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Alcohol ethoxycarboxylates—Mild, high-foaming surfactants for personal-care products

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Journal of the American Oil Chemists' Society

Abstract

Alcohol ethoxycarboxylates (AEC) may be derived from alcohol ethoxylates (AEO) either by reaction of the nonionic surfactant with monochloroacetic acid (MCAA) or by oxidation. If MCAA is used, a -CH2COOH unit is added to the AEO. When an AEO is oxidized, the terminal -CH2OH group is selectively converted to -COOH. By use of proprietary carefully controlled oxidation technology, a variety of AEC surfactants have been synthesized. These surfactants exhibit good foaming and excellent line soap dispersion, and they allow formulation of high-quality personal-care products. Starter formulations have been investigated with AEC, both in shampoos and liquid hand cleaners. These formulations had the viscosity and foaming found in a survey of commercially available products. A shampoo and a liquid soap formulation with AEC were subjected to in-vitro assays to assess the potential for irritation to the skin or eyes. The assay results predict these formulations to cause minimal irritation, similar to commercial products.

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Authors and Affiliations

  1. Shell Chemical Company, Room C-1281, P.O. Box 1380, 77251-1380, Houston, TX

    W. W. Schmidt, D. R. Durante, R. Gingell & J. W. Harbell

  2. Microbiological Associates, Inc., 20850, Rockville, MD

    J. W. Harbell

Authors
  1. W. W. Schmidt
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  2. D. R. Durante
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  3. R. Gingell
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  4. J. W. Harbell
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Schmidt, W.W., Durante, D.R., Gingell, R. et al. Alcohol ethoxycarboxylates—Mild, high-foaming surfactants for personal-care products. J Amer Oil Chem Soc 74, 25–31 (1997). https://doi.org/10.1007/s11746-997-0114-0

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  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/s11746-997-0114-0

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