobic additives. Validate compatibility with your buffer salts and pH.
• pH considerations: Phosphate esters are more stable in mildly acidic to neutral pH. Strongly acidic or basic buffers can accelerate hydrolysis of the phosphate ester; if used, prepare fresh solutions and monitor performance over time.
• Ionic strength: High salt can screen electrostatic stabilization and alter micelle size/shape; you may need to adjust surfactant concentration to maintain dispersion.

If you require a true buffer, select a dedicated buffering system (e.g., phosphate, acetate, HEPES, TRIS) and then evaluate this product only as a surfactant additive if needed.

Green Alternatives

Perspective on greener choices is nuanced for surfactants; trade-offs include feedstock origin, aquatic toxicity, and phosphorus loading. The following comparison is general/literature-based and not item-specific.

• Environmental considerations for potassium cetyl phosphate (KCP):

  • Performance: efficient O/W emulsifier at relatively low actives; can reduce total surfactant needed versus milder but less potent systems.
  • Phosphorus: phosphate-containing surfactants contribute to phosphorus in effluent, which may be regulated in some regions due to eutrophication concerns.

• Alternative systems (general):

  • Alkyl polyglucosides (APGs; sugar-derived, nonionic): renewable feedstocks, good biodegradability; may require higher use levels or co-emulsifiers for high-oil systems.
  • Sodium lauryl sulfate (SLS)/sodium laureth sulfate (SLES): petro/oleochemical, readily biodegradable; often higher aquatic toxicity and irritation, but no phosphorus.
  • Citrate or lactate soaps (anionic, from fatty acids): renewable, good environmental profile; limited by water hardness and pH dependence.
  • Amino acid–based surfactants (e.g., glutamates, sarcosinates): favorable mildness and biodegradability; cost and electrolyte tolerance may differ.

Small comparison (qualitative):

• KCP: strong anionic emulsifier; good pigment dispersion; phosphorus content; robust in electrolytes.
• APG: greener feedstock, mild; may need co-emulsifier; less charge stabilization.
• Sarcosinate/glutamate: mild, good biodegradability; can be salt-sensitive; sometimes more expensive.

Selection guidance: If phosphorus discharge is a key constraint, evaluate APGs or amino acid surfactants. If performance and electrolyte tolerance dominate, KCP remains attractive, potentially at lower total surfactant dose to mitigate environmental load.

Pharmaceutical Uses

No pharmacopeial grade or excipient designation is specified for this item; refer to the CoA/Spec Sheet. Supplied strictly for research and laboratory use, not for human or veterinary administration.

General formulation context (literature; not item-specific):

• Role: anionic emulsifier/wetting agent for oil-in-water topical and cosmetic-type emulsions; can assist in dispersing pigments and UV filters and in stabilizing silicone- or hydrocarbon-rich systems.
• Compatibility: often paired with co-emulsifiers (fatty alcohols, glyceryl esters) and rheology modifiers (carbomers, cellulose ethers) to build viscosity and stability. Electrolyte tolerance is generally good compared to some nonionics.
• Processing: typically dispersed in the aqueous phase, with oil phase added under shear at elevated temperature, then cooled with continued mixing to set the emulsion microstructure.
• Regulatory/quality notes: While potassium cetyl phosphate is listed as a cosmetic ingredient (INCI), pharmaceutical use would require qualification of grade, impurity profile, and compliance with relevant monographs or excipient standards, if any. Such status is not claimed for this product.

Researchers developing dosage forms should conduct full pre-formulation compatibility and stability studies (pH, temperature cycling, ionic strength) with the specific API and excipient set, and establish microbial controls for aqueous systems.

Physical Properties

Item-specific properties from Product Data:

• Appearance: Not specified for this item; refer to CoA/Spec Sheet.
• Molecular weight: Not specified for this item; refer to CoA/Spec Sheet.

Literature/general properties for potassium cetyl phosphate (qualitative; not item specifications):

• Physical state: typically a solid, often waxy to powdery, due to the long C16 alkyl chain.
• Solubility profile: readily dispersible/soluble in water above its Krafft point; also soluble in many polar organics (e.g., lower alcohols, glycols). Poor solubility in nonpolar hydrocarbons due to the ionic headgroup.
• Amphiphilicity: forms micelles and liquid-crystalline phases; promotes oil-in-water (O/W) emulsions.
• Thermotropic behavior: like many long-chain ionic surfactants, exhibits a Krafft temperature below which solubility sharply decreases (exact value depends on concentration, ionic strength, and co-solutes).
• Partitioning: strongly surface-active; expected high positive foam index and significant reduction of surface/interfacial tension (quantitative values are formulation- and grade-dependent).
• pH compatibility: phosphate esters generally show good stability in mildly acidic to neutral media; hydrolysis accelerates under strongly acidic or basic conditions (rate depends on temperature and formulation).

