39236-46-9

Usage

Uses

Used in Personal Care Products:
Imidazolidinyl Urea is used as an anti-bacterial preservative in personal care products for its broad-spectrum activity and low sensitizing potential. It is particularly effective in cosmetics, shampoos, deodorants, body lotions, and some therapeutic topical ointments and creams.
Used in Cosmetics Industry:
In the cosmetics industry, Imidazolidinyl Urea is used as a preservative to maintain the freshness and safety of products. It is often used in combination with parabens to enhance the preservation of cosmetics and prevent microbial contamination.
Used in Liquid Soaps:
Imidazolidinyl Urea is also used as a preservative in liquid soaps, where it helps to prevent the growth of bacteria, fungi, and yeast, ensuring the product remains safe for use.
Chemical Properties:
Imidazolidinyl Urea is a stable white, free-flowing, odorless powder with a mild odor. It does not absorb ultraviolet light and decomposes at temperatures above 160°C. In aqueous solutions, the pH is close to neutrality, making it suitable for use in various formulations. It is mainly found in cosmetics and liquid soaps, where it serves as an effective antimicrobial agent.

Production Methods

Imidurea is produced by the condensation of allantoin with formaldehyde.

Flammability and Explosibility

Nonflammable

Pharmaceutical Applications

N,N-methylenebis N'-1-(hydroxymethyl)-2,5-dioxo-4-imidazolidinyl urea is a broad-spectrum antimicrobial preservative used in cosmetics and topical pharmaceutical formulations; typical concentrations used are 0.03–0.5% w/w. It is effective between pH 3–9 and is reported to have synergistic effects when used with parabens.

Contact allergens

Imidazolidinyl urea, a formaldehyde releaser related to diazolidinyl urea (see above), is used as an antimicrobial agent very active against Gram-positive and Gram-negative bacteria, used as a synergist in combination with para- bens. It is used as a preservative in aqueous products, mainly in cosmetics, toiletries, and liquid soaps.

Safety

Imidurea is widely used in cosmetics and topical pharmaceutical formulations, and is generally regarded as a nontoxic and nonirritant material. However, there have been some reports of contact dermatitis associated with imidurea, although these are relatively few considering its widespread use in cosmetics. Although imidurea releases formaldehyde, it does not appear to be associated with cross-sensitization with formaldehyde or other formaldehyde-releasing compounds. LD50 (mouse, oral): 7.2 g/kg LD50 (rabbit, skin): > 8 g/kg LD50 (rat, oral): 11.3 g/kg

storage

Imidurea is hygroscopic and should be stored in a well-closed container in a cool, dry place.

Incompatibilities

N,N-methylenebis N'-1-(hydroxymethyl)-2,5-dioxo-4-imidazolidinyl urea is incompatible with strong oxidants. It is compatible with other preservatives including sorbic acid and quaternary ammonium compounds. It is also compatible with other pharmaceutical and cosmetic excipients including proteins, nonionic surfactants, and lecithin.

Regulatory Status

Included in the FDA Inactive Ingredients Database (topical preparations). Accepted for use in cosmetics in Europe and the USA. Included in the Canadian List of Acceptable Non-medicinal Ingredients.

Upstream product

• 50-00-0 formaldehyd 
• 97-59-6 Allantoin 

Relevant academic research and scientific papers

Preparation method of N,N'-methylene bis (N'-3-hydroxymethyl-2, 5-dioxo-4-imidazolyl) urea

