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CarCareTruth

Cocamine Oxide

  • Amphoteric surfactants
  • CAS 61792-31-2
  • IUPAC: 3-(dodecanoylamino)-N,N-dimethylpropan-1-amine oxide

Cocamine Oxide (CAS 61792-31-2) appears in 1 of the 2,122 car-care products CarCareTruth tracks (as of August 2026). It is readily biodegradable.

Mildly irritating to skin and eyes at use concentrations; severe eye irritant at concentrate. No carcinogenicity, asthmagen, or Prop 65 listing. Low inhalation hazard in spray-to-wipe applications.

Cocamine oxide (also called lauramine oxide or coconut oil amine oxide) is an amphoteric surfactant derived from coconut fatty acids. It is widely used in cleaning products as a foam stabilizer, wetting agent, and secondary surfactant alongside anionic surfactants. In alkaline pH environments (like the Griot's Garage Interior Cleaner at pH 11), it behaves as a mildly anionic compound, enhancing soil lift and grease cutting.

The concentrated ingredient is an eye irritant and moderate skin irritant, but at typical in-use concentrations in aqueous cleaning formulas the health hazard is low. EU regulatory data classifies the substance as acutely toxic to aquatic organisms; however, it is readily biodegradable, limiting long-term persistence in the environment.

Health & environment profile

VOC
no
Prop 65 listed
no
Asthmagen
no
EPA Safer Choice
no
Aquatic toxicity
yes
Biodegradable
yes
Bioaccumulative
no
Persistent
no
Ozone depleting
no
Microplastic
no
PFAS
no
Env. score
3/5
Purpose: Amphoteric surfactant — foam booster and wetting agent; behaves as anionic in alkaline formulas, cationic in acidic formulas

Common questions about Cocamine Oxide

What is Cocamine Oxide used for in car care?
Amphoteric surfactant — foam booster and wetting agent; behaves as anionic in alkaline formulas, cationic in acidic formulas
Is Cocamine Oxide a VOC?
No. Cocamine Oxide is not classified as a volatile organic compound (VOC).
Is Cocamine Oxide on California's Proposition 65 list?
No. Cocamine Oxide is not on California's Proposition 65 list.
Is Cocamine Oxide biodegradable?
Yes. Cocamine Oxide has a confirmed biodegradable profile.

1 product contain this

Related

Health and environment notes translate the manufacturer Safety Data Sheet, the GHS classification, and authoritative regulatory listings (California Prop 65, EPA). Not medical advice. They describe the ingredient itself; whether a hazard applies to a finished product depends on its concentration and how it's used.