Cocamide is a mixture of amides manufactured from the fatty acids obtained from coconut oil. As coconut oil contains about 50% of lauric acid, in formulas only the 12-carbon chains tend to be considered.[1] Therefore the formula of cocamide can be written as CH3(CH2)10CONH2, though the number of carbon atoms in the chains varies (it is always even).[2]

Cocamide

General chemical structure of cocamide where n = 6, 8, 10, 12, 14, 16
Names
Other names
  • Coco amides
  • Coconut oil amides
  • Coco fatty acid amides
  • Coco fatty amides
Identifiers
EC Number
  • 263-039-4
UNII
Properties
CH3(CH2)nCONH2
Except where otherwise noted, data are given for materials in their standard state (at 25 °C [77 °F], 100 kPa).

Cocamide is the structural basis of many surfactants. Common are ethanolamines (cocamide MEA, cocamide DEA), betaine compounds (cocamidopropyl betaine), and hydroxysultaines (cocamidopropyl hydroxysultaine).[3]

References

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  1. ^ Groot, Anton (2021). Monographs in Contact Allergy, Volume 1,Non-Fragrance Allergens in Cosmetics (Part 1 and Part 2). CRC Press. p. 4. ISBN 9781000421842.
  2. ^ Ash, Michael (1998). Handbook of Green Chemicals. Synapse Information Resources. p. 814. ISBN 9781890595791.
  3. ^ Flick, Ernest (1998). Industrial Surfactants An Industrial Guide. Elsevier Science. p. 122.