CAS 57-09-0

Chinese nameHexadecyltrimethylammonium bromide

English nameHexadecyl trimethyl ammonium bromide

CAS57-09-0

EINECS Number200-311-3

Molecular formulaC19H42BrN

MDL NumberMFCD00011772

molecular weight364.45

MOL file57-09-0.mol

Basic Information

Chinese alias

Hexadecyltrimethylammonium bromide (CTAB)
N,N,N-trimethyl-1-hexadecylammonium bromide , cetyltrimethylammonium bromide,
cetylane trimethylammonium bromide, hexadecyltrimethylammonium bromide (CTAB), cetyltrimethylammonium bromide , bromobrown trimethylamine bromide, hexadecyltrimethylammonium bromide, hexadecyltrimethylammonium bromide , CTMAB , trimethylhexadecylammonium bromide , bromobrown trimethylammonium bromide, bromotrimethylammonium bromide, trimethylaminohexadecyl bromide, trimethylamine bromide, cetyltrimethylammonium bromide , hexadecyltrimethylammonium bromide /CTMAB (1-hexadecyl)trimethylammonium bromide

English aliases

(1-HEXADECYL)TRIMETHYLAMMONIUM BROMIDE
CETAB
CETRAMIDE
CETRIMIDE
CETRIMIDE PER USP
CETRIMONIUM BROMIDE
CETYLTRIMETHYLAMMONIUM BROMIDE
CTAB
CTABR
HEXADECYLTRIMETHYLAMMONIUM BROMIDE
N-CETYL-N,N,N-TRIMETHYLAMMONIUM BROMIDE
N-HEXADECYL-N,N,N-TRIMETHYLAMMONIUM BROMIDE
N-HEXADECYLTRIMETHYLAMMONIUM BROMIDE
N,N,N-TRIMETHYLTETRADECYLAMMONIUM BROMIDE
PALMITYLTRIMETHYLAMMONIUM BROMIDE
TIMTEC-BB SBB008910
TRIMETHYLHEXADECYL-AMMONIUM BROMIDE
1-Hexadecanaminium,N,N,N-trimethyl-,bromide
acetoquatab
ammonium,hexadecyltrimethyl-,bromideCategory

Raw materials: disinfectants and preservatives

Physicochemical properties

AppearanceIt appears as a white or light yellow crystalline to powdery substance, readily soluble in isopropanol and water, and produces a large amount of foam when shaken. It has good compatibility with cationic, nonionic, and amphoteric surfactants.

Melting point248-251 °C (lit.)

Bulk density390kg/m3

density1.1107 (rough estimate)

Refractive index1.5260 (estimate)

Flash point244 °C

Storage conditionsStore at RT.

solubilityH₂O 

_: 50 mg/mL

formpowder

colorwhite

pH value5.0-7.0 (25℃, 0.1M in H2O)

OdorOdorless

pH range of color change of acid-base indicator5 – 7

Water solubility13 g/L (20 ºC)

Sensitivityhygroscopic

Maximum wavelength (λmax)λ: 260 nm Amax: 0.06λ: 280 nm Amax: 0.05

Merck14, 2025

Detection methodsT,NMR

BRN3598189

stabilityStable. Incompatible with strong oxidizing agents. Keep away from moisture.

Cosmetic ingredients and efficacyPRESERVATIVEANTISTATICSURFACTANT – EMULSIFYINGANTIMICROBIAL

InChI1S/C19H42N.BrH/c1-5-6-7-8-9-10-11-12-13-14-15-16-17-18-19-20(2,3)4;/h5-19H2,1-4H3;1H/q+1;/p-1

InChIKeyLZZYPRNAOMGNLH-UHFFFAOYSA-M

SMILES[Br-].CCCCCCCCCCCCCCC[N+](C)(C)C

CAS Database57-09-0(CAS DataBase Reference)

EPA Chemical SubstancesCetyl trimethyl ammonium bromide (57-09-0)

