Question

What is Castor Oil Polyoxyethylene Ether EL-12? What are its main uses?

Answer
2026-06-06 官方文档 蓖麻油聚氧乙烯醚EL-12

Castor Oil Polyoxyethylene Ether EL-12 is a nonionic surfactant produced by the addition polymerization of natural castor oil with ethylene oxide. It appears as a light yellow to yellow transparent oily liquid, with excellent emulsifying ability and low irritation as its core advantages, widely used in cosmetics, pesticides, textiles, metal processing, and industrial cleaning.

Detailed Description

Castor Oil Polyoxyethylene Ether EL-12 (CAS No.: 61791-12-6), chemically named PEG-12 Castor Oil, is a nonionic surfactant produced by the addition polymerization of natural castor oil with 12 moles of ethylene oxide (EO). The product appears as a light yellow to yellow transparent oily liquid, with good chemical stability and formulation compatibility.

As a classic O\/W emulsifier, EL-12 has efficient emulsifying effects on various oil phases and organic solvents, significantly reducing oil-water interfacial tension to form stable emulsions. Its nonionic nature allows it to be widely compatible with anionic, cationic, and other nonionic additives, offering great formulation flexibility. At the same time, this product maintains stable surface activity in acid, alkali, and hard water media, adapting to complex working conditions. Derived from natural castor oil raw materials, EL-12 has very low skin and eye irritation, making it a mild surfactant.

In terms of safety, EL-12 is non-hazardous, with an acute oral LD50 greater than 5000 mg\/kg, classified as practically non-toxic. Skin and eye irritation tests show no irritation. The product has good biodegradability, is environmentally friendly, and has a flash point greater than 200°C, making it non-flammable.

Main Uses

1. Cosmetics and Personal Care Products: As a nonionic solubilizer and emulsifier, it is used in creams, lotions, makeup removers, bath products, etc., effectively solubilizing oil components such as fragrances and essential oils, providing a fine skin feel and stable emulsion structure.

2. Pesticide Formulations: Used as an efficient emulsifier for emulsifiable concentrates (EC) and emulsions in water (EW), it helps uniformly disperse pesticide active ingredients in water, improving the thermodynamic stability and field dilution emulsification performance of pesticide formulations, and enhancing the wetting and spreading ability of the spray solution.

3. Textile Auxiliaries: Applied in spinning oils, softeners, and high-temperature leveling agents, providing excellent smoothness and antistatic properties, helping dyes dye uniformly, and imparting smoothness and processing convenience to fibers.

4. Metalworking Fluids and Industrial Lubricants: Acts as an emulsifying and lubricating component, promoting oil phase dispersion in cutting fluids, grinding fluids, and other systems to form stable emulsions, while providing good boundary lubrication to protect workpieces and tools.

5. Industrial Cleaners and Degreasers: Utilizes wetting, penetrating, and emulsifying effects to quickly remove oil and grease from surfaces such as metal and plastic, improving cleaning efficiency, suitable for various water-based and semi-water-based cleaning formulations.

Technical Parameters

Parameter NameParameter Detail
Product NameCastor Oil Polyoxyethylene Ether EL-12
CAS No.61791-12-6
Chemical NamePEG-12 Castor Oil
AliasPolyoxyethylene Castor Oil EL-12, Ethoxylated Castor Oil (EO=12), Cremophor EL-12, Polyethylene Glycol-12 Castor Oil
Ionic TypeNonionic Surfactant
AppearanceLight yellow to yellow transparent oily liquid
EO Number12
Emulsion TypeO\/W (Oil-in-Water)
Flash Point>200°C (Closed Cup)
Acute Oral ToxicityLD50 >5000 mg\/kg (Practically Non-toxic)
Skin IrritationNon-irritating
BiodegradabilityReadily biodegradable
Hazard ClassificationNon-hazardous

Application Suggestions

EL-12 is suitable for emulsifying mineral oils, animal and vegetable oils. In formulations, it is recommended to use it as a primary or auxiliary emulsifier in O\/W emulsion systems. In cosmetic formulations, the recommended dosage is typically 1%-5%; in pesticide emulsifiable concentrates, the dosage is usually 5%-15%; in metalworking fluids, the dosage depends on formulation requirements, typically 3%-10%. The specific dosage should be determined through experiments based on the actual formulation system and process requirements.

Precautions

  • Storage temperature should be controlled at 5-40°C, avoiding extreme high temperatures or freezing to prevent affecting product quality.
  • Keep the container sealed to avoid contact with moisture and humidity to prevent moisture absorption.
  • It is recommended to wear protective gloves and goggles during operation to avoid direct contact with skin and eyes.
  • Keep away from strong oxidizers, strong acids, strong bases, and other incompatible substances.
  • Although non-hazardous, general chemical storage and transportation regulations should be followed.
  • In case of leakage, use inert absorbent materials (such as sand, vermiculite) to absorb and collect, avoiding direct discharge into water bodies.