C12-14 fatty alcohols ethoxylated

C12-14 fatty alcohols ethoxylated (CAS 68439-50-9) is a nonionic ethoxylated alcohol surfactant. Also marketed as Surfonic L 24-2, Tergitol 24L98N and Tergitol 24L92.

Where is C12-14 fatty alcohols ethoxylated used?

• Personal care: emulsifier for oil-in-water lotions, creams and rinse-off products
• Household and industrial cleaners: grease removal and soil dispersion in hard surface cleaners, laundry detergents and institutional degreasers
• Textile processing: scouring and wetting agent for uniform dye penetration and fiber preparation
• Agrochemicals: stabiliser for emulsifiable and suspension concentrates, improving active ingredient delivery and tank-mix compatibility
• Derived from C12-C14 fatty alcohol feedstocks, it functions as an emulsifier, dispersant and cleaning agent.
• In paper it is used as a process aid for resin dispersion and surface wetting.
• Used in coatings applications.

Good to know: Viscosity and HLB value vary by degree of ethoxylation; ethoxylate mole variants target different HLB ranges.

Formulation notes

• Compatible with non-ionic, anionic and cationic surfactants.
• Commercial lauryl alcohol 6 EO products are not pure C12E6; an industrial 6 EO grade made from C12-C14 fatty alcohol can contain a broad homolog distribution with an average around six.
• Compared with a silicone-containing defoamer, its defoaming performance is not high but its foam-suppressing performance is quite good.

Typical specification

• Offered with 2 ethylene oxide units, corresponding to INCI name laureth-2.
• A listed grade has a C12 alcohol to C14 alcohol ratio of 70:30.
• Active content is approximately 100%.
• Available with 2 to 30 moles of ethylene oxide.
• Appearance is a clear liquid to white waxy paste depending on the EO content.

Regulatory status

• CAS 68439-50-9 and EC 500-213-3 are used; this number does not indicate the EO degree, and the product name must additionally state 2 EO, 7 EO or the relevant nominal value.
• Produced in manufacturing facilities covered by the GMP EFfCI system for cosmetic ingredients.

Storage, packaging and handling

• Supplied in 1000 kg IBC containers.
• Available in bulk tank trucks and drums.

Technical content is compiled and updated by the SoleChem product team from public technical sources; the certificate of analysis (COA) governs product-specific specifications.