Monograph: |
Cetyl Alcohol
A mixture of solid aliphatic alcohols consisting chiefly of ce
lyl alcohol. USNF specifies not less than 90% of
cetyl alcohol, the remainder consisting chiefly of related alco
hols.
It occurs as white unctuous mass, powder, flakes, cubes, or
granules, with a faint characteristic odour. M.p. 45Β° to 52
Practically insoluble in water; freely to sparingly soluble in
alcohol; freely soluble in ether; miscible when melted with
animal and vegetable oils, liquid paraffin, and melted Wool
fat.
Cetyl alcohol is used in topical preparations for its emollient
water absorptive, stiffening, and weak emulsifying proper-
ties. It may be incorporated into suppositories to raise the
melting-point and may be used in the coating of delayed re
lease solid dose forms.
Cetyl alcohol can cause hypersensitivity.
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