Cetrimonium bromide

Cetrimonium bromide (CAS 57-09-0), commonly known as CTAB, is a quaternary ammonium surfactant used across pharmaceutical, personal care, and industrial applications. It functions primarily as a cationic surfactant and conditioning agent. This material acts as a broad-spectrum antimicrobial, making it a go-to ingredient where surface activity and biocidal performance are required together. In hair care formulations, CTAB conditions and detangles fibers.

By adsorbing onto negatively charged hair, it reduces static and improves combability. Pharmaceutical manufacturers use it as a preservative and solubilizer in topical preparations to support product stability. Its antimicrobial efficacy against bacteria and fungi is highly valued in medical settings. In laboratory and biotech environments, CTAB is a standard reagent for DNA extraction protocols from plant samples.

It selectively precipitates nucleic acids from microbial samples for research. Industrial cleaning and disinfection formulations also incorporate it as an active biocide, particularly in surface sanitizers. It is especially effective when targeting gram-positive bacteria in industrial environments. The product is supplied as a white crystalline powder or as aqueous solutions at various concentrations.

Standard grades include pharmaceutical-grade material meeting USP and BP specifications, as well as technical-grade for industrial applications. Packaging ranges from laboratory quantities to bulk supply. Purity is typically specified at 96% or higher for pharmaceutical use. This ensures the highest level of performance and safety across all sensitive manufacturing and laboratory applications.