DI-N-ALKYL(C8-C18 FROM COCONUT OIL) DIMETHYL AMMONIUM CHLORIDE

CAS: 61789-77-3 SURFACE-ACTIVE AGENT

DI-N-ALKYL(C8-C18 FROM COCONUT OIL) DIMETHYL AMMONIUM CHLORIDE is a quaternary ammonium cationic surfactant derived from coconut oil alkyl chains. Its primary use is as a surface-active agent.

What It Is

DI-N-ALKYL(C8-C18 FROM COCONUT OIL) DIMETHYL AMMONIUM CHLORIDE is a chemical compound classified within the class of quaternary ammonium surfactants. It consists of a positively charged ammonium nitrogen bonded to two methyl groups and two long-chain alkyl groups derived from coconut oil, with a chloride anion as the counterion. This structural arrangement gives the molecule surface-active properties, meaning it preferentially locates at interfaces between liquids, solids, and gases to reduce surface tension. It is commonly used in industrial, household, and institutional applications due to these surface-active properties. Quaternary ammonium compounds, including this one, are well known for their capacity to interact with a variety of substrates, enabling emulsification, dispersal, or wetting in formulations. The ingredient is identified by CAS Number 61789-77-3, and it is listed under indirect food additive inventories in U.S. regulatory resources, indicating its recognized technical identity and defined uses in contact with food-related surfaces. Its classification as a surface-active agent reflects its primary technical purpose, not any nutritive or flavoring function. The compound’s multiple synonyms reflect its use across different industries and regulatory contexts, and its naming conventions often highlight either the source of its alkyl chains or its quaternary ammonium structure. This ingredient does not occur naturally in common foods, but is instead synthesized for functional applications.

How It Is Made

The manufacturing of DI-N-ALKYL(C8-C18 FROM COCONUT OIL) DIMETHYL AMMONIUM CHLORIDE typically involves chemical synthesis processes that combine long-chain fatty alkyl derivatives from natural sources with methylating and quaternizing reagents. While specific proprietary methods may differ among producers, a common industrial route begins with fatty alkyl bromides or chlorides derived from coconut oil fractions that include a mixture of C8 to C18 straight-chain alkyl groups. These alkyl halides are reacted with dimethylamine under controlled conditions to produce the corresponding tertiary amine intermediate. Subsequent reaction with a suitable quaternizing agent, such as methyl chloride or a similar methylating reagent, results in the formation of the quaternary ammonium chloride salt. This approach yields the cationic surfactant structure characteristic of this compound class. In industrial practice, measures are taken to control reaction conditions to maximize yield and purity while minimizing byproducts and residual solvents. Isolating and purifying the final product typically involves phase separation, neutralization, and drying steps to meet quality standards for downstream applications. Producers often specify concentration ranges, purity criteria, and compositional profiles in technical datasheets, especially when the compound is supplied for regulatory-sensitive uses such as food contact surfaces. Quality control analyses can include assessments of active content, chloride balance, and absence of harmful impurities. Because this compound is a mixture of alkyl chain lengths, specification sheets often describe average chain distribution rather than a single discrete molecular species. The production process is designed to yield a consistent surface-active agent with reliable properties suitable for formulation into products across diverse industrial and institutional settings.

Why It Is Used In Food

Although DI-N-ALKYL(C8-C18 FROM COCONUT OIL) DIMETHYL AMMONIUM CHLORIDE is not added directly to foods for human consumption, it is included in regulatory inventories because it is permitted for use in materials and articles that contact food under specified conditions. Its surface-active nature makes it suitable for use in cleaning, sanitation, and maintenance products that interact with food contact surfaces. In food processing and preparation environments, surface-active agents can help remove soils, oils, and residues that accumulate on equipment, containers, and packaging materials. The cationic nature of quaternary ammonium compounds enables them to disrupt and remove grease and particulate matter, facilitating effective cleaning and sanitation routines essential in food service and manufacturing. Regulatory listings, such as those found in U.S. food contact substance inventories, specify the sections of code under which such substances may be used, which delineates the allowable contexts and limits for contact with processed foods, packaging, and related surfaces. The presence of this compound in these inventories reflects its recognized technological function in supporting hygienic conditions rather than contributing directly to food composition or sensory qualities. For example, it may be found in sanitizing solutions applied to food processing equipment where its surface-active properties assist in emulsifying and lifting organic residues. Such applications are important for preventing microbial contamination and ensuring compliance with food safety standards. Importantly, its use in food-related contexts is defined by regulatory conditions that ensure only trace or nondirect contact with food occurs, consistent with safety evaluations by regulatory authorities.

