C9-15 Pareth-8 is a chemical compound, alkyl polyethylene glycol (PEG (Polyethylene glycol)) ether mixture of synthetic C9-15 fatty alcohol ethoxylated (8 mol).
The name describes the structure of the molecule:
- "C9-15" refers to the length of the alcohol carbon chain, which can range from 9 to 15 carbons.
- "Pareth-8" refers to polyethylene glycol alcohol ether, with an average of 8 units of ethylene oxide.
The synthesis process takes place in several stages:
- Production of alcohol with a carbon chain length of 9 to 15 by various methods, such as olefin hydroformilation, followed by hydrogenation.
- Ethoxylation. Alcohol is reacted with ethylene oxide to produce PEG ether in the presence of a base catalyst, such as potassium hydroxide.
- Depuration. The product is purified to remove unreacted alcohol and ethylene oxide. This can be done through techniques such as distillation.
What it is used for and where
Cosmetics
Surfactant - Emulsifying agent. Emulsions are thermodynamically unstable. Emulsifiers have the property to reduce the oil/water or water/oil interfacial tension, improve emulsion stability and also directly influence the stability, sensory properties and surface tension of sunscreens by modulating their filmometric performance.
Surfactant - Cleansing agent. Cosmetic products used to cleanse the skin utilise the surface-active action that produces a lowering of the surface tension of the stratum corneum, facilitating the removal of dirt and impurities.
Safety
The term 'eth' refers to the ethoxylation reaction with ethylene oxide after which residues of ethylene oxide and 1,4-dioxane, chemical compounds considered carcinogenic, may remain. The degree of safety therefore depends on the degree of purity of the compound obtained. At present, no manufacturer is known to provide this information on the label.
CAS: 157627-88-8
