Cetylpyridinium chloride monohydrate

Cetylpyridinium chloride monohydrate (CAS 6004-24-6), commonly abbreviated as CPC, is a quaternary ammonium compound used as an antimicrobial active and preservative across pharmaceutical and personal care manufacturing. It delivers broad-spectrum biocidal activity against bacteria, fungi, and some viruses, making it a go-to active ingredient where surface-active preservation is required for high-performance formulations.

In oral care, CPC is the active ingredient in antiseptic mouthwashes, throat lozenges, and medicated sprays targeting plaque-forming bacteria and oral pathogens. These applications rely on its efficacy. Topical pharmaceutical formulations, including wound rinses and antiseptic creams, rely on it for preservative efficacy at low use concentrations. It is highly effective in maintaining product stability.

In personal care, it functions as both a conditioning agent and antimicrobial in shampoos and skin cleansers, where its cationic surfactant character aids substantivity to hair and skin surfaces. It also appears in nasal sprays and respiratory hygiene products as an antiviral adjunct active. This versatile compound is supplied as a white crystalline powder for various industrial uses.

It is available in USP, BP, and Ph. Eur. grades for pharmaceutical applications, as well as cosmetic-grade material meeting relevant purity specifications for personal care use. Packaging typically ranges from kilogram-scale laboratory quantities to bulk bags for industrial formulation. This ensures flexibility for manufacturers across different sectors and production scales.