Adi Example Calculation

Because DI-N-ALKYL(C8-C18 FROM COCONUT OIL) DIMETHYL AMMONIUM CHLORIDE does not have an established acceptable daily intake (ADI) from JECFA or similar authoritative food additive evaluations, this section does not provide a numeric example calculation. ADIs are assigned when a compound is intentionally added to food and direct estimates of dietary exposure are relevant. In contrast, surface-active agents used in cleaning and food contact surface applications are regulated to minimize direct food residues rather than to define lifetime intake limits. Consequently, an illustrative calculation using hypothetical ADI values is not appropriate here, and emphasis remains on adhering to regulatory use conditions that ensure negligible consumer exposure.

Safety And Health Research

Safety and health research for quaternary ammonium surface-active agents such as DI-N-ALKYL(C8-C18 FROM COCONUT OIL) DIMETHYL AMMONIUM CHLORIDE focuses on evaluating exposure risks associated with intended use patterns and potential routes of contact. Because this compound is primarily used in cleaning and sanitation products that contact food-related surfaces rather than being added directly to food, regulatory assessments emphasize occupational and consumer safety in handling and residual contact scenarios. Toxicological evaluations for quaternary ammonium compounds often examine endpoints such as skin and eye irritation, respiratory effects, and systemic toxicity at high doses. Studies for related quaternary ammonium compounds have documented irritant effects with direct exposure, which is why handling guidelines emphasize protective measures for eyes, skin, and respiratory exposure in occupational settings. Data compiled in safety databases categorize the compound’s hazards and identify endpoints relevant to human health and the environment, but do not define explicit tolerable intake levels because use is outside direct food consumption. Regulatory agencies and safety panels review available toxicology data to establish usage conditions that minimize exposure risks, particularly ensuring that residues on food contact surfaces remain below levels of concern. Environmental safety considerations are also part of risk assessments because residual rinse waters containing quaternary ammonium compounds can impact aquatic life if not properly managed. Research continues in academic and industrial settings to understand structure-activity relationships among quaternary ammonium compounds and to refine safety profiles for different chain length distributions. Overall, safety evaluations inform conditions of use rather than direct numeric health guidance values, given the indirect nature of human exposure in food-related contexts.

Regulatory Status Worldwide

The regulatory status of DI-N-ALKYL(C8-C18 FROM COCONUT OIL) DIMETHYL AMMONIUM CHLORIDE reflects its inclusion in formal inventories that permit its use in specific applications related to food contact surfaces. In the United States, the substance is listed in the FDA’s Inventory of Food Contact Substances under 21 CFR Parts 172 and 177, specifically citing sections 172.710 and 177.1200, which delineate conditions for indirect contact and functional applications on food contact surfaces. These references indicate that regulatory frameworks recognize the substance’s technical role and authorize its use under defined conditions rather than approving it as a direct food additive. Its presence in these sections means that manufacturers can formulate products for cleaning or contact with food packaging materials provided they comply with the conditions and limitations specified in the relevant regulations. Beyond the U.S., similar regulatory databases track substances permitted for use in food contact materials, though explicit authorizations may vary by jurisdiction and use-case. International bodies such as the Joint FAO/WHO Expert Committee on Food Additives (JECFA) provide broader scientific assessment frameworks for food additives, but direct evidence of a JECFA evaluation or a specific ADI for this compound was not identified in authoritative databases at the time of this writing, and therefore numeric intake limits or monographs are not d here. In many regions, quaternary ammonium compounds used in sanitation products are subject to oversight that controls their allowable use conditions and ensures they do not result in unsafe residues on food contact surfaces. Regulatory inventories thus play a key role in defining safe patterns of use that protect consumers while enabling technological functions in food handling and processing contexts.

Taste And Functional Properties

Quaternary ammonium surfactants such as DI-N-ALKYL(C8-C18 FROM COCONUT OIL) DIMETHYL AMMONIUM CHLORIDE are valued for functional characteristics rather than taste attributes. These compounds are not intended to impart flavor or sensory qualities to food; in fact, their use is typically restricted away from direct incorporation into foodstuffs. From a formulation perspective, the molecule’s amphiphilic design, with its hydrophobic long-chain alkyl segments and hydrophilic, positively charged head group, enables it to interact effectively with both water and hydrophobic soil or surface films. This dual affinity facilitates wetting, dispersion, and emulsification processes in formulations where cleaning and surface modification are the goals. In practical applications, this ingredient can lower surface tension and improve the penetration of aqueous cleaning mixtures into crevices and substrates, supporting efficient removal of residues. The functional behavior of quaternary ammonium surfactants is influenced by environmental conditions such as pH and ionic strength, which can affect solubility and charge interactions. In general, these compounds are soluble in water and compatible with a range of formulation chemistries used in sanitation and cleaning products. Sensory properties such as odor or taste are not relevant to the intended technological functions and, in regulatory assessments, direct sensory attributes in foods are not considered because of restricted use patterns that limit direct food contact. Instead, performance is measured by parameters like wetting ability, emulsification capacity, foam stability, and compatibility with other formulation ingredients. These functional attributes support the ingredient’s role in industrial and institutional cleaning and maintenance products.

