ethoxylation
Sign in to saveIn organic chemistry, ethoxylation is a chemical reaction in which ethylene oxide () adds to a substrate. It is the most widely practiced alkoxylation, which involves the addition of epoxides to substrates.
~10 min read
Article
17 sectionsContents
- Production
- Alcohol ethoxylates
- Ethoxylation/propoxylation
- Ethoxysulfates
- Other materials
- Applications of ethoxylated products
- Alcohol ethoxylates
- Alcohol ethoxysulfates
- Environmental and safety
- Alcohol ethoxylates (AEs)
- Human health
- Aquatic and environmental aspects
- Alcohol ethoxysulfates (AESs)
- Biodegradation
- In water
- Human safety
- References
In organic chemistry, ethoxylation is a chemical reaction in which ethylene oxide () adds to a substrate. It is the most widely practiced alkoxylation, which involves the addition of epoxides to substrates.
In the usual application, alcohols and phenols are converted into {{chem2|R(OC2H4)_{n}OH}}, where n ranges from 1 to 10. Such compounds are called alcohol ethoxylates. Alcohol ethoxylates are often converted to related species called ethoxysulfates. Alcohol ethoxylates and ethoxysulfates are surfactants, used widely in cosmetic and other commercial products. The process is of great industrial significance, with more than 2,000,000 metric tons of various ethoxylates produced worldwide in 1994.