Nonionic detergents, toxicity

Nonionic surfactants contain (Fig. 23) no ionic functionalities, as their name implies, and include ethylene oxide adducts (EOA) of alkylphenols and fatty alcohols. Production of detergent chain-length fatty alcohols from both natural and petrochemical precursors has now increased with the usage of alkylphenol ethoxylates (APEO) for some applications. This is environmentally less acceptable because of the slower rate of biodegradation and concern regarding the toxicity of phenolic residues [342]. 

Phosphate esters possess strong tolerance to electrolytes and alkalis. Their wetting properties are independent of the pH and, therefore, are used as surfactant components in both alkaline and acid cleaners (5). Their detergent properties are considered equal to nonionic surfactants, and they have excellent temperature stability. In their acid form, phosphate esters are moderately strong acids and, when neutralized to pH 5-8, have low order of toxicity. Phosphate esters are considered to be hydrotrope agents and are biodegradable. 

II. Toxic dose. Mortality and serious morbidity are rare, but the nature of the toxic effect varies with the ingredients and concentration of the product. Cationic and dishwasher detergents are more dangerous than anionic and nonionic products. For benzalkonium chloride solutions, ingestion of 100-400 mg/kg has been fatal. 

Hazardous Decomp. Prods. Heated to decomp., emits toxic fumes of SOx and Na20 Uses Whitener for cotton and other cellulosics surfactant in anionic and nonionic laundry detergents, dry bleaches, fabric softeners, commercial laundry prods. vise, control agent Trade Name Synonyms Eutex CBS [Aceto http //www.aceito.com], Tinopal CBS-X [Ciba Spec. Chems./Plastic Addit. http //WWW. cibasc. com]... 

Properties HLB 4.9 nonionic Toxicology LD50 (oral, rat) 25,800 mg/kg mildly toxic by ing. TSCA listed Hazardous Decomp. Prods. Heated to decomp., emits acrid smoke and irritating fumes Uses Solubilizer, emulsifier, surfactant, dispersant, stabilizer, spreading agent, emollient, cosolvent for cosmetics, detergents, fragrances, textiles, leather, paper, pharmaceuticals Features Lipophilic... 

Thousands of surfactants are produced commercially worldwide, with applications ranging from pharmaceuticals and food additives to soaps and detergents. Surfactants are typically classified as either anionic, cationic, nonionic or anq>hoteric depending upon the nature of their hydrophilic head group. Nonionic surfactants are widely used in agricultural applications because of their relatively low cost, generally low toxicity, and tolerance to varying solution conditions (e.g., electrolyte concentration). The most common nonionic... 

The excellent ability of nonionics to solubilize and disperse hydrophobic soils such as fats, mineral oils, etc, in water leads to extensive use of this e of emulsifier. Their often superior detergency with respect to solids surfaces is due to a combination of relatively low critical micellar concentration (CMC), allowing emulsification to take place at low emulsifier concentrations, and an ability to adsorb hydrophobically to interfaces and thus, by steric repulsion forces, to disperse hydrophobic liquid or colloid matter. An important group of nonionic emulsifiers is based on ethoxylated alkyl alcohols. Increasing demands for biodegradability and low aquatic toxicity of degradation products of industrial chemicals is expected to make fatty alcohols ethoxylates and nonionic emulsifiers based on natural raw materials an even more important group of chemicals in the future. 

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