Ethoxylation

In organic chemistry, ethoxylation is a chemical reaction in which ethylene oxide (C₂H₄O) 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 R(OC₂H₄)_nOH, 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.^[1] The process is of great industrial significance, with more than 2,000,000 metric tons of various ethoxylates produced worldwide in 1994.^[2]

^ Smulders, E.; von Rybinski, W.; Sung, E.; Rähse, W.; Steber, J.; Wiebel, F.; Nordskog, A. (2011). "Laundry Detergents, 1. Introduction". In Elvers, Barbara; et al. (eds.). Ullmann's Encyclopedia of Industrial Chemistry. Weinheim, GER: Wiley-VCH. doi:10.1002/14356007.a08_315.pub3. ISBN 978-3527306732.
^ Arno Cahn (30 January 1994). Proceedings of the 3rd World Conference on Detergents: Global Perspectives. The American Oil Chemists Society. p. 141. ISBN 978-0-935315-52-3.

[Ullmann-1] Smulders, E.; von Rybinski, W.; Sung, E.; Rähse, W.; Steber, J.; Wiebel, F.; Nordskog, A. (2011). "Laundry Detergents, 1. Introduction". In Elvers, Barbara; et al. (eds.). Ullmann's Encyclopedia of Industrial Chemistry. Weinheim, GER: Wiley-VCH. doi:10.1002/14356007.a08_315.pub3. ISBN 978-3527306732.

[Cahn1994-2] Arno Cahn (30 January 1994). Proceedings of the 3rd World Conference on Detergents: Global Perspectives. The American Oil Chemists Society. p. 141. ISBN 978-0-935315-52-3.

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