What is Lauryl alcohol ethoxylate and what is it used for?

 Lauryl alcohol ethoxylate belongs to the family of compounds known as fatty alcohol ethoxylate. These ethoxylates are derived from fatty alcohols that are obtained naturally. They are non-ionic and used as surface agents. Lauryl alcohol ethoxylates are chemicals that are used in the making of detergents and for various other applications. These chemicals are one of the most popular ones used by detergent and cleaning industries.

Facts about this chemical

1)Lauryl alcohol ethoxylate is a fatty alcohol ethoxylate that is synthesized from a fatty alcohol like lauryl alcohol with ethylene oxide.
2)These ethoxylated alcohols have a hydrophilic or water-loving portion that attracts water and a hydrophobic or water-hating portion that repels water. It is this property that makes this chemical used as a surfactant.
3)They can bring both oil and water together thereby lowering the interfacial energy. This brings in the various features of this chemical substance.
4)It has no electrical charge on its head and is thus non-ionic.
5)It appears in the form of a thick sticky liquid.
6)This chemical is used extensively in making soaps and detergents. The reason for its use is that it is able to easily remove mud, soil, dirt, grime, etc. easily. It is used as a wetting agent. It is used to make detergents as well as hard surface cleaners.
7)It is used to produce foam while used in personal care products. This is why it is used to make bath gels and shampoos.
8)It is used to prepare sodium lauryl ether sulfate, which is a surfactant used in the manufacture of various types of personal care products like cosmetics.
9)It is used in other industries too. It is used as an emulsifier in the paint industry as well as for coatings.
10)It is also used in the textile sector.

The secret of fatty alcohol ethoxylate

 Clean clothes are a symbol of a good household. It is tough to clean clothes, isn't it? Which is why we have so many detergents and washing products available in the market. When it comes to washing products, there is a wide variety available in the market. You can use the one normal one, or you can easily upgrade to the washing machine friendly one. But if you notice fatty alcohol ethoxylate is one of the most common chemicals to be used in detergents.

Why do you think fatty alcohol ethoxylate and fatty alcohol sulphate are used in detergents. Before you understand their role, it is crucial that you understand the function of detergent as a whole. Do you know how does a detergent clean your clothes?

How do detergent work and the role of fatty alcohol sulphate?

Detergents have certain chemicals which allow then to attach to the dirt particles on your dirty clothes. They gather around the dirt particles and separate it from the surface of your cloth which would have been difficult to remove just with water.

The combined action is what makes detergent work. In a detergent, fatty alcohol complexes act as surfactants. These are important for micelle formation, which further contributes to the eliminates of dirt from cloth surface. Fatty alcohol complexes are the base of the detergent industry.

Other applications

Detergents are not the only thing which uses fatty alcohol compounds. In reality, fatty alcohol complexes have applications in many different industries. Their purpose remains the safe- cleansing agent.

Other industries which use fatty alcohol complexes are cosmetics, agriculture, textile, paper and oil industry. The form might be different, but the purpose is very much the same. Another great thing about fatty alcohol complexes is that it is skin safe. Researchers have discovered that fatty alcohol compounds do not induce any mutation, neither are they carcinogenic in nature.