Polyoxyethylene lauryl ether

Description

As a non-ionic surfactant, polyoxyethylene lauryl ether has excellent washing, emulsifying, dispersing, wetting, and solubilizing functions. It also shows strong foaming ability, easy rinsing performance, and excellent detergency. Because this substance acts as one of the lowest irritant species among various surfactants, it is often selected as raw material for mild detergents, shampoos (such as baby shampoos), bath lotion, cleansing milk, and cosmetics. In addition, this chemical may function as emulsifier, softener, wetting agent, and foaming agent. In terms of solubilizing function, this product has been demonstrated to assist in solubilization of steroid hormones, benzoic acid derivatives, and barbiturates.^1-3 Besides, when used as surfactant emulsifier, polyoxyethylene lauryl ether is proved to be an active agent for preparing nanoemulsions for food applications.⁴

Reference

1. Tomida, H.; Yotsuyanagi, T.; Ikeda, K., SOLUBILIZATION OF STEROID-HORMONES BY POLYOXYETHYLENE LAURYL ETHER. Chem. Pharm. Bull. 1978, 26, 2832-2837.
2. Tomida, H.; Yotsuyanagi, T.; Ikeda, K., SOLUBILIZATION OF BENZOIC-ACID DERIVATIVES BY POLYOXYETHYLENE LAURYL ETHER. Chem. Pharm. Bull. 1978, 26, 2824-2831.
3. Ikeda, K.; Kato, K.; Tukamoto, T., SOLUBILIZATION OF BARBITURATES BY POLYOXYETHYLENE LAURYL ETHER. Chem. Pharm. Bull. 1971, 19, 2510-+.
4. Silva, H. D.; Cerqueira, M. A.; Vicente, A. A., Nanoemulsions for Food Applications: Development and Characterization. Food Bioprocess Technol. 2012, 5, 854-867.

Chemical Properties

White or almost white, unctuous and hygroscopic mass, melting at 24 °C into a colourless or yellowish, viscous liquid.

Uses

Brij L23 is a a pharmaceutical compound used in the schlerotherapy treatments, in those suffering from blood vessel malformations and mutations.

Uses

Solvent; nonionic emulsifier; pharmaceutic aid (surfactant); spermaticide.

Uses

Ethosperse(R) LA-4 is a medium range HLB, ethoxylated, nonionic ether of lauryl alcohol with broad range pH stability. It is suggested for use as an emulsifier in cosmetics to add body and texture (humectant), in household products and in lubricants.

Production Methods

The method for producing a Polyoxyethylene Lauryl Ether, which comprises a sulfation step wherein an ethylene oxide addition product of an alkyl alcohol having 8-22 carbon atoms is reacted with an SO3-containing gas, thereby obtaining a sulfated product of the ethylene oxide addition product, and a neutralization step wherein the sulfated product is neutralized, thereby obtaining a sulfate. The ethylene oxide addition product contains from 0.01% by mass to 1% by mass (inclusive) of an alkali metal hydroxide relative to the total mass of the ethylene oxide addition product.

brand name

Brij 30 (ICI Americas).

General Description

Clear colorless to light yellow viscous liquid. Colorless at 266°F; brown at 644°F. Bland odor.

Air & Water Reactions

Water soluble.

Reactivity Profile

Polyoxyethylene lauryl ether is incompatible with strong oxidizing agents and strong bases.

Fire Hazard

Polyoxyethylene lauryl ether is combustible.

Flammability and Explosibility

Not classified

Biochem/physiol Actions

Brij L23 also referred to as Brij 35 or Polyoxyethylene (23) lauryl ether is a non-ionic detergent that lowers the non-specific protein adsorption and reduces electroosmotic pumping drastically. This allows the pH to be varied without adversely affecting the flow rate. It also used as a nonionic surfactant that decreases the absorbance of the blank, inhibits turbidity as well as provides linearity.

Toxics Screening Level

The initial threshold screening level (ITSL) for polyoxyethylene lauryl ether is 12 μg/m3 based on an annual averaging time.