ABSTRACT
Alkylphenol ethoxylates are a class of nonionic surfactants composed of a branched alkyl chain attached to a phenol ring and combined, via an ether linkage, with ethylene oxide. The alkylphenol moiety is manufactured by reacting branched olefins with phenol in the presence of an acid catalyst. Alkylphenol ethoxylate surfactants have been used in cleaning products and industrial processing for more than forty years. Total US sales of APE exceeded 450 million pounds in 1988. A brief overview of the US markets for Alkylphenol Ethoxylates follows: Industrial – 55% of total. Four industries make up 90% of this category, in the following order: Plastics and elastomers, Textiles, Agricultural chemicals and Paper. Alkylphenol Ethoxylates, serve a variety of functions in the textile industry aimed at adapting the general processes of cleaning, spinning, weaving, and finishing to the full range of fiber types. They are excellent wetting agents with good handling and rinsing characteristics.