Refractive index, melting point, boiling point, density, logP, and pKa: Not specified for this item; refer to CoA/Spec Sheet. Where numeric values are required for method development, determine experimentally with the specific lot and conditions.

Quality and Grades

Item-specific grade/purity: Not specified for this item; refer to CoA/Spec Sheet.

Interpretation and guidance (general; not item-specific):

• Surfactant grade considerations: Commercial potassium cetyl phosphate can vary in active content, inorganic salt level (free K3PO4/KH2PO4), residual alcohols, water content, and the ratio of monoester to diester/acid species. These parameters strongly affect emulsification efficiency, Krafft point, and foam profile.
• Analytical control: For research/formulation use, typical QC includes acid value/phosphate content (to estimate esterification), active matter by two-phase titration, anion/cation balance (ICP-OES for K, ion chromatography for phosphate), residual solvents (GC), moisture (Karl Fischer), and appearance/color.
• UV/background: For chromatographic or spectroscopic uses, low UV absorbance is usually inherent (aliphatic chain), but phosphate headgroups and minor impurities can contribute to baseline—verify by UV scan if needed.
• Stabilizers: Phosphate esters generally do not require added stabilizers; however, some suppliers include antioxidants or chelants in complex blends. This item’s stabilizers, if any: Not specified for this item; refer to CoA/Spec Sheet.
• Lot-to-lot consistency: Emulsifier performance can be sensitive to small composition changes. For critical work, qualify a lot by preparing a standard emulsion and documenting viscosity, particle size, and stability over time/temperature cycling.

Always rely on the product-specific CoA/Spec Sheet for definitive specifications, test methods, and acceptance criteria.

Reaction and Applications

This product is primarily a functional surfactant/emulsifier rather than a stoichiometric reagent. Its applications center on colloid and interface science in aqueous and mixed media.

• Emulsification and dispersion (general/literature):

  • Effective as a primary or co-emulsifier for oil-in-water systems containing hydrocarbons, esters, silicones, and UV filters. Provides electrostatic stabilization via the phosphate headgroup, aiding long-term stability and viscosity build with suitable thickeners.
  • Pigment and particulate dispersion: anionic adsorption onto inorganic oxides (TiO2, ZnO, Fe2O3) and organics can improve wetting and deagglomeration.

• Micellar and colloidal catalysis: Anionic micelles can accelerate certain organic reactions in water (e.g., nucleophilic substitutions, oxidations) by hydrophobic aggregation and local concentration effects. KCP can be evaluated as an alternative to sulfate surfactants for such media (conditions must be optimized; see Reaction Conditions).

• Phase transfer and templating: Useful in forming nano- and mesostructured materials via micelle/vesicle templating and in controlling particle size during precipitation/co-precipitation.

• Practical tips:

  • Pre-dissolve KCP in the aqueous phase, optionally with a small percentage of alcohol/glycol to aid wetting and to moderate foam.
  • Temperature: work above the Krafft point for rapid dissolution; avoid prolonged exposure to strong acid/base to limit hydrolysis of the phosphate ester.
  • Ionic strength: electrolytes can compress the electrical double layer; adjust dosage accordingly to maintain dispersion stability.

Manufacturer application notes: None provided; the above expands on common laboratory uses of potassium alkyl phosphates.

Reaction Conditions

No item-specific reaction conditions are provided. The following are general, literature-based starting points for using anionic surfactants like potassium cetyl phosphate (KCP) to enable chemistry in water or to assemble stable dispersions.

• Stock solutions and dosing:

  • Prepare 1–10 wt% aqueous stock solutions (as needed) at room temperature to mildly warm conditions with gentle stirring to limit foam. Verify clarity/transparency; opalescence may indicate lyotropic phases at high concentration.

