Lauryl Alcohol

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Other names: Dodecyl alcohol, 1-dodecanol, Dodecan-1-ol, Dodecanol

Harm score: 2 (Derivatives of natural substances)

Lauryl Alcohol or dodecyl alcohol, 1-dodecanol, Dodecan-1-ol or Dodecanol, is an important organic compound that finds wide application in many industries. It is a widely used ingredient in various products due to its unique characteristics. It takes the form of a colorless liquid with a characteristic odor that is almost insoluble in water but mixes well with other organic solvents. A remarkable property of lauryl alcohol is its ability to act as a multipurpose surfactant, making it an ideal ingredient for many applications.

Lauryl alcohol is widely used, for example, in the cosmetics industry, where it is added to shampoos, soaps, creams, lotions and other formulations. The function of lauryl alcohol in these formulations is twofold: first, it increases their consistency and aids emulsification, and second, it acts as an antimicrobial agent. It is also used in the manufacture of industrial cleaning products because its molecule has both a hydrophobic and a hydrophilic part, which allows for easier removal of impurities. Dodecan-1-ol is also found in some pharmaceuticals where it serves as an antiseptic. Among other things, it is also added to synthetic resins, plastics and dyes where it acts as a plasticizer.