Overview of ethoxylates: Chemistry, types, reaction, HLB, Cloud point, properties and application.

1. An Overview of
Ethoxylates
Sudhansu Senapati

2.  Produced by ethoxylation process
 Ethylene oxide reacts with different
compounds like acids, amines, alcohols and
phenols
 Forms a hydrophobic (Carbon chain)tail and
hydrophilic head(ethoxylate)
2
What is ethoxylate?

3. 3
HLB of ethoxylate dispersants
 HLB value depends on degree of ethoxylation.
 When degree of ethoxylation increase, the hydrophilic part increase.
 Modifying the tail (a longer or more branched bulky chain) increases hydrophobicity.
 HLB 9- 11: Good wetting agent (Alcohol ethoxylate C12 – 14 (EO)n ,n=4 -7)
 HLB 11- 14: Good wetting and dispersing properties (Alcohol ethoxylate C13 (EO)n ,n=7-10)
 HLB> 14: Good dispersing agents (EO)n ,n >10)

4. 4
HLB of ethoxylated products
HLB of Ethoxylated products
HLB
Moles of
EO
Application Behavior with water
1 - 4
1-3
Anti foaming agents No dispersibility
3 – 6 W/O emulsifying agents Poor dispersion
6 - 8
4 - 7
Wetting and dispersing
agents
Milky dispersion after stirring
8 -10 O/W emulsifying agents Stable milky dispersion
10 - 13 7-10 Detergents
From translucent to clear
dispersion
13 - 18 >12 Solubilizing agents Clear solution

5. 5
Cloud point of ethoxylates
 Cloud point – Minimum temperature, above which aqueous solution of a water
soluble surfactant becomes turbid or cloudy.
 Non ionic dispersants are most effective near or below their cloud point.
 Cloud points range from 0 - 100 ⁰C, limited by freezing and boiling point.
 Storage temperature higher than cloud point results in phase separation/instability.
 Low foam application — Cloud point is less than the application temperature.
 Standard foam application— Cloud point is higher than the application
temperature.

6.  Alkyl Phenol Ethoxylates
 Fatty Amine Ethoxylates
 Fatty Alcohol Ethoxylates
 Fatty Acid Ethoxylates
 Methyl ester ethoxylates
 Oil Ethoxylates
6
Types of ethoxylates

7.  Produced by reaction of Alkylphenols with ethylene oxide.
 Alkylphenols are obtained by alkylation of phenols with alkenes.
 Different types of Alkylphenols—
 Nonyl phenol
 Octyl phenol
 Dodecyl phenol
7
Alkyl Phenol Ethoxylates (APEO)

8.  Widely used in oil, water soluble detergents, emulsifiers / co- emulsifiers, wetting and
dispersing agents in Paint, textile, agrochemical industry.
 During biodegradation ethoxylate group detaches and alkyl phenols remain.
 They are more stable and their toxicity increases with time.
 Mainly toxic for aquatic organisms. Also acts as endocrine disruptors, hepatotoxin,
genotoxin on animals and humans.
 Production of APEO is prohibited by EU. EPA has set limits for use of APEO
(Nonylphenol < 6.6 ug/l fresh water, 1.7 ug/l salt water)
8
Properties of APEOs

9.  Produced by reaction of Fatty amines with ethylene oxide.
 Fatty amines are obtained by reaction of fatty acid with ammonia.
 Different types of Fatty amine are,
 Tallow amines
 Coco amines
 Stearly amines
 Oleyl amines
 Used as wetting and dispersing agents, stabilizers, sanitizers and defoaming
agents in textile, paper, drilling, chemical, paint, metal etc. industries
9
Fatty Amine ethoxylates

10.  Produced by reaction of Fatty alcohol with ethylene oxide
 A primary straight chain alcohol derived from natural fats and oils.
 Different types of Fatty alcohols are,
 Laurly alcohol
 Stearly alcohol
 Oleyl alcohol
10
Fatty Alcohol ethoxylates

11.  Produced by reaction of Fatty acid with ethylene oxide
 Fatty acid is a carboxylic acid with long saturated and unsaturated aliphatic chain
derived from animals/vegetable oil and fats.
 Different types of Fatty acids are,
 Coconut fatty acid
 Lauric acid
 Oleic acid
 Stearic acid
11
Fatty Acid ethoxylates

12.  Produced by reaction of Fatty acid methyl ester with ethylene oxide
 Fatty acid methyl ester is derived by transesterification of fatty acids with methanol
in an alkaline environment
 They are low foaming than FAEs with comparable wetting properties (With equivalent
alkyl chain length)
 Limited stability in the presence of inorganic acid (pH 3-9)
 Cloud point increases with increasing degree of ethoxylation.
 Used in liquid detergents, cleaners and as non ionic surfactant
12
Methyl ester ethoxylates

13.  Produced when different types of oil react with ethylene Oxide
 Different types of Oil used in reaction.
 Natural oil
 Vegetable oil
 Caster oil
 Silicon oil
 Amino oil
 Vegetable oil ethoxylates are made by ethoxylation of triglycerides with
ethylene oxide.
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Oil ethoxylates

14. Thank You