ALKYL ETHER CARBOXYLATE
ALKYL ETHER CARBOXYLATE
Alkyl ether carboxylate provides a similar refreshing feeling to soap, is biodegradable, and resistant to hard water.
Alkyl ether carboxylate is widely used in personal care products, surfactants, admixtures applied in construction, and serve as a vital component of superplasticizers.
Owing to their property of being substantive to hair and skin, Alkyl ether carboxylate exhibits a conditioned feeling to the human body, making it suitable for use in shampoos and other personal care products.
CAS Number: 56388-96-6
Alkyl ether carboxylate is nonionic to anionic surfactants derived from the ethoxylation of fatty alcohols followed by carboxylation.
They combine the mildness of nonionic surfactants with the solubility and cleaning power of anionic surfactants, offering excellent surface activity, foamability, and compatibility with various formulation ingredients.
Alkyl Ether Carboxylates is a class of mild, versatile surfactants formed by the ethoxylation of fatty alcohols followed by carboxylation, introducing a terminal carboxyl group into the molecule.
Their structure typically consists of a hydrophobic alkyl chain (commonly C₁₂–C₁₆) attached to a polyether segment ending with a carboxylic acid group, giving them both nonionic and anionic character depending on the pH.
Alkyl ether carboxylate is prized for their excellent water solubility, high foaming capability, superior emulsification, and outstanding hard water resistance.
Unlike harsher surfactants, they offer low skin and eye irritation potential, making them ideal for use in personal care products such as shampoos, facial cleansers, and body washes, as well as in household cleaners, industrial detergents, and agricultural formulations.
Their biodegradable nature and compatibility with a wide range of ingredients also make them attractive for environmentally friendly and mild formulations, where both performance and skin friendliness are required.
Alkyl ether carboxylate is an alkyl ether carboxylic acid salt that is an anionic surfactant composed from alkylethoxylated acetic acid salt.
Alkyl ether carboxylate provides a similar refreshing feeling to soap, is biodegradable and resistant to hard water.
Alkyl ether carboxylate is a suitable ingredient for products with a neutral formulation, Alkyl ether carboxylate can be used in shampoos, body soaps, dishwashing detergents, and more.
Alkyl ether carboxylate is one of the major sub-types of a carboxylate which is produced from the reaction of ethoxylated alcohols with sodium chloracetate.
Alkyl ether carboxylate is manufacturing process involves etherification where a carboxyl group-containing compound and a hydroxyl group-containing compound are reacted in an aqueous medium with the help of a rare earth element containing catalyst.
The carboxyl group containing compound present in the reaction is one compound which is selected from carboxyl group containing epoxy compounds as well as unsaturated carboxyl group containing compounds.
Alkyl ether carboxylate is widely used in personal care products, surfactants, admixtures applied in the construction as well as serve as the vital component of superplasticizers.
As surfactants, Alkyl ether carboxylate produces an ultralow interfacial tension (IFT) under high temperature and high salinity conditions.
Their consumption in the textile industry is based on their electrolyte, alkali, and hard water stability as well as their good wetting and detergent properties.
As compared to cold process soaps, Alkyl ether carboxylate is less sensitive to hard water and more soluble in water.
In addition, they impart good wetting and foam stabilizing properties as well as provide creaminess and mildness in the finished products.
Owing to their property of being substantive to hair and skin, Alkyl ether carboxylate exhibits a conditioned feeling to the human body.
When combined with alkyl ether sulfates such as sodium laureth sulfate, they are used for manufacturing shampoos on account of their compatibility with cationic ingredients.
The global market for Alkyl ether carboxylate has been witnessing a significant increase on account of growth of its application industries such as personal care and surfactants.
Alkyl ether carboxylate shares a wide application scope in various industries such as soaps, detergents, textiles, shampoos, and plasticizers among others.
In addition, bio-based surfactants has emerged as one of the major opportunities for the growth of the surfactant industry due to growing awareness among consumers towards eco-friendly products which in turn has contributed towards the growing demand for Alkyl ether carboxylate in surfactants.
Major applications of Alkyl ether carboxylate-based surfactants include detergents, pharmaceuticals, textile and personal care among others.
Other applications of Alkyl ether carboxylate include the manufacturing of plasticizers.
The market for Alkyl ether carboxylate in plasticizer has been witnessing significant growth on account of emerging economies and changing lifestyles.
In addition, rising environmental awareness coupled with increasing legal provisions have been serving as catalysts for the plasticizers market in certain emerging economies such as India, China, Russia and Brazil.
While matured regions such as North America and Europe accounted for the highest demand for Alkyl ether carboxylate due to presence of vast and skin care and hair care industries, emerging regions such as Asia Pacific are anticipated to witness the fastest growth over the next few years on account of vast textile industries in economies such as China as well as growing demand for personal care products.
Various factors such as rising awareness regarding healthy hair and skin among consumers as well as changing lifestyles are expected to boost the demand for personal care products which in turn is anticipated to contribute towards the demand for Alkyl ether carboxylate.
Growing demand for personal care products such as skin care and hair care on account of increasing awareness for healthy skin and hair is anticipated to be on the major factors driving the market for Alkyl ether carboxylate.
However, fluctuating prices of key feedstock materials has been major concern for the manufacturers and is expected to limit the growth of the market.
Focus on commercializing and developing cost-effective bio-based surfactants using Alkyl ether carboxylate is anticipated to provide new opportunities for the growth of the market.
Alkyl ether carboxylate is one type of surfactant that can produce ultra low interfacial tension (IFT) under high-salinity and high-temperature conditions.
Alkyl ether carboxylate products offer a wide range of secondary surfactants with excellent tolerance against hard water.
Depending on the carbon chain length and the ethoxylation degree Alkyl ether carboxylates show characteristic application properties.
Alkyl ether carboxylates with a chain length from C4 to C8, are low foaming surfactants with high dispersing and hydrotropic abilities.
Alkyl ether carboxylates with a C12-C14 alkyl chain offer good foaming at different pH s.
Alkyl ether carboxylate is mild co-surfactants and function as emulsifiers and solubilizers.
Alkyl ether carboxylate brings excellent lime soap dispersing properties and add some anti-corrosion benefits.
Alkyl ether carboxylate can be used in conveyor belt lubricants.
All types of Alkyl ether carboxylates show outstanding pH stability and high tolerance against electrolytes and builders.
Alkyl ether carboxylate is extremely mild and compatible with other surfactants as well as ideal as co–surfactants and coupling agents.
Alkyl Ether Carboxylic acids and their salts have been used in Personal Care products for many years due to their extremely good skin and eye mildness, good ecotoxicological properties, and good compatibility with all kinds of surfactants – including cationic type surfactants and specific additives such as cationic polymers in shampoos and bath gels.
Alkyl Ether Carboxylic acids included in the range differ from each other in the degree of ethoxylation and in the alkyl chain length.
For cosmetic applications, vegetable origin fatty alcohols are used, mainly coconut alkyl chain (C12/14), because of the high foaming properties required for cleansing products.
Investigations on the use and properties of Alkyl ether carboxylates in several types of cosmetic products have demonstrated that in combination with other raw materials, they improve skin and hair conditioning because of the low interference with cationic surfactants.
They can act as rapid foam boosters (1), and are good solubilizing agents for hydrophobic materials such as silicones -thereby improving hair shine, among many other uses.
Alkyl ether carboxylate has been found that Alkyl Ether Carboxylic acids and their salts enhance coacervate formation, affording higher polymer deposition on skin and hair and hydrophobic raw materials such as oils and silicones.
These coacervates are also regarded as potential vehicles for delivering particles dispersed in cleanser base onto the hair or skin surface, for instance antidandruff agents such as zinc pyrithione.
Unique properties of Alkyl ether carboxylate arise from the combination of the nonionic, temperature-responsive polyoxyethylene block with the weakly ionic, pH-responsive carboxylic acid termination in a single surfactant headgroup.
Accordingly, this class of surfactant finds broad application across very different sectors.
Despite their large use of Alkyl ether carboxylate on an industrial and a technical scale, the literature lacks a systematic and detailed characterization of their physico-chemical properties which is provided herein.
In addition, a comprehensive overview is given of their self-assembly and interfacial behavior, of their use as colloidal building blocks and for large-scale applications.
Alkyl ether carboxylate is significant sub-kinds of a carboxylate that is developed from the reaction of ethoxylated alcohols and sodium chloroacetate.
Alkyl ether carboxylate is assembling procedure includes etherification for a carboxyl group and a hydroxyl group-containing compound is responded in a watery medium with the assistance of an uncommon earth component containing impetus.
Alkyl ether carboxylate is broadly utilized in close to home consideration items, surfactants, admixtures connected in the development just as fill in as the imperative segment of superplasticizers.
Being surfactants, Alkyl ether carboxylate produces an ultra-low interfacial pressure (IFT) under high temperature and high saltiness solutions.
Their utilization in the material business depends on their electrolyte, soluble base, and hard water security just as their great wetting and cleanser properties.
Thanks to these enhanced properties the demand for Alkyl ether carboxylate is rising substantially, which is boosting the growth of the global Alkyl ether carboxylates market.
The global Alkyl ether carboxylate market is witnessing a critical increment by virtue of the development of Alkyl ether carboxylates application across industries surfactants and personal care.
Alkyl ether carboxylate has a wide application scope in different businesses including soaps & detergents and textiles, plasticizers, and shampoos.
Growing awareness about the importance of hygiene is driving the growth of the global Alkyl ether carboxylates market.
Additionally, bio-based surfactants have risen as one of the significant open doors for the development of the surfactant business because of developing mindfulness among shoppers towards eco-accommodating items which thusly has contributed towards the developing interest for Alkyl ether carboxylate in surfactants.
Real utilizations of Alkyl ether carboxylate-based surfactants incorporate cleansers, pharmaceuticals, material and individual consideration among others.
These extensive applications are likely to drive the growth of the global Alkyl ether carboxylates market.
All qualities show outstanding pH stability and high tolerance against electrolytes and builders.
Extremely mild and compatible with other surfactants as well as ideal as co–surfactants and coupling agents.
Alkyl ether carboxylate is an alkyl ether carboxylic acid salt that is an anionic surfactant composed from alkylethoxylated acetic acid salt.
Alkyl ether carboxylate provides a similar refreshing feeling to soap, is biodegradable and resistant to hard water.
Alkyl ether carboxylate is a suitable ingredient for products with a neutral formulation, Alkyl ether carboxylate can be used in shampoos, body soaps, dishwashing detergents, and more.
Uses of Alkyl Ether Carboxylate:
Alkyl ether carboxylate is widely used across various industries due to their excellent surfactant properties and mildness.
In personal care products, they serve as gentle cleansing agents and foam boosters in shampoos, facial cleansers, shower gels, and baby care formulations.
In household cleaning products, Alkyl ether carboxylate is employed in dishwashing liquids, laundry detergents, and surface cleaners for their effective emulsification of oils and soil removal performance, even in hard water conditions.
Industrial applications include textile processing, leather treatment, and metal cleaning, where their ability to reduce surface tension and stabilize emulsions is crucial.
In agriculture, they are used in pesticide formulations as wetting and dispersing agents to improve the spread and adherence of active ingredients.
Their environmental friendliness and biodegradability also make them increasingly favored in eco-labeled and sustainable product lines.
Alkyl ether carboxylates impart good wetting and foam stabilizing properties, providing creaminess and mildness in finished products.
When combined with alkyl ether sulfates such as sodium laureth sulfate, they are used for manufacturing shampoos due to their compatibility with cationic ingredients.
Their consumption in the textile industry is based on their electrolyte, alkali, and hard water stability, as well as their good wetting and detergent properties.
Alkyl ether carboxylates produce an ultralow interfacial tension (IFT) under high temperature and high salinity conditions, making them effective surfactants.
Owing to their substantive properties to hair and skin, Alkyl ether carboxylate exhibits a conditioned feeling to the human body.
Alkyl ether carboxylate products offer a wide range of secondary surfactants with excellent tolerance against hard water.
