Is castor oil polyoxyethylene ether EL-12 harmful to the human body? Does it have an impact on the environment?

Castor oil polyoxyethylene ether EL-12 is practically non-toxic and non-irritating to the human body, has little impact on the environment and is readily biodegradable. It is a nonionic surfactant with high safety.

Detailed Description

Castor oil polyoxyethylene ether EL-12 (PEG-12 castor oil) is a nonionic surfactant produced by ethoxylation of natural castor oil. According to the product safety data of Haian Guoli Chemical Co., Ltd., this product is not a dangerous good, is not classified as flammable, explosive or toxic, and poses extremely low risk to human health under normal use conditions.

In terms of toxicology, the acute oral LD50 in rats is greater than 5000 mg/kg, and the dermal LD50 is greater than 2000 mg/kg. According to toxicological classification, it belongs to the practically non-toxic grade. The results of skin irritation test and eye irritation test are both non-irritating, and there is no skin sensitization. This is due to its natural castor oil raw material base, and its molecular structure does not contain irritating groups. Therefore, it is widely used in personal care products that come into direct contact with the human body, such as cosmetic creams, lotions, and makeup removers.

In terms of the environment, this product has good biodegradability, shows low toxicity to aquatic organisms, and is an environmentally friendly surfactant. Nevertheless, large spills should still be avoided from being directly discharged into water bodies or sewers, because excessively high concentrations of surfactants may cause local eutrophication. Under normal industrial use, its environmental load can be effectively reduced after treatment by wastewater treatment systems.

Safety Parameter Summary

Application Recommendations

It is precisely due to the excellent toxicological safety and environmental compatibility of EL-12 that it is widely used in the following fields with fully verified safety:

• Cosmetics and Personal Care Products: Used as a solubilizer and emulsifier in creams, lotions, makeup removers, shower gels, etc., with no risk of irritation upon direct skin contact.
• Pesticide Formulations: Used as an emulsifier for emulsifiable concentrates and oil-in-water emulsions. After field application, it can gradually degrade in the natural environment without long-term residue.
• Textile Auxiliaries: Used in spinning oils and softening agents. After processing, it is removed during washing, leaving extremely low residues.
• Metalworking Fluids: Acts as an emulsifier and lubricant in cutting and grinding fluids. Operator exposure risk is controllable.

Precautions

• Although the product has extremely low toxicity, it is still recommended to wear protective gloves and safety glasses during handling, follow normal industrial hygiene practices, and avoid prolonged direct contact.
• The workplace should be well-ventilated to avoid splashing. Wash hands promptly after handling.
• Disposal should be carried out in accordance with local regulations. In case of large spills, collect with inert absorbent materials (such as sand, vermiculite) and do not discharge directly into sewers or natural water bodies.
• Storage temperature should be controlled at 5-40°C, avoiding extreme heat or freezing, and keep away from incompatible materials such as strong oxidizers.