Fatty Alcohol Ethoxylate, CAS#68439-46-3
Appearance: It ranges from colorless to pale yellow liquid or paste to waxy solid, depending on carbon chain length and EO addition number, with almost no peculiar odor.
Solubility: Low EO adducts are soluble in oil and poorly soluble in water; high EO adducts are readily soluble in water, soluble in ethanol and other polar organic solvents, insensitive to hard water.
Stability & pH Performance: Aqueous solution pH is 5.0–7.5. It remains stable in neutral and weakly alkaline systems, not easily hydrolyzed; avoid long-term contact with strong acid and strong oxidizing agents.
Basic Function Features: It is a typical nonionic surfactant synthesized by ethoxylation of natural fatty alcohols and ethylene oxide. It has outstanding wetting, emulsifying, dispersing, degreasing and detergency properties, and good compatibility with anionic, cationic and amphoteric surfactants.
Fatty alcohol ethoxylate, characterized by the general formula RO(CH₂CH₂O)ₙH, presents as colorless to pale yellow liquid, paste or waxy solid. Its water solubility increases with the rise of ethoxylation degree, while oil solubility decreases correspondingly. Its aqueous solution is neutral to nearly neutral, and it shows excellent stability in hard water. The substance does not ionize in water, so it is less affected by electrolytes and pH changes within a reasonable range. It is widely used as emulsifier, detergent, wetting agent and dispersant in daily chemical and industrial fields.
| Chemical Properties | Parameter |
|---|---|
| CAS No. | 68439-46-3 |
| General Molecular Formula | RO(CH₂CH₂O)ₙH, R=C₁₂-C₁₈, n=3~20 |
| Appearance | Colorless to pale yellow liquid / paste / waxy solid |
| Odor | Faint characteristic odor |
| pH (1% aqueous solution, 20℃) | 5.0–7.5 |
| Solubility | Variable with EO number; high EO grades soluble in water and ethanol; low EO grades soluble in oils |
| Cloud Point | 40–90 ℃ (varies by EO value) |
| Hydroxyl Value | Corresponding to different EO grades |
| Storage Temp | Store at 5–40 ℃, sealed |
| Stability | Stable under neutral conditions; incompatible with strong acids and strong oxidants |
| Sensitivity | Not hygroscopic |
| NIST Chemistry Reference | Fatty alcohols, ethoxylated (68439-46-3) |
| EPA Substance Registry System | Alcohols, C12-18, ethoxylated |
| Safety Information | Details |
|---|---|
| GHS Classification | Warning |
| Hazard Statements | H315: Causes skin irritation; H319: Causes serious eye irritation |
| Precautionary Statements | P264, P280, P302+P352, P305+P351+P338 |
| Risk Statements | R36/38 |
| Safety Statements | S26, S36 |
| WGK Germany | 1 |
| RTECS | Not available |
| Grade | Industrial Grade / Detergent Grade |
| TSCA | Yes |
| HS Code | 34021300 |
| Hazard Description | Irritating to eyes and skin; low acute toxicity |
| Handling Advice | Avoid splashing into eyes; wear chemical-resistant gloves and protective goggles; prevent aerosol formation |
| Storage Requirement | Keep tightly sealed in cool and ventilated warehouse, away from strong oxidants, strong acids and direct sunlight |
This compound is widely applied in laundry detergents, dishwashing liquids, industrial heavy-duty cleaners, textile scouring and dyeing auxiliaries, pesticide emulsifiers, leather degreasing agents and paint emulsification systems. It provides strong wetting and decontamination capacity, improves the penetration and dispersion effect of the formula. It is also used as emulsifier for mineral oil, vegetable oil and solvent, and serves as auxiliary agent in papermaking and water treatment. With adjustable EO value, different specifications can be customized to meet diverse emulsification, washing and wetting requirements.