Alkyl ether carboxylate is mild co-surfactants and function as emulsifiers and solubilizers.
Alkyl ether carboxylate brings excellent lime soap dispersing properties and adds some anti-corrosion benefits.
Alkyl ether carboxylate can be used in conveyor belt lubricants.
Alkyl ether carboxylate is extremely mild and compatible with other surfactants as well as ideal as co–surfactants and coupling agents.
Alkyl Ether Carboxylic acids and their salts have been used in Personal Care products for many years due to their extremely good skin and eye mildness, good ecotoxicological properties, and good compatibility with all kinds of surfactants – including cationic type surfactants and specific additives such as cationic polymers in shampoos and bath gels.
Investigations on the use and properties of Alkyl ether carboxylates in several types of cosmetic products have demonstrated that in combination with other raw materials, they improve skin and hair conditioning because of the low interference with cationic surfactants.
Unique properties of Alkyl ether carboxylate arise from the combination of the nonionic, temperature-responsive polyoxyethylene block with the weakly ionic, pH-responsive carboxylic acid termination in a single surfactant headgroup. Accordingly, this class of surfactant finds broad application across very different sectors.
Alkyl ether carboxylate is a suitable ingredient for products with a neutral formulation, and can be used in shampoos, body soaps, dishwashing detergents, and more
Benefits and Uses of Alkyl Ether Carboxylate:
Alkyl ether carboxylate is an anionic surfactant.
EC containing consumer products are widely used as body soaps, facial cleanser, shampoos, hand soaps and others.
Features of Alkyl Ether Carboxylate:
Alkyl ether carboxylate is distinguished by their unique combination of properties that blend the advantages of both nonionic and anionic surfactants.
They exhibit excellent water solubility across a broad pH range and offer remarkable stability even in the presence of hard water and electrolytes.
Alkyl ether carboxylate is known for producing rich, stable foam and providing superior emulsification, wetting, and dispersing abilities.
Their mildness makes them highly suitable for sensitive applications, causing minimal irritation to the skin and eyes compared to traditional sulfate-based surfactants.
Additionally, they show excellent biodegradability, aligning well with the growing demand for environmentally friendly and sustainable formulations.
Their compatibility with other surfactant types, such as amphoteric and anionic surfactants, further enhances formulation flexibility and performance.
Production of Alkyl Ether Carboxylate:
The production of alkyl ether carboxylates involves a two-step chemical process.
First, fatty alcohols, typically derived from natural sources such as coconut oil or palm oil (or sometimes synthetic sources), are reacted with ethylene oxide through an ethoxylation reaction to form alkoxylated fatty alcohols.
The degree of ethoxylation can be controlled depending on the desired hydrophilic-lipophilic balance (HLB) of the final product.
In the second step, the terminal hydroxyl groups of these ethoxylated chains are carboxymethylated, typically by reaction with chloroacetic acid or other carboxylating agents, to introduce carboxylic acid (-COOH) groups.
The final product may be neutralized with bases such as sodium hydroxide or triethanolamine to yield the corresponding alkali metal or amine salts.
The production process is carefully controlled to optimize the number of ethylene oxide units and achieve the desired balance of surfactant properties like solubility, mildness, and surface activity.
Synthesis of Alkyl Ether Carboxylate:
The synthesis of alkyl ether carboxylates typically begins with the ethoxylation of fatty alcohols, where fatty alcohol molecules (R–OH) react with ethylene oxide (EO) under alkaline or acidic catalysis to form fatty alcohol ethoxylates (R–(OCH₂CH₂)ₙ–OH).
This step allows precise control over the number of ethylene oxide units (n), influencing the hydrophilicity of the final surfactant.
In the next stage, the terminal hydroxyl group of the ethoxylated fatty alcohol is carboxymethylated, usually through reaction with monochloroacetic acid or sodium chloroacetate under alkaline conditions.
This reaction introduces a carboxylic acid group (-COOH) at the end of the ethoxylated chain, producing the carboxylated surfactant structure (R–(OCH₂CH₂)ₙ–O–CH₂–COOH).
