Question

Does the emulsifier FM (triethanolamine monooleate) meet environmental requirements? Can a test report be provided?

Answer
2026-06-06 官方文档 乳化剂FM_三乙醇胺单油酸酯

Emulsifier FM (triethanolamine monooleate) meets basic environmental compliance conditions, but a complete official test report needs to be obtained by contacting Guoli Chemical sales or technical support department.

Detailed Explanation

Emulsifier FM (triethanolamine monooleate, CAS: 2717-15-9), as a widely used non-ionic surfactant, its environmental friendliness needs to be comprehensively evaluated from three dimensions: biodegradation potential, toxicological characteristics, and waste management. From the chemical structure perspective, its core raw materials are natural fatty acids (oleic acid) and triethanolamine. The ester bonds and long-chain alkyl structures in the molecule provide possible action sites for microbial degradation, and theoretically possess good primary biodegradability. At the same time, under compliant use conditions, the product itself does not contain persistent organic pollutants (POPs) explicitly prohibited by international conventions (such as the Stockholm Convention).

According to the product Safety Data Sheet (SDS), the GHS classification of this product is only "Skin Sensitizer Category 1" (H317), and it is not classified as acutely aquatic toxic substances or persistent, bioaccumulative toxic substances (PBT/vPvB). This preliminarily indicates that its acute hazard risk to the aquatic environment is low. However, waste disposal must strictly comply with regulations, and discharge into sewers, surface water, and groundwater is prohibited. Empty containers and materials adsorbing leaked substances should also be handed over to professional institutions as industrial hazardous waste for disposal, ensuring environmental safety from a life cycle management perspective.

It should be specifically noted that the current Guoli Chemical database does not contain a complete environmental test report for this product (such as OECD 301 series biodegradability test reports, aquatic toxicity test data, etc.), nor does it provide specific compliance declarations for VOC content or heavy metals (such as lead, mercury, cadmium, hexavalent chromium). Therefore, an existing test report cannot be directly displayed. It is recommended that users who need to pass product customs or have end-customer review requirements directly contact the sales personnel or technical support team of Guoli Chemical, and according to your specific application scenario, apply for corresponding compliance declarations (such as RoHS, REACH) or commission a third-party testing agency for targeted analysis.

Technical Parameters

The following are some technical indicators related to environmental assessment, sourced from the Guoli Chemical database:

Indicator NameSpecification/ValueEnvironmental Relevance Description
Heavy metal content (as Pb)≤10 mg/kgMeets general chemical heavy metal limit requirements, reducing environmental accumulation risk
Arsenic content (As)≤2 mg/kgFar below the arsenic limit for hazardous waste
pH value (1% aqueous solution)5.0~9.0Near neutral, reducing severe impact on water body pH
Water content≤1%High purity, low volatility, reducing transportation energy consumption and VOC emissions
Flash point>150℃Non-flammable liquid, reducing fire environmental risk during storage and transportation
Biodegradability or aquatic toxicityNo data currently availableIt is recommended to contact us for additional test materials

Application Suggestions

If you are using this product for export products or downstream formulations with strict environmental standards (such as EU Ecolabel certified cosmetics, Nordic Swan certified cleaning agents), it is recommended to take the following steps to ensure compliance:

  • Formula pre-treatment: Emulsifier FM is commonly used in metalworking fluids, textile auxiliaries, etc. It is expected to be effectively removed in waste liquid treatment systems through activated sludge processes. It is recommended to add biochemical treatment before wastewater discharge from downstream enterprises.
  • Document request: Immediately call the Guoli Chemical official customer service hotline or contact your dedicated customer manager to explicitly request the latest version of the Safety Data Sheet (SDS) and a "Non-Detection Statement" or compliance confirmation letter tailored to your industry needs.
  • Alternative evaluation: If there are extreme requirements for environmental friendliness, you can consult the Guoli Chemical technical team to discuss whether to recommend alternatives with higher biodegradability (such as ethylene oxide/propylene oxide block copolyethers that meet the OECD 301F standard with readily biodegradable BOD/COD ≥60%).

Precautions

  • Although this product is not directly classified as an "environmentally hazardous substance," large spills or untreated discharges can consume dