What are the physicochemical technical parameters of Castor oil polyoxyethylene ether EL-90?

EL-90 is a high-ethoxylated nonionic surfactant, appearing as a light yellow paste with strong hydrophilicity, widely used in emulsification and solubilization systems.

Detailed Description

Castor oil polyoxyethylene ether EL-90 (CAS: 61791-12-6) is a nonionic surfactant produced by addition polymerization of natural castor oil with 90 moles of ethylene oxide (EO). The molecular formula is C57H104O9(C2H4O)90, and it appears as a light yellow to yellow paste or viscous liquid. Due to the high ethoxylation number of 90, the product has excellent water solubility, high cloud point, and is a typical O/W emulsifier.

As a high HLB surfactant, EL-90 exhibits outstanding emulsifying, solubilizing, and dispersing capabilities. It maintains stable interfacial activity over a wide pH range and temperature conditions, with excellent resistance to hard water and electrolytes. The product has good biodegradability, very low acute toxicity (oral LD50 > 5,000 mg/kg), and is non-irritating to the skin, balancing high performance with environmental safety in industrial formulations.

The following technical parameters combine information from the Guoli Chemical product database and general physicochemical index ranges for this type of product. For specific batch values, please refer to the manufacturer's Certificate of Analysis (COA).

Technical Parameters

Application Recommendations

Based on its high HLB value and strong water solubility, EL-90 is particularly suitable as an emulsifier and solubilizer for O/W systems. Recommended application scenarios include:

• Pesticide formulations: Used as the primary emulsifier in emulsifiable concentrates, microemulsions, and emulsion concentrates, with typical dosage ranging from 5% to 15% of the total formulation.
• Cosmetics and personal care products: Used as a mild emulsifying solubilizer in creams, lotions, and shampoos, typically at 1% to 5%.
• Industrial cleaning and detergents: Used as a nonionic active component in heavy-duty liquid detergents to enhance detergency and dispersibility.
• Textile and synthetic fiber industry: Used as a spinning oil agent and textile pretreatment auxiliary to provide smoothness and permeability.
• Metalworking fluids: Used as an emulsifier to formulate cutting fluids and grinding fluids, offering both lubrication and rust prevention.

Precautions

• The product may solidify or become cloudy at low temperatures, which is a normal physical phenomenon. Use indirect heating (e.g., warm water bath) to slowly warm it to around 40°C and stir well before use. Do not heat containers directly with an open flame.
• Recommended storage temperature: 5°C ~ 40°C. Store in a cool, dry, well-ventilated warehouse. Seal the container promptly after use.
• Wear nitrile gloves and chemical safety goggles when handling. Ensure adequate ventilation in the workplace.
• The above partial physicochemical parameters (HLB, cloud point, hydroxyl value, etc.) are general literature reference values, not directly provided by the Guoli Chemical product database. For specific batch indices, refer to the product COA.
• For the latest Safety Data Sheet (SDS) or detailed technical information, please contact Guoli Chemical technical support department directly.