Myristic Acid
Other names: Myristic acid, tetradecanoic acid
Harm score: 2 (Derivatives of natural substances)
Myristic Acid, also known as myristic acid or tetradecanoic acid, is a saturated fatty acid with the chemical formula CH3(CH2)12COOH. It occurs naturally in several plants and animal fats. In industrial production, it is obtained from nut fats and palm oil. Its name is derived from the nutmeg (Myristica fragrans) from which it was first obtained.
Myristic Acid finds wide use in the cosmetic industry. It is a popular ingredient in quality creams, soaps, shampoos and other skin and hair care products. It forms a creamy lather in water, improving the texture and consistency of products. In addition, it has the ability to retain moisture in the skin and is therefore often included in moisturizers. The medical industry uses it as an excipient in some pharmaceuticals. Household products, such as cleaning products, make use of its detergent properties. In the food industry, myristic acid is used as an emulsifier. Myristic Acid is also one of the key ingredients in palm oil, which is used not only for cooking but also in the production of biofuels and as a lubricant in various industrial applications.