ABSTRACT
The most important class of commercially available nonionic surfactants is the polyoxyethylene alcohols derived from reaction of an alcohol with ethylene oxide. These materials are produced in an excess of a billion pounds a year and are used in such diverse applications as household and institutional laundry, textile scouring, pulp and paper manufacturing, oil field surfactants, agricultural spray adjuvants, and environmental clean-up. The type of alcohol used as the initiator and the length of the polyoxyethylene chain define the applications of these versatile commercial products. A primary driving force for the use of these surfactants is their ready biodegradability and overall environmental 88acceptability. Current and anticipated environmental pressures ensure their continued replacement of other surfactant materials.
