Fatty Alcohol Ethoxylates 2EO
Fatty Alcohol Ethoxylates 2EO
Fatty alcohol ethoxylates are non-ionic surfactants manufactured through ethoxylation. In this process, fatty alcohols are reacted with ethylene oxide. The resulting surfactants deliver strong emulsifying, wetting, and detersive properties, which is why they are widely incorporated into industrial, household, and personal care formulations.
C12–C14 alcohol ethoxylate is a clear, colorless, liquid oleochemical non-ionic surfactant. It is produced by ethoxylating C12–C14 fatty alcohols with ethylene oxide. The average ethoxylation level can range from 1 to 50 moles, depending on the grade required. This variation enables formulators to select products with different HLB values, solubility profiles, and performance attributes.
Fatty alcohol ethoxylates are commonly used in dishwashing liquids, laundry detergents, surface cleaners, shampoos, conditioners, and body washes.
These environmentally friendly non-ionic surfactants are primarily employed in detergents, home care, and personal care products such as shampoos, as well as in textile and leather processing.
Fatty Alcohol Ethoxylates 2EO Specification
| Parameter | Typical Value / Range | Test Method / Reference |
|---|---|---|
| Chemical Name | C12–C14 Fatty Alcohol Ethoxylate (2 EO) | — |
| INCI / CTFA Name | Laureth-2 | — |
| CAS Number | 68439-50-9 (C12-14 alcohols, ethoxylated) | — |
| Appearance (at 25°C) | Clear, colorless to slightly yellow liquid | Visual |
| Color (APHA, at 40°C) | 1 – 50 Max | APHA |
| Odor | Characteristic odor | Organoleptic |
| pH (1% or 5% in water) | 5 – 7 | ASTM E70 / ASTM D-1172 |
| Hydroxyl Value (mg KOH/g) | 193 – 206 | ASTM D4252 |
| Moisture / Water Content (% wt.) | 0.1 – 0.2 Max | ASTM E203 |
| HLB Value (calculated) | 5.9 – 6.4 | Calculated |
| Average Molecular Weight (g/mol) | 274 – 291 | Calculated |
| Density (at 25°C, kg/L) | 0.87 – 0.89 | ASTM D-1298 |
| Viscosity (at 25°C, cP) | 20 ± 2 | ASTM D445-03 |
| Cloud Point (10% in 25% BDG, °C) | 47 – 54 | ASTM D2024 |
| Polyethylene Glycol (% max) | 2 Max | ASTM D4252 |
| Product Form | Liquid | — |
| Packaging | Drums, IBCs, Bulk | — |
As versatile surfactants, fatty alcohol ethoxylates power hard-surface cleaners and act as key building blocks for sodium lauryl ether sulfate (SLES) via sulfonation.
They are essential in detergents, cleaners, dishwashing liquids, personal care items like shower gels and shampoos, cosmetics, and leather and textile processing.
Made entirely from palm kernel oil or RBD coconut oil-based alcohols, these surfactants are mainly used in cleaning agents, detergents, home care products, and emulsifier manufacturing.
Methyl esters can also serve as a feedstock for related chemicals, including ethoxylates, SLES, and SLS.
Fatty alcohol ethoxylates play a key role in producing surfactants, detergents, cleaning products, coatings, fabric softeners, metalworking lubricants, hair care products, greases, adhesives, sealants, and biocides—covering disinfectants, pest control, and plant protection applications.
Packaging
| Packaging Type | Typical Size / Capacity | 20ft Container Loading (Net Weight) | 40ft Container Loading (Net Weight) |
|---|---|---|---|
| Steel / HDPE Drums | 170 kg / drum | 13.6 MT (80 drums) | ~27.2 MT (160 drums) |
| IBC Totes | 800 kg / 1,000 L | ~20 MT (approx. 20 totes) | ~40 MT (approx. 40 totes) |
| Flexitanks | 19.5 – 20 MT per unit | 19.5 – 20 MT | N/A (designed for 20ft) |
| ISO Tanks | 18 – 19 MT per unit | 18 – 19 MT | N/A (typically used in 20ft) |
| Bulk Shipments | Loose / Bulk | Varies by vessel | Varies by vessel |
Certification
| Certification | Issuing Body / Standard |
|---|---|
| MSPO | MSPO 2.0 (MS2530:2022) |
| Halal | JAKIM |
| Kosher | Recognized agencies (e.g., STAR-K) |
| ISO 9001 | International Organization for Standardization |
| ISO 14001 | International Organization for Standardization |
| GMP | Good Manufacturing Practices |