Ethoxylated castor oil

Ethoxylated castor oil (CAS 61791-12-6), also known as Polyoxyethylene castor oil and commercially as Surfactol 318, is a nonionic surfactant produced by reacting castor oil with ethylene oxide.

It functions as an emulsifier, solubilizer, and dispersing agent across a broad range of industrial and personal care formulations. In textile and leather processing, it emulsifies oils and lubricants.

It acts as a leveling agent in dyeing operations during fiber preparation. Personal care formulators use it to solubilize fragrance oils, essential oils, and active ingredients in water-based systems.

Common applications include bath oils, shampoos, and skin lotions. In agricultural formulations, it serves as an emulsifier and carrier for pesticide concentrates, improving active ingredient dispersion.

Industrial and household cleaning products rely on it to stabilize oil-in-water emulsions. It is also used to boost detergent performance on greasy substrates in various commercial cleaning settings.

Ethoxylated castor oil is supplied as a liquid or paste, with viscosity and HLB value varying according to the degree of ethoxylation, commonly expressed as EO units.

Technical and industrial grades are the standard market offering. Product specifications are typically defined by the ethoxylation degree, HLB value, and the specific hydroxyl value of the batch.

Cosmetic-grade material meeting relevant purity requirements is available for personal care applications. This ensures the material is suitable for sensitive formulations in the beauty industry.