Fatty alcohols ethoxylates and related

Formula NPE, alcohol alcoxylates

Others

NA

Content

Alkyl chain types and production

Synonyms
Effect of alkyl and EO chain variation
FAEO, ethoxylated alcohols, AE
EO/PO surfactants
Commercial names
Narrow range ethoxylates (peaked
Teric (Huntsman), Dehydol (Cognis)
ethoxylates)
Charge
NPE replacement
Nonionic
Uses (details)
Supplied as

100%

Incompatibility

Cf non-ionic surfactant physical chemistry

SSS23

pH stability

1-14

Uses/properties

Emulsifier
Wetting
detergent

Similar products

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Alkyl chain type and process
The general processes for producing fatty alcohols are mentioned below.
1. Catalytic hydrogenation of fatty acids from natural fats and oils RC00HRCH2OH. C10,
C12 and C14 from palm oil and C16 C18 and C20 from tallow
2. The OXO process (hydroformylation) from alpha olefins RCH=CH2 + CO + H2
RCH2CH2CH2OH + RCH(CH3) CH2OH. Catalyzed by cobalt. It gives odd chain lengths C9
through to C15 in various cuts determined by the alpha olefin used. High C2
substitution. Linear/ramified roughly in the same proportions.
a. The Shell SHOP process produces olefins from ethylene oligomerization. After
OXO process, give linear even and odd numbered chains in roughly the same
proportion.
b. Olefins have long time be produced from n-paraffins to give, after OXO,
essentially linear even and odd numbered chains in roughly equal proportions
3. Ziegler process to give linear even numbered chains. Plasticiser C6 to C10 and detergent
alcohols C12 to C20. Substitutes for natural derived feedstocks. Alfol and Epal process.
Ziegler is based on triethylaluminum on which ethylene is inserted (growth), then
hydrolysis to recover alcohols.
4. Guerbet branched primary alcohols. The process is a modified Aldol reaction as shown
below: 2CH3(CH2)9OH CH3(CH2)9C[(CH2)7CH3]HCH2OH
5. Oxidation of Paraffinic Hydrocarbons, and Bashkirov Oxidation, now abandoned or
minor.

Ref: Chemistry and technology of surfactants p137-139

Ref: Ullman encyclopedia p9161

Effect of alkyl and EO chain variation

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The more branched (C2 substitution) is the chain, the less foaming is the surfactant (probably because of
foamicidal effect of unreacted alcohol which is high in highly substituted feedstocks).

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More details see ARTICLE Effect of hydrophobe structure on performances of alcohol ethoxylaes.

EO/PO alcohols

Low foam
Good wetting
Good detegency
NPE replacement (see Cognis NPE replacement PPT)
Good emulsification
Rinse aid products
Defoaming
Used were foam control is necessary:
o Mechanical dishwashing
o Laundry detergents
o Pulp and paper processing
o Metal cleaning
o Dairy equipment cleaning
DIspersing

Excellent hard surface detergency combined with wetting properties at low foam levels (up to
50C). ANTAROX BL-225 is stable to acids and soluble in water and most organic solvents
except paraffinics.
The Plurafac LF types are very low-foaming Nonionic surfactants. They are used in detergents
and cleaners in which foaming has to be kept to a minimum. can be used in powder, paste and

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liq-uid products. The most important Products in this category are detergents and rinse aids for
domestic and commercial dishwashers, detergents for bottle- washing machines, and cleaners
for breweries and dairies. Some of the Plurafac LF types can also be used as antifoams and
surfactants in laundry detergents. Plurafac LF types also have applications in cleaners and
degreasers for the metal industry, in cosmetics, and in the oil industry.
CHIMIPAL PE 403 is a surfactant whit general properties quite similar to the etoxylated alcohol
with equal cloud point but less foaming power. This prerogative makes it suitable for use in
formulations for hard surfaces, brighteners, powder detergents for machine washing. CHIMIPAL
PE403 can be used as emulsifier, dispersant and wetting agent. CHIMIPAL PE 403 remains liquid
even at relatively low temperatures

NPE replacement
FAEO are good candidates for NPE substitution. Dehypound Advanced is a substitution product
made from a EO/PO alcohol and an APG.

Guerbet

Guerbet alcohols: There are potential side reactions to be minimized and complicated
purification steps before the final alcohol is available for use. Therefore, they are expensive
which probably accounts for their underutilization but they have some very interesting physical
properties. The alcohols are liquid up to C20, whereas the saturated linear alcohols are all
solids. The only liquid linear long chain alcohols are unsaturated and lack the oxidative stability
of the Guerbet alcohols.
branching with defined branches like the Guerbet type gives good environmental properties,
such as lower aquatic toxicity and easy biodegradation, and one would also expect it to lead to
low foaming and good cleaning performance.

Narrow range ethoxylates (NRE)

Have a narrow distribution of ethoxylate homologs

Exhibit lower melting points, which leads to easier handling at lower temperatures
Lower free alcohol: formulation easier and less smell
Better mimic Alkylphenol Ethoxylate (APEO) properties
Contain less residual alcohol, which reduces or eliminates VOCs
Have significantly lower polyethylene glycol content (NOVEL <1.5 wt.%; conventional
catalyst <5 wt.%)
Display improved color of high mole ethoxylates
Better wetting
Less irritation
Less foam
Lowe Cp: degreasing at lower temperature (PPT Narrow Akzo) A creuser

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(NOVEL brand from SASOL, Ethylan/Berol from AKZO)

Capped / terminally blocked

Better hydrolysis resistance

By substituting the hydrogen atom of the terminal hydroxyl group of an ethoxylate by

hydrophobic residues such as benzyl, butyl, or methyl groups, terminally blocked ethoxylates
are obtained that are chemically more resistant, especially in alkaline media, than the
corresponding ethoxylates with a free hydroxyl group. Since blocked ethoxylates also foam less
in aqueous solution than their starting ethoxylates, they have a certain value in (alkaline)
cleaning processes involving strong mechanical action. Ullman.

Uses
Generally, a lower ratio of ethoxylation to base compound results in a formulation more likely
to yield a stiff gel with better high temperature stability. In contrast, a higher ethoxylation to
base compound ratio of generally greater than 7:1 tends to afford water solubility and
therefore give better water rinsibility properties (patent)
Laundry: using solid FAEO limits its migration trough powder and bleeding in packaging.

Generally, nonionic surfactants show optimal effectiveness when used near or below their cloud point.
Low-foam surfactants should be used at temperatures slightly above their cloud point. Dow.

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