Alcohol ethoxylates are a class of compounds that are commonly used throughout many industrial practices and commercial markets.  These compounds are synthesized via the reaction of a fatty alcohol and ethylene oxide, resulting in a molecule that consists of two main components, (1) the oleophilic, carbon-rich, fatty alcohol and (2) the hydrophilic, polyoxyethylene chain. Due […]

What Are Agrochemicals? Agriculture chemicals, or agrochemicals for short, most commonly refers to pesticides and fertilizers, which are used in agriculture to control insects and weeds, prevent diseases as well as promote plant growth.  Some examples of agrochemicals include pesticides, herbicides, insecticides, and fungicides. Agrochemicals are normally water-insoluble and typically require the use of a surfactant […]

What Is Castor Oil Ethoxylate? Castor oil ethoxylates are a very important class of surfactants that find themselves in many industrial applications and market segments.  Derived from the bio-renewable extract from the seed of the castor plant (Ricinus communis), this vegetable oil is then further processed via ethoxylation to instill distinct physical properties that impart […]

What is Polyethyleneglycol? Polyethyleneglycol, or PEG for short, is a polyether consisting of a (-O-CH2-CH2-) backbone that is commonly used in many fields of academic research, industrial processing and commercial applications.  PEGs can also commonly be referred to as polyoxyethylene (POE) and polyethyleneoxide (PEO), but regardless of the name that is used, the simple structure […]

What are surfactants? The term surfactant was originally coined by Antara Products in the 1950sa to stand for SURFace-ACTive-AgeNT, which is an attempt to explain ‘how surfactants work’.  This generalization basically denotes that this general classification of compounds tends to interact at the interface of two immiscible phases (i.e. oil and water).  By inhabiting the […]