The invention discloses a preparation method of N,N'-methylene bis(N'-3-hydroxymethyl-2, 5-dioxo-4-imidazolyl) urea. The method comprises the following steps: weighing allantoin and formaldehyde according to a molar ratio of 1: (1 to 1.2), adding sodium hydroxide as a catalyst, carrying out stirring reflux for 4-8h at the temperature of 70-74 DEG C, using an acetic acid solution to adjust the pH to be neutral, and carrying out reduced pressure distillation to enable water to be steamed out; after reduced pressure dehydration is carried out on the material, adding the material into ethanol while stirring, separating out crystal, filtering, and washing with deionized water; sequentially putting the washed solid into heat pump drying ovens for dehumidification drying and vacuum drying to obtain the product. The preparation method combines heat pump drying and vacuum drying, and the heat pump drying has functions of drying and dehumidifying, so that the energy consumption is less, the time of the vacuum drying is shortened, the drying temperature is low, and the drying time is short; the preparation method has the advantages of improving the quality of the product, reducing energy consumption and lowering production cost.

Antimicrobial wipes which provide improved residual benefit versus gram positive bacteria

The present invention relates to an antimicrobial wipe comprising a porous or absorbent sheet impregnated with an antimicrobial cleansing composition, wherein the antimicrobial cleansing composition comprises from about 0.001% to about 5.0%, by weight of the antimicrobial cleansing composition, of an antimicrobial active; from about 0.05% to about 10%, by weight of the antimicrobial cleansing composition, of an anionic surfactant; from about 0.1% to about 10%, by weight of the antimicrobial cleansing composition, of a proton donating agent; and from about 3% to about 99.85%, by weight of the antimicrobial cleansing composition, water; wherein the composition is adjusted to a pH of from about 3.0 to about 6.0; wherein the antimicrobial cleansing composition has a Gram Positive Residual Effectiveness Index of greater than about 0.5; and wherein the antimicrobial cleansing composition has a Mildness Index of less than about 0.3. The invention also encompasses methods for cleansing skin and providing residual effectiveness versus Gram positive bacteria using these products.

Mild, rinse-off antimicrobial liquid cleansing compositions containing salicyclic acid

The present invention relates to a rinse-off antimicrobial cleansing composition comprising from about 0.1% to about 5.0%, by weight of the cleansing composition, of an antimicrobial active; from about 6% to about 16%, by weight of the cleansing composition, of an anionic surfactant, wherein at least about 67% of the anionic surfactant is selected from the group consisting of Class A surfactants, Class C surfactants, and mixtures thereof, wherein the ratio of Class A surfactant to Class C is from about 100:0 to about 1.5:1; from about 2% to about 4%, by weight of the cleansing composition, of a proton donating agent having a Biological Activity Index, Z, of greater than about 0.75, wherein the proton donating agent is such that the composition is essentially free of C4-C20 alkyl fatty acid, and wherein from about 0.15% to about 2%, by weight of the cleansing composition, of the proton donating agent is salicylic acid; a mildness enhancing agent selected from the group consisting of from about 20% to about 70%, by weight of the anionic surfactant, of a mildness enhancing cosurfactant; from about 0.1% to about 1.0%, by weight of the cleansing composition, of a mildness enhancing polymer; and mixtures thereof, and from about 35% to about 95.75%, by weight of the cleansing composition, of water; wherein the composition is adjusted to a pH of greater than about 3 and less than about 6. The invention also encompasses methods for cleansing skin and providing residual effectiveness versus Gram negative bacteria using these products.

Mild, rinse-off antimicrobial liquid cleansing compositions which provide residual benefit versus gram negative bacteria

The present invention relates to a rinse-off antimicrobial cleansing composition comprising from about 0.001% to about 5% of an antimicrobial active, from about 1% to about 80% of an anionic surfactant, from about 0.1% to about 12% of a proton donating agent; and from about 3% to about 98.899% of water, wherein the composition is adjusted to a pH of from about 3.0 to about 6.0, wherein the rinse-off antimicrobial cleansing composition has a Gram Negative Residual Effectiveness Index of greater than about 0.3, and wherein the rinse-off antimicrobial cleansing composition has a Mildness Index of greater than 0.3. The invention also encompasses methods for cleansing skin and providing residual effectiveness versus Gram negative bacteria using these products.