Alcohol Polyoxyethylene Ether, Alcohol Ethoxylate, Fatty Alcohol Polyethylene Glycol Ethers, Ethoxylated Fatty Alcohol, 68439-50-9, 68439-51-0

LOW FOAM ETHOXYLATED NON-IONIC SURFACTANTS (ALCOHOL ETHOXYLATES)

1. Chemical Identity and Material Classification

• Chemical Name: Alcohol Ethoxylates, Fatty Alcohol Polyethylene Glycol Ethers, Ethoxylated Fatty Alcohols

• Synonyms: Nonionic Surfactants, Alcohol Polyethoxylates, Polyoxyethylene Alkyl Ethers, Alkyl Polyethylene Glycol Ethers

• CAS Numbers:

  • 68439-50-9 (C12-14 alcohol ethoxylate)

  • 68439-51-0 (C12-14 alcohol ethoxylate – alternative)

  • Various other CAS for different chain lengths

• General Molecular Formula: R–(OCH₂CH₂)ₙ–OH (where R = C12-C18 alkyl chain, n = 6–80)

• Chemical Class: Non-ionic surfactant

• UN Number: Not classified as hazardous for transport (typically)

2. Product Grades and Specifications

2.1 Available Grades (Chain Length and EO Content)

2.2 Alkoxylated / End-Capped Low Foam Grades

3. Physical Properties

3.1 General Physical Properties (Liquid Grades)

3.2 Cloud Point vs. EO Content

3.3 Solubility

4. Chemical Properties

4.1 Molecular Structure

Structure: R–(OCH₂CH₂)ₙ–OH
Where:

• R: Linear alkyl chain (C12, C14, C16, C18 from natural fatty alcohols)

• n: Number of ethylene oxide (EO) units (6–80)

Production: Fatty alcohols (from coconut, palm kernel, or tallow) are ethoxylated with ethylene oxide under pressure with alkaline catalyst.

4.2 EO Content and HLB Relationship

4.3 Cloud Point

The cloud point is the temperature at which a non-ionic surfactant solution becomes turbid upon heating. For low foam grades, the cloud point is typically 20–40°C for optimal low-foam performance.

Low foam grades (end-capped alkoxylates):

• Cloud point: 20–40°C

• Designed to provide low foam at typical use temperatures (20–60°C)

• End-capping (methyl or butyl) reduces foaming tendency

4.4 Chemical Stability

4.5 Incompatibilities

• Strong oxidizing agents

• Strong acids (may cause hydrolysis at very low pH and high temperature)

5. Production Method

5.1 Ethoxylation Process

Reaction: R–OH + n C₂H₄O → R–(OCH₂CH₂)ₙ–OH

Process:

1. Fatty alcohol (C12-C18) is charged to reactor

2. Alkaline catalyst (KOH or NaOH) is added

3. Ethylene oxide is added under pressure (2–5 bar) at 120–180°C

4. Reaction is exothermic – cooling required

5. Product is neutralized, filtered, and packaged

Typical yield: >98%

5.2 End-Capped Low Foam Grades

For low foam grades, the terminal OH group is capped with methyl or butyl groups to reduce foaming:

Reaction: R–(OCH₂CH₂)ₙ–OH + CH₃Cl → R–(OCH₂CH₂)ₙ–O–CH₃ + HCl

6. Low Foam Mechanism

6.1 Why Low Foam?

Conventional alcohol ethoxylates produce stable foam, which is undesirable in:

• Rinse aids (dishwashing)

• High-speed cleaning equipment

• Spray cleaning applications

• Textile processing

• Metalworking fluids

Low foam grades (end-capped alkoxylates) achieve low foam by:

• End-capping (methyl or butyl) – reduces surface elasticity

• PO (propylene oxide) incorporation – disrupts foam film stability

• Optimized cloud point – surfactant becomes less soluble at use temperature, reducing foam

6.2 Foam Height Comparison

7. Industrial Applications

7.1 Rinse Aids (Automatic Dishwashing)

7.2 Industrial and Institutional Cleaners

7.3 Household Cleaning Products

7.4 Textile Industry

7.5 Metalworking Fluids

7.6 Paints, Coatings, and Inks

7.7 Agrochemical Formulations

7.8 Cosmetics and Personal Care (Limited)

8. BASF Equivalent Products Reference

9. Selection Guide by Application

10. HLB and Cloud Point Correlation

11. Toxicology and Safety

11.1 Acute Toxicity

11.2 GHS Classification (Typical)

11.3 Environmental Fate

12. Safety Precautions and PPE

• Hazards:

  • Mild skin and eye irritant (concentrated product)

  • Low toxicity

  • Avoid environmental release

• PPE (recommended):

  • Chemical-resistant gloves (nitrile)

  • Safety glasses (EN 166)

  • Protective clothing (for industrial handling)

• First aid:

  • Eye contact: Rinse with water for 15 minutes; seek medical attention if irritation persists

  • Skin contact: Wash with soap and water

  • Inhalation: Move to fresh air

  • Ingestion: Rinse mouth; do NOT induce vomiting; drink water; seek medical attention if large amount swallowed

13. Storage and Handling

13.1 Storage Conditions

13.2 Special Notes for Solid Grades

• Solid grades (C16-18 + 11 EO and higher): Solid at room temperature; store above melting point (30–50°C) or warm before use

• Flakes and powders: Hygroscopic; keep tightly sealed

14. Transport Information

15. Synonyms and Common Names

• English: Alcohol Ethoxylates, Fatty Alcohol Ethoxylates, Polyoxyethylene Alkyl Ethers, Nonionic Surfactants, C12-14 Alcohol Ethoxylate, C12-14 Pareth-n (n = EO number), Ethoxylated Fatty Alcohols

• Trade names: Dehydol, Lutensol, Plurafac, Dehypon, Surfonic, Tomadol, Neodol, Brij, Genapol, Marlipal

• German: Fettalkoholethoxylate

• French: Ethoxylates d'alcool gras

• Spanish: Etoxilatos de alcohol graso

• Turkish: Yağ Alkol Etoksilatlar, Non-iyonik Yüzey Aktif Maddeler

16. Regulatory Status

17. Why Choose Low Foam Alcohol Ethoxylates?

Limitations:

• Cloud point sensitivity – Performance may be affected at high temperatures

• Solid grades – Require warming before use

• Potential for gel formation – At certain concentrations

18. Application Summary Table

19. EO/PO Mixed Alkoxylates (Low Foam Grades)

For applications requiring extremely low foam, EO/PO mixed alkoxylates (end-capped) are recommended:

20. Summary Table – Key Specifications at a Glance

This TDS is prepared in compliance with ISO 11014-1 format and is intended for detergent formulators, industrial cleaning specialists, textile chemists, metalworking fluid manufacturers, and procurement professionals. Certificates of Analysis (CoA), Safety Data Sheets (SDS), and sample validation reports are available upon request.