• Micellar media for organic reactions:

  • Concentration: explore below and above the CMC (unknown for this item; determine experimentally). Start in the 1–50 mM surfactant range as a scouting window.
  • Temperature: ambient to 60 C is common; avoid prolonged exposure to strong acid/base to limit hydrolysis.
  • Electrolytes: 0–200 mM NaCl/KCl can be screened to tune micelle size and reaction rates; monitor for precipitation or loss of activity.
  • Co-solvents: 0–20% v/v ethanol, isopropanol, or ethylene glycol can aid substrate solubility and control foam.

• Emulsion formation (formulation work):

  • Heat aqueous and oil phases to similar temperatures (e.g., 60–75 C), add oil into aqueous under shear, then cool while mixing. Optimize surfactant level, oil polarity, and rheology modifiers.

• Workup/analysis:

  • Demulsify by salt addition, solvent displacement (alcohols), or pH shifts; separate phases by centrifugation if needed. Surfactant may co-extract; use appropriate cleanup (SPE, back-extraction).

All numeric ranges above are general guidance from literature and should be validated for the specific system.

Safety and Handling

Item-specific hazard data from Product Data:

• Signal Word: Not specified for this item; refer to SDS.
• H-Statements: Not specified for this item; refer to SDS.
• GHS Classification/Pictograms: Not specified for this item; refer to SDS.

General safety guidance (literature/industry practice; not item-specific):

• Likely hazards: Anionic surfactants commonly cause eye and skin irritation. Avoid inhalation of dusts/aerosols. Environmental caution for aquatic systems.
• PPE: Wear lab coat, safety goggles/face shield, and appropriate chemical-resistant gloves (e.g., nitrile). Use in a fume hood or well-ventilated area to minimize dust and aerosols.
• First aid (overview): If on skin, wash with soap and water. If in eyes, rinse cautiously with water for several minutes; remove contact lenses if present and easy to do. If inhaled, move to fresh air. If ingested, rinse mouth; do not induce vomiting; seek medical attention. Always follow facility SOPs.
• Handling: Avoid generating dust. Prepare solutions slowly to limit foaming. Add surfactant to water (not vice versa) to control exotherm and aerosol formation.
• Incompatibilities: Strong oxidizers. Strong acids or bases can catalyze phosphate ester hydrolysis; elevated temperature accelerates this. Avoid reactive cationic surfactants that may form insoluble complexes.
• Spills: Contain and collect to avoid entering drains. Absorb with inert material; clean with water and detergent while controlling foam.
• Fire: Organic solids may burn; use water spray, CO2, dry chemical, or foam. Combustion may produce irritating phosphorus oxides—wear SCBA.

Definitive safety classification and exposure limits are provided in the SDS for this specific item and lot; consult before use.

Solvent Selection

Potassium cetyl phosphate (KCP) is an anionic surfactant, not a conventional solvent. Solvent choice is therefore about dissolving/dispersing KCP and about media where it performs effectively.

• Polarity and miscibility (literature/general):

  • Water: readily dispersible/soluble above its Krafft point; forms micelles and lyotropic phases.
  • Polar organics: soluble in lower alcohols (e.g., ethanol), glycols, and polyols; useful for premixes.
  • Nonpolar media (e.g., hexane, mineral oil): poor solubility; KCP is used to emulsify these into water (O/W), not to dissolve in them.

• Practical selection tips:

  • For stock solutions: use deionized water at room temperature to mildly warm (e.g., 25–60 C) to aid dissolution while minimizing hydrolysis. Control foaming by slow addition and gentle stirring.
  • For premixes: create a water–alcohol or water–glycol blend to improve wetting and reduce foam before charging to the main aqueous phase.
  • For oil-in-water emulsions: disperse KCP in the aqueous phase; separately heat the oil phase (e.g., esters, silicones, hydrocarbons) and combine with shear at similar temperatures.

• Comparison (general):

  • KCP vs sodium lauryl sulfate (SLS): KCP generally provides milder sensory and better electrolyte tolerance, with robust O/W emulsification; SLS is more foaming and harsher.
  • KCP vs alkyl polyglucosides (APGs): APGs are nonionic and often more tolerant to pH extremes; KCP offers anionic charge for electrostatic stabilization and pigment dispersion.

Choose the continuous phase for your system (usually water) and use KCP as the interfacial agent rather than as a solvent.

Storage and Reconstitution

Item-specific storage/shipping from Product Data:

• Storage Conditions: Room temperature.
• Shipped In: Normal.