Alkyl ether carboxylate can then be neutralized with a base (such as NaOH) to form the corresponding sodium salt, improving its water solubility and making it suitable for use in aqueous formulations.
The careful control of reaction conditions is critical to achieving high purity, desired ethoxylation degree, and minimal by-products.
History of Alkyl Ether Carboxylate:
Alkyl ether carboxylates were developed in the late 20th century as part of the broader evolution of surfactant technology aimed at creating milder, more environmentally friendly alternatives to conventional anionic surfactants like sulfates.
As consumer demand for gentler personal care products increased, researchers explored modifications to traditional ethoxylated alcohols, leading to the introduction of carboxyl groups to improve water solubility, foam quality, and reduce irritation potential.
Their synthesis built upon established ethoxylation techniques, with innovations in carboxymethylation chemistry allowing for the production of stable, high-purity AECs on an industrial scale.
Initially applied in specialized cosmetic and cleaning formulations, alkyl ether carboxylates gained popularity due to their unique balance of mildness, biodegradability, and performance, eventually becoming a standard ingredient in many personal care, household, and agricultural products today.
Handling and Storage of Alkyl Ether Carboxylate:
Alkyl ether carboxylates should be handled with care to avoid excessive contact with skin and eyes.
Containers should be kept tightly closed in a dry, cool, and well-ventilated place.
Alkyl ether carboxylate is important to store AECs away from strong oxidizing agents and acids to prevent unwanted reactions.
Prolonged exposure to high temperatures or freezing conditions should be avoided to maintain product stability and performance.
Reactivity and Stability:
Alkyl ether carboxylate is generally stable under normal storage and handling conditions.
They are chemically stable at room temperature and under neutral to slightly alkaline conditions.
However, they may react with strong acids, strong bases, and oxidizing agents, potentially leading to degradation or the release of hazardous decomposition products such as carbon dioxide and carbon monoxide when subjected to extreme heating.
First Aid Measures of Alkyl Ether Carboxylate:
In case of contact with skin or eyes, immediately rinse with plenty of water for at least 15 minutes.
If irritation persists, seek medical advice.
If inhaled in excessive amounts, move the person to fresh air and provide symptomatic treatment if necessary.
If swallowed, rinse mouth thoroughly and seek medical attention if symptoms develop.
Alkyl ether carboxylate is recommended not to induce vomiting unless instructed by medical personnel.
Firefighting Measures of Alkyl Ether Carboxylate:
In case of fire, use water spray, foam, dry chemical, or carbon dioxide (CO₂) extinguishers.
Avoid direct water jet application as Alkyl ether carboxylate may spread the fire.
Firefighters should wear appropriate protective equipment and a self-contained breathing apparatus (SCBA) to prevent exposure to fumes that may contain carbon monoxide, carbon dioxide, or other toxic gases generated during combustion.
Accidental Release Measures of Alkyl Ether Carboxylate:
In the event of a spill, absorb the material with inert absorbent substances such as sand, earth, or vermiculite and collect into suitable containers for disposal according to local regulations.
Prevent the spilled material from entering drains, waterways, or soil.
Personnel should wear protective clothing, gloves, and eye/face protection during cleanup.
Ventilate the area to disperse any vapors.
Exposure Controls and Personal Protective Equipment of Alkyl Ether Carboxylate:
Good general ventilation is recommended during handling.
In workplaces with insufficient ventilation, local exhaust systems should be used.
Personal protective equipment should include safety goggles, chemical-resistant gloves (such as nitrile or neoprene), and protective clothing.
In case of inadequate ventilation or risk of inhalation of mist or vapor, an appropriate respiratory protection mask should be worn.
Always follow workplace safety guidelines and personal hygiene practices when handling surfactants.
