PPG-2 C12-15 pareth-6 is a chemical compound, polypropylene glycol (PPG) ether of a mixture of synthetic C12-15 ethoxylated fatty alcohols.
The name describes the structure of the molecule:
- PPG-2 refers to polypropylene glycol with an average molecular weight of about 2000. PPGs are polymers of propylene oxide, and the following number "PPG" indicates the average number of units of propylene oxide in the molecule PPG.
- C12-15 Pareth-6 is a mixture of synthetic fatty alcohols with 12-15 carbons in the alkyl chain. The "Pareth-6" indicates that it was ethoxylated with an average of 6 mol of ethylene oxide.
The synthesis process takes place in different steps:
The synthesis process takes place in several stages:
- Preparation of C12-15 alcohols produced from petrochemical sources. Treatment includes oligomerization of ethylene to produce linear alpha-olefins, followed by hydroformilation and hydrogenation to produce alcohols.
- Reaction with propylene oxide. C12-15 alcohols are reacted with propylene oxide to produce polypropylene glycolic ethers. This reaction is known as propoxylation and involves the addition of propylene oxide units to the alcohol molecules. The number "2" in PPG-2 C12-15 Pareth-6 indicates that on average 2 units of propylene oxide are added. This reaction is carried out at high temperatures and under pressure.
- Reaction with ethylene oxide. Polypropylene glycol ethers are then reacted with ethylene oxide to produce the final product and this reaction is known as ethoxylation and involves the addition of ethylene oxide units to the polypropylene glycol ether molecules. The number "6" in PPG-2 C12-15 Pareth-6 indicates that on average 6 units of ethylene oxide are added at elevated temperatures and under pressure.
- Purification. The reaction mixture is then purified to isolate PPG-2 C12-15 Pareth-6 by processes such as distillation, filtration and drying.
- Quality control test. The final product is tested to ensure it meets the required specifications with tests for molecular weight, purity, moisture content and other physical and chemical properties.
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.
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.