General storage guidance (not item-specific):

• Keep container tightly closed in a cool, dry, well-ventilated place. Protect from moisture ingress to avoid caking and from contamination that may promote microbial growth in aqueous concentrates.
• Avoid prolonged exposure to elevated temperatures. Store away from strong acids, bases, and oxidizing agents that could induce hydrolysis or degradation.

Reconstitution/preparation of solutions (general):

• Prepare aqueous stock solutions (e.g., 1–10 wt%) using deionized water. Add product slowly with gentle stirring to minimize foaming. Mild warming can expedite dissolution; do not boil.
• If preparing concentrated solutions or emulsions, consider adding a small amount of alcohol or glycol to aid wetting and reduce foam. Adjust pH only within mildly acidic to neutral ranges to limit hydrolysis.
• Microbial control: For aqueous solutions stored more than a few days, include appropriate bioburden controls (sterile filtration, aseptic handling, or a compatible preservative) and label containers with preparation date and concentration.

Shelf life and specific stability limits: Not specified for this item; refer to CoA/Spec Sheet. For best results, prepare working solutions fresh and verify performance (e.g., emulsion stability or surface tension) before critical experiments.

Structure and Identity

Potassium Cetyl Phosphate (CAS 17026-85-6) is an anionic surfactant: a long-chain C16 alkyl phosphate monoester present as its potassium salt. The molecule features a hydrophobic n-hexadecyl (cetyl) tail and a hydrophilic phosphate headgroup counterbalanced by K+.

• Item-specific identifiers from Product Data:

  • CAS: 17026-85-6
  • SKU: P1523535
  • Molecular formula: Not specified for this item; refer to CoA/Spec Sheet.
  • Molecular weight: Not specified for this item; refer to CoA/Spec Sheet.
  • SMILES: Not specified for this item; refer to CoA/Spec Sheet.
  • InChIKey: Not specified for this item; refer to CoA/Spec Sheet.

• Structural features (general description; literature):

  • Functional groups: phosphate monoester (–O–PO3−), long linear saturated alkyl chain (C16).
  • Ionic character: anionic headgroup (phosphate), potassium counterion.
  • 2D description in words: a straight, 16-carbon, fully saturated hydrocarbon chain (no rings, no unsaturation) terminates in an ether linkage to a tetrahedral phosphate group bearing a terminal P=O and two P–O bonds (one typically deprotonated and paired with K+). No stereocenters.

• Class/category:

  • Anionic phosphate ester surfactant; commonly used as an emulsifier and wetting/dispersing agent in aqueous systems.

Notes: Exact stoichiometry (mono-/di-ester content) and tautomeric state can vary among commercial grades; consult the product CoA for definitive structural specification for this item.

Synthetic Utility

While not a reactive building block, potassium cetyl phosphate (KCP) can be strategically used to enable or enhance chemical processes via interfacial and colloidal effects.

• Micellar catalysis (general; literature):

  • Hydrophobic substrates can be brought into aqueous media using KCP micelles, potentially increasing effective concentrations and rates for reactions such as SN1/SN2 substitutions, oxidations (e.g., hypochlorite-mediated), or metal-catalyzed couplings adapted to water.
  • The anionic headgroup can influence catalyst speciation; for example, cationic metal complexes may associate with micelle surfaces, affecting turnover.

• Phase-transfer–like behavior:

  • Although not a quaternary ammonium salt, KCP can facilitate mass transfer between oil and water phases, especially when combined with co-solvents. It can improve yields in reactions limited by interfacial area.

• Nanomaterials and templating:

  • Serves as a structure-directing agent in the precipitation or sol–gel synthesis of inorganic oxides and phosphates. Micelle size and shape (normal vs. vesicular) can be tuned by concentration, salts, and co-surfactants to control particle size and morphology.

• Workup and isolation:

  • Surfactants complicate separations. Plan for demulsification steps (salt/ethanol addition, pH adjustment, or centrifugation) and include extraction-resistant internal standards for analytical tracking.

These utilities require empirical optimization with the actual substrates and catalysts. Begin with small-scale screens varying surfactant concentration, ionic strength, and temperature.

Target Specificity

Not applicable. This product is a small-molecule surfactant, not a biological targeting reagent (no antigen/epitope specificity, clone, or isotype). Use cases involve interfacial phenomena rather than molecular recognition.