The Development of Monoalkyl Phosphate as a Low Skin Irritating Anionic Surfactant

Abstract

Properties of monoalkyl phosphate (MAP), including surface active properties, cutaneous effects, and applications to paste & liquid type skin cleansers, and also phosphorylation reactions from the viewpoint of industrial production of MAP, are reviewed.
It has been found that MAP exhibit considerably high safety on skin in comparison with typical anionic surfactants. This is caracterlized by neutral pH, low skin irritation & roughness and small elution amount of natural moisturizing facters from the stratum corneum. In addition, C₁₂ MAP shows adequate surface active properties for skin cleanser.
The industrial production of MAP have been established by two phosphorylation methods, one is ROH/H₂O/P₂O₅ and another is poly-phosphoric acid method.
These findings have promoted the development of paste & liquid type skin cleansers composed of MAP.