Applications of Ethoxylated Nonylphenols in Various Industries

Ethoxylated nonylphenols, marketed under the brand name KENON, are nonionic surfactants that do not ionize in water. These products are the result of a reaction between nonylphenol and ethylene oxide. The molar ratio of the hydrophilic portion of the compound (ethylene oxide) to the hydrophobic portion of the compound (nonylphenol) varies. The physical properties of ethoxylated nonylphenols depend on the degree of ethoxylation and vary from clear to relatively opaque, colorless liquid to white solid. Ethoxylated nonylphenols up to 6 moles can disperse in water but are not highly soluble in water. Ethoxylated nonylphenols with 7 moles and more are soluble in water and most polar solvents. In general, with the increase in the number of ethylene oxide units attached to nonylphenol, the HLB parameter, water solubility, pour point, cloud point, density, viscosity, and flash point increase.

Depending on the number of ethylene oxide units used in the structure of ethoxylated nonylphenol, this product is very suitable and widely used for dissolving nonpolar compounds in polar solvents and vice versa. Most ethoxylated nonylphenols have low surface tension and due to this characteristic, they are used as wetting agents for detergents, cleaners, and dispersion agents. Ethoxylated nonylphenols with lower degrees of ethoxylation are relatively hydrophobic, while those with higher degrees of ethoxylation are very soluble in water. These compounds are commonly used as detergents for fats and greases in water or as homogenizers for organic materials present in water-based epoxy resin formulations such as paints and lacquers. Due to high compatibility and versatility, this category of products has applications in various industries and is found in many products such as agricultural emulsions, detergents, disinfectants, industrial and metal cleaners, textiles, leather production processes, decolorization of paper, and drilling products. Nonylphenols are also commonly used in sulfate esters and carboxylate esters and in the cosmetics and personal care industries.

Applications of Ethoxylated Nonylphenols

1-Textile Industry

Ethoxylated nonylphenols are used as auxiliary and additive agents in the textile industry. The wetting and cleaning properties of this product are applied in many processes related to cotton processing, such as pre-scouring, desizing, bleaching, fiber lubrication, dye leveling, and kier boiling. KENONs are widely used in alkaline or basic wool detergents, where their role is to wash wool and remove its natural oils. Other important and practical properties of these ethoxylated nonylphenols in the textile industry include their antistatic, emulsifying, and lubricating properties.

2-Cleaning Products

The main use of this nonionic product is in commercial and household detergents. In household products, ethoxylated nonylphenols are typically formulated with other materials, whereas in commercial products and applications, a significant amount of this product is used either alone or in conjunction with other products.

Solvent-based cleaners containing 25% or higher amounts of refined crude oil are formulated using 10% nonylphenol with 9 moles of ethoxylation or a mixture of KENON with 6 and 9 moles of ethoxylation. These products are used for cleaning floors, woodwork, and other surfaces.

Other household products that make use of these products include glass cleaners, curtain cleaners, waterless hand cleaners, metal dip cleaners, bubble bath products, and hard-water-compatible soaps.

Ethoxylated nonylphenols are used in fabric and garment detergents, foam and building surface cleaning, and vehicle and metal cleaning products. Ethoxylated nonylphenol typically comprises less than 5% by weight of the final formulation. The household consumption of nonylphenol-based cleaning products in the European Union, concerning the associated laws and restrictions in the industry, is virtually zero. These industrial agreements are set to reduce the consumption of nonylphenol ethoxylate-based cleaners in industrial applications over the coming years.

3-Metal Working Processes

Water-soluble derivatives of ethoxylated nonylphenols are used in acid pickling operations for metals and can remove rust and scale from metals and stainless steel. Additionally, KENONs are used in the formulation of oils for rolling ferrous and non-ferrous metals, cutting oils, drilling oils, and soluble drilling oils and water-based hydraulic oils in heavy press machinery. Cutting and drilling oils are emulsions containing white spirit, water, and hydrophobic surfactants.

KENONs are utilized in metal cleaning processes, including iron and stainless steel production, phosphating of stainless steels, electronic cleaning for metal contact points, and cleaning metallic products before storage.

4-Agriculture

KENONs are used as wetting agents in the formulation of agricultural chemicals to increase spray efficiency and reduce the amount of active substance required. Ethoxylated nonylphenols are also used as dispersants, emulsifiers, and additives in spray tanks. This material is utilized in the formulation of veterinary drugs and as a surfactant in preparing cow teat cleaning solutions and as an auxiliary agent in controlling udder inflammation and mastitis.

Agricultural Spraying

5-Wax and Rubber Production

High ethoxylation grade ethoxylated nonylphenols are generally used for the preparation of emulsions of vinyl acetate and acrylate polymers. Water-soluble ethoxylated nonylphenols with short chains are used as homogenizers and stabilizers in the production of synthetic rubber. Emulsifying polishers are made using both natural and synthetic waxes along with KENONs.

6-Additives in the Leather Industry

Ethoxylated nonylphenols are used in the leather industry as a wetting agent for fat removal.

7-Emulsion Polymers

Ethoxylated nonylphenols are added to acrylic esters for the preparation of specific coatings, adhesives, and fiber bonding. These compounds act as homogenizers and contribute to the stability of formulations. Ethoxylated nonylphenol is used in polymer solutions for water and wastewater treatment.

8-Paints and Lacquers

The KENON product series is used in colored polyvinyl acetate resins and as stabilizers for water and oil-based resins. Formulations typically include 0.6%-3% of ethoxylated nonylphenol.

9-Pulp and Paper

Ethoxylated nonylphenols are used for wetting paper pulp fibers and as pitch control agents in the preparation of pulp.

10-Miscellaneous Applications

Specifically in military industries, phosphate esters of ethoxylated nonylphenols are used as lubricating oil for gearboxes. This product prevents the accumulation of metal pieces in the engine case, reduces efficiency, and prevents water pollution. In some personal care products, ethoxylated nonylphenols are used as surfactants, and they are employed in photographic films as wetting agents. Ethoxylated nonylphenols may be used in the composition of certain products such as pesticides, vehicle and equipment cleaners, and correction fluid, which are commonly applied. The chemical industry alone consumes a significant amount of these products, using them as intermediates for the preparation of sulfates, phosphates, and disinfectant compounds including iodine.

Different grades of KENON have the following applications:

KENON 4 & 6

- Oil-soluble detergents and homogenizers

- Chemical intermediates for producing anionic esters

- Oil-soluble emulsifiers

- Deinking of paper

- Surfactants for textile processes

- Fiber and fabric detergents

- As pitch control in pulp preparation

- Wetting agents for paper towels

- Surfactants for cleaning papers and machine felts

- Wetting and penetrating agents in leather production

- As surfactants in the formulation of both light and heavy-duty detergents

- Wetting agents in acid detergents

- Wetting agents for caustic detergents

- Emulsifiers for vinyl acetate and acrylate polymers

- Dyeing assistants and leveling agents

- Dispersants for soap in solid formulations

- Heat and strong electrolyte-resistant surfactants

- Used in various industries such as detergents, disinfectants, industrial and metal cleaners, textiles, and decolorization of paper

Other products of this Company

Monethylene Glycol (MEG)

Ethoxylated amines

Nonylphenol ethoxylates

Lauryl alcohols ethoxylated