Acceptable Daily Intake Explained

An acceptable daily intake (ADI) is a health-based guidance value used by regulators to estimate the amount of a substance that can be ingested daily over a lifetime without appreciable health risk. ADIs are most commonly established for substances intentionally incorporated into food, such as preservatives or flavorings. In the case of DI-N-ALKYL(C8-C18 FROM COCONUT OIL) DIMETHYL AMMONIUM CHLORIDE, an ADI value from authoritative bodies such as JECFA was not identified in the regulatory databases searched. Because this compound is not used as a direct food additive but rather in cleaning and food contact surface applications, regulators focus on controlling its presence on food contact materials to minimize consumer exposure rather than defining a numeric intake limit. Typically, when an ADI is established for a food additive, it is expressed in milligrams of the substance per kilogram of body weight per day and derived from toxicological studies using safety factors to account for uncertainties. For substances like this surface-active agent, regulators emphasize adherence to permitted use conditions that limit direct contact with food, ensuring that any inadvertent ingestion is negligible and does not warrant a formal ADI. Therefore, in this context, rather than specifying a numeric ADI, regulatory guidance centers on proper use and compliance with food contact surface standards that protect consumer health.

Comparison With Similar Additives

DI-N-ALKYL(C8-C18 FROM COCONUT OIL) DIMETHYL AMMONIUM CHLORIDE belongs to the broader class of quaternary ammonium surface-active agents, which includes other compounds used in sanitation, cleaning, and contact surface applications. For example, didecyldimethylammonium chloride (DDAC), another quaternary ammonium compound, shares similar cationic surfactant properties and is widely used in disinfectants and sanitizing formulations. While both compounds reduce surface tension and can help remove soils, their specific chain length distributions influence solubility and antimicrobial properties. Another related compound is benzalkonium chloride, a mixed alkyl chain quaternary ammonium surfactant also used for disinfection and antisepsis; it is more prevalent in household and healthcare sanitizers. Compared to nonionic surfactants such as polysorbates, quaternary ammonium compounds typically exhibit stronger interactions with negatively charged surfaces but may have different safety profiles and usage contexts. In food contact surface applications, regulators evaluate each surfactant’s functional performance along with safety data to determine appropriate usage conditions. The comparison underscores that, while the fundamental surface-active properties are shared across these additives, specific chemical structures and regulatory contexts dictate their suitability and limitations for particular applications.

Common Food Applications Narrative

In food processing, service, and preparation environments, maintaining clean surfaces and sanitary conditions is essential to food safety and quality control. DI-N-ALKYL(C8-C18 FROM COCONUT OIL) DIMETHYL AMMONIUM CHLORIDE plays a role in achieving these goals through its inclusion in surface-active cleaning and sanitation products used on equipment and contact surfaces. The compound’s cationic surfactant properties make it effective in helping to emulsify and remove grease, oils, and other residues that can cling to stainless steel, conveyor belts, utensils, and food packaging machinery. While it is not a direct food additive, its regulated use in food contact surface applications under specific conditions ensures that it contributes to hygienic environments where food is processed or handled. For example, in a commercial kitchen or a food manufacturing plant, cleaning solutions containing this surface-active agent can assist in breaking down fats and organic soils that accumulate on worktops and processing equipment. Its surface-active characteristics facilitate the detachment of these residues, improving the ease and efficiency of cleaning protocols that help prevent microbial buildup. The ingredient may also be present in sanitation products used for cleaning food storage containers, slicers, and other utensils that, although not part of the food itself, are integral to safe food handling. In addition, regulatory frameworks that list this compound for use in materials that contact food, such as certain packaging materials or food-contact components, reflect its utility in supporting maintenance of clean surfaces rather than flavor, texture, or nutritional qualities. Because of its restricted functional role, it is typically used behind the scenes by facility maintenance and quality assurance personnel as part of comprehensive sanitation regimens rather than being encountered directly by consumers in finished food products.

Safety & Regulations

FDA

  • Notes: Listed in FDA food contact substance inventories; not a direct food additive approval.
  • Regulation: 172.710 and 177.1200

EFSA

  • Notes: No EFSA food additive evaluation or E number identified.

JECFA

  • Notes: No specific JECFA evaluation entry found.

Sources

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