Identifiers of Alkyl Ether Carboxylate:
Category Name: Sodium Alkyl ether carboxylate
Substance Name Sodium polyoxyethylene alkyl(C=12～14) ether carboxylate
CAS Number 33939-64-9、50546-32-2
Chemical Class: Alkyl ether carboxylates
CAS Number: 56388-96-6
Chemical Name: Alkyl Ether Carboxylate
Common Abbreviation: AEC
General Molecular Structure: R–(OCH₂CH₂)ₙ–O–CH₂–COOH
Chemical Family: Anionic/Amphoteric Surfactants
Functional Groups: Ether (-O-) and Carboxyl (-COOH)
Properties of Alkyl Ether Carboxylate:
Physical State: Liquid (low to medium viscosity) or paste, depending on concentration and ethoxylation degree
Appearance: Clear to slightly hazy, colorless to pale yellow liquid
Odor: Mild, characteristic (faint fatty or soapy smell)
Solubility in Water: Fully soluble; excellent solubility across a wide pH range
pH (1% aqueous solution): Typically 6.0 – 8.5 (can vary depending on neutralization)
Surface Tension (at 0.1% solution): Around 30–35 mN/m (high surface activity)
Critical Micelle Concentration (CMC): Low; exact value depends on EO units and alkyl chain length
Hydrophilic-Lipophilic Balance (HLB): Typically in the range of 10–16 (amphiphilic character; suitable for O/W emulsions)
Foaming Properties: High initial foam, stable over time; good foam in hard water
Other Descriptions of Alkyl Ether Carboxylate:
Chemical Description – Form – Active %
Potassium Laureth-4 Carboxylate (2,5 Eo)s – Pas – 60
Sodium Laureth-5 Carboxylate (4 Eo) – Pas – 60
Capryleth-6 Carboxylic Acid – Liq – 92
Capryleth-9 Carboxylic Acid – Liq – 92
Capryleth-9 / Hexeth-4 Carboxylic Acid – Liq – 90
Capryleth-9 / Buteth-2 Carboxylic Acid – Liq – 90
Buteth-6 Carboxylic Acid – Liq – > 80
Lauryl / Myristyl Ether Carboxylic Acid (>3 Eo) – Liq – 92
Oleth-12 Carboxylic Acid (10.5 Eo) – Liq – 90
Laureth-11 Carboxylic Acid (10 Eo) – Liq – 90
Laureth-4 Carboxylic Acid (2.5 Eo) – Liq – 95
Laureth-6 Carboxylic Acid (4.5 Eo) – Liq – 92
Sodium Laureth-6 Carboxylate (4.5) – Liq – 28
Oleth-3 Carboxylic Acid (2 Eo) – Liq – 95
Oleth-3 Carboxylic Acid (5 Eo) – Liq – 92
Oleth-10 Carboxylic Acid (9 Eo) – Liq/pas – 90
Sodium Laureth-11 Carboxylate (10) – Liq – 70
Sodium Laureth-6 Carboxylate (4.5) – Liq – 22
Other similar products of Alkyl Ether Carboxylate:
Laureth-11 Carboxylic Acid:
Laureth-11 Carboxylic Acid is a highly active, free-acid, anionic co-surfactant with moderate foaming, designed to improve mildness.
Neutralization of acid can be achieved with a wide range of neutralizing agents.
For use in cleansing products such as shampoo, body wash, and baby care.
Stable over a wide range of pH.
Good detergency and emulsification properties.
Laureth-5 Carboxylic Acid:
Laureth-5 Carboxylic Acid is a highly active, free-acid, anionic co-surfactant with moderate foaming, designed to improve mildness.
Neutralization of acid can be achieved with a wide range of neutralizing agents.
For use in cleansing products such as shampoo, body wash, and baby care.
Stable over a wide range of pH. Good detergency and emulsification properties.
Trideceth-7 Carboxylic Acid:
Trideceth-7 Carboxylic Acid is an ethylene oxide condensate.
When converted to a salt by neutralization, a crypto-anionic salt of the base is formed.
Trideceth-7 Carboxylic Acid is compatible with non-ionics, anionics and cationics with detersive wetting and emulsifying properties.
Trideceth-7 Carboxylic Acid can be used as a buffer in acid detergents, as a detergent, wetting agent and dispersant in metal cleaning and processing, as a compatibilizing agent in cationic-anionic formulations, and in conditioning shampoos containing anionic detergents and cationic polymers.