Security Data

Hazard Symbols (GHS)
GHS05, GHS07, GHS08, GHS09

Warning wordsDanger

Hazard descriptionH302-H315-H318-H335-H373-H410

Prevention instructionsP273-P280-P301+P312-P302+P352-P305+P351+P338-P314

Dangerous goods signsXn,N

Hazard Category CodeR22-R37/38-R41-R50-R50/53-R36/37/38

Safety InstructionsS26-S39-S61-S37/39

Dangerous goods transport numberUN 3077 9/PG 3

WGK Germany3

RTECSBQ7875000

F3

TSCAYes

Hazard level9

Packaging CategoryIII

Customs Code29239000

Storage Class11 – Combustible Solids

Hazard CategoryAcute Tox. 4 OralAquatic Acute 1Aquatic Chronic 1Eye Dam. 1Skin Irrit. 2STOT RE 2 OralSTOT SE 3

toxicityLD50 in mice, rats (mg/kg): 32.0, 44.0 iv (Isomaa, Bjondahl)

Application areas

Application 1

It possesses excellent penetrating, softening, emulsifying, antistatic, biodegradable, and bactericidal properties. It exhibits good chemical stability, resistance to heat, light, pressure, and strong acids and alkalis. It is used as an emulsifier for natural and synthetic rubber, silicone oil, and asphalt; an antistatic agent and softener for synthetic fibers, natural fibers, and glass fibers; and a conditioning agent in hair conditioners.Application 2

Used as an inhibitor of intestinal glucose absorption and a surfactantApplication 3

Used as a conditioner, softener, bactericide, emulsifier, flocculant, etc.Application 4

This product is a cationic surfactant. It can be used as a bactericide, in the formulation of mouthwashes, disinfectants, and intestinal glucose absorption inhibitors. It can also be used as a reagent for micellar solubilization spectrophotometric determination.Use 5

It is used in organic synthesis, and can also be used as a cationic surfactant, a bactericide, in the formulation of mouthwashes and disinfectants, and as an inhibitor of intestinal glucose absorption. This product is also a commonly used reagent in micellar solubilization spectrophotometry.Application 6

Catalysts, emulsifiers, disinfectants, bactericidal agents, antistatic agents, etc. Colorimetric or spectrophotometric determination of antimony and tin. Intestinal glucose absorption inhibitors. Phase transfer catalysts in aromatic hydrocarbon reduction and olefin epoxidation. Surfactants. Bactericides. Disinfectants.

Preparation method

Method 1

A trimethylamine aqueous solution was added to a vaporization reactor and heated to boiling. The generated trimethylamine gas was dried and absorbed with acetone, forming a trimethylamine-acetone solution in an absorption tower, which was then introduced into a quaternization reactor. Hexadecane bromide was then added dropwise under stirring at a molar ratio of 1.10:1. The temperature was maintained at 30–40°C during the addition, and stirred for another 1 hour after the addition was complete. The mixture was cooled to crystallize, yielding a crude product. This crude product was washed with acetone, spun dry, and then dried to obtain the final product.
Method 2

The quaternary ammonium salt is formed by the reaction of hexadecyl alcohol with bromine and trimethylamine.

57-09-0 (Safety characteristics, toxicity, storage and transportation)

Storage and transportation characteristics

The warehouse should be kept at a low temperature, well-ventilated, and dry; food ingredients should be stored separately.Stimulus data

Skin – mice 50 mg/1 hour positive; Eyes – rabbits 450 mg severeToxicity classification

Highly toxicAcute toxicity

Oral LD50 in rats: 410 mg/kg; Intravenous LD50 in mice: 32 mg/kgFlammable hazardous characteristics

It is flammable when exposed to open flames, high temperatures, or strong oxidizers; combustion emits nitrogen oxides and irritating bromides in the smoke.category

pesticideFire extinguishing agent

Foam, mist water, carbon dioxide, sand

Frequently Asked Questions List

nature

Hexadecyltrimethylammonium bromide is a white or light yellow crystalline to powdery substance, readily soluble in isopropanol and water. It produces abundant foam upon shaking and exhibits good compatibility with cationic, nonionic, and amphoteric surfactants. It possesses excellent penetrating, softening, emulsifying, antistatic, biodegradable, and bactericidal properties. This product exhibits good chemical stability and is resistant to heat, light, pressure, and strong acids and alkalis.Pharmacology

Cetrimonium bromide’s main component is carbomer, which is a chain-like, adhesive backbone composed of a water-filled polymer. This polymer has unique thixotropic properties: its structure is disrupted under external force, leading to a decrease in viscosity; after restoration, its adhesive gel backbone is rebuilt, and the gel returns to its original viscosity.