Cetrimonium Bromide (also known as hexadecyltrimethylammonium bromide or CTAB, CAS 57-09-0) is a high-performance quaternary ammonium cationic surfactant. Distinguished by its long-chain alkyl hydrophobic tail and positively charged ammonium polar head, Cetrimonium Bromide possesses unique interfacial properties, rendering it an indispensable ingredient across the personal care, biopharmaceutical, advanced manufacturing, and coating industries.
Unlike anionic counterparts, cationic agents align automatically at surfaces with negative electrostatic charges—such as human hair protein scales, cellular membranes, and mineral surfaces. This makes CTAB highly efficient as a substantive conditioning agent, cellular disruption tool, and phase-transfer catalyst in critical organic syntheses.
Technical Profile of Cetrimonium Bromide (High Purity Grade):
Chemical Formula: C19H42BrN | Molecular Weight: 364.45 g/mol
Appearance: White to off-white crystalline powder | Active Assay: ≥ 99.0%
Heavy Metals: ≤ 10 ppm | Loss on Drying: ≤ 0.5%
The global industrial footprint of Cetrimonium Bromide is undergoing a significant transition. Driven by the tightening of environmental frameworks (such as EU REACH) and the increasing consumer preference for clean beauty and green chemistry, the demand for CTAB has shifted from basic industrial-grade surfactants toward highly purified, low-impurity specialties.
Historically, Western European and American manufacturers dominated the high-purity biological grades. However, global B2B procurement trends show that regional buyers now heavily leverage Chinese manufacturers for scalability and economic efficiency. In North America and Europe, large cosmetic conglomerates and biopharmaceutical research institutes rely on steady pipelines of CTAB for hair care formulations and nucleic acid extraction kits.
China's domestic manufacturing ecosystem for daily chemical raw materials has evolved far beyond low-cost output. Our factory utilizes raw materials originating from highly integrated, state-of-the-art domestic petrochemical complexes. This proximity to upstream reagents ensures an uninterrupted supply of long-chain fatty alcohols and amine reagents.
Why choose our manufacturing facility?
In conditioning treatments, hair masks, and styling gels, Cetrimonium Bromide functions as a powerful conditioning agent. When deposited on keratinized hair fibers, the cationic charges neutralize negative electrostatic charges, flattening hair cuticles to minimize frizz, prevent static fly-aways, and improve wet-combing friction.
Biotechnology laboratories utilize premium CTAB to formulate lysis buffers for isolating nucleic acids from plant tissues, fungi, and complex biological matrices. At high ionic strengths, CTAB forms soluble complexes with DNA, while proteins, polysaccharides, and other cellular contaminants remain precipitated. This selective extraction technique is vital for PCR amplification.
Due to its capacity to rupture bacterial cell membranes through electrostatic interactions, CTAB acts as an antimicrobial preservative in pharmaceutical formulations, ophthalmic drops, and industrial surface disinfectants. It provides reliable defense against gram-positive bacteria and mold growth.
Empowering global industrial operations with high-performance ingredients.
We provide a comprehensive portfolio of daily chemical surfactants, natural thickeners, and preservatives to streamline complex sourcing programs.
Equipped with analytical testing capabilities, we support custom particle size adjustments, specialized packaging, and tailored activity concentrations.
By streamlining raw material supplies and production systems, we deliver maximum value without compromising purity or safety.
Operating from deepwater ports, our logisticians coordinate maritime and air freight routes for rapid delivery to global processing sites.
The chemical industry is pivoting toward sustainability. For quaternary ammonium salts like Cetrimonium Bromide, the future lies in optimizing carbon foot-printing, utilizing bio-based alkyl chains derived from renewable fatty acids, and reducing volatile organic solvent usage during crystallization.
Furthermore, manufacturing plants are implementing recovery systems to capture and recycle halide compounds during quaternization. This circular approach minimizes effluent pollution, aligns with ESG requirements, and ensures long-term regulatory compliance.
Suzhou Yuantairun Chemical Co., Ltd. is an established manufacturer in the daily chemical raw materials space. Guided by a commitment to efficiency and innovation, our facility bridges the gap between state-of-the-art chemical synthesis and the customized requirements of worldwide formulators.
By integrating advanced R&D systems with scalable production capacities, we provide high-purity cationic agents, amino-acid based surfactants, and specialized thickeners. We prioritize quality control, supply chain transparency, and sustainable operational models.
Application: Home Care Systems
Uses SLES (Sodium Laureth Sulfate) and AOS (Sodium Alpha-Olefin Sulfonate) as core surfactants for superior cleaning and rich foam. Combined with thickener CMEA (Cocamide MEA) for optimal viscosity and user experience.
Application: Sensitive Personal Care
Features Sodium Cocoyl Glutamate and Sodium Lauroyl Sarcosinate for ultra-mild cleansing, ideal for sensitive skin. Natural amino acid-based surfactants produce fine, easy-to-rinse foam while retaining moisture.
Application: Fabric Conditioning Agents
Utilizes cationic surfactant 1631 (Cetrimonium Chloride) for enhanced fabric softness and anti-static properties. Concentrated formula reduces packaging and transportation costs, improving sustainability.
While both are alkyltrimethylammonium salts, Cetrimonium Bromide (CTAB) features a bromide counterion, whereas Cetrimonium Chloride (CTAC) contains a chloride counterion. CTAB has a higher molecular weight (364.45 vs. 320.00) and displays a lower Critical Micelle Concentration (CMC) in aqueous solutions. Due to its superior crystallizing property, CTAB is preferred in biochemical purification (DNA isolation), whereas CTAC is often selected for economic efficiency in liquid conditioner formulations.
Yes, our manufacturing and supplying pipelines comply with REACH standards, ensuring legal commercial distribution within the EU. We provide regulatory paperwork including SDS, Certificate of Analysis (COA), and heavy metal reports for each batch.
We employ Gas Chromatography (GC) and High-Performance Liquid Chromatography (HPLC) to monitor raw materials and final product compositions. By managing quaternization parameters, we limit the concentration of free tertiary amines to less than 0.5%, yielding a highly purified, low-odor cationic powder.
We supply industrial quantities of Cetrimonium Bromide in 25kg fiber drums lined with double-layered polyethylene bags to protect against moisture absorption. Keep containers sealed in dry, cool, well-ventilated spaces.
Connect with our specialists for packaging customizations, sample requests, and technical formulation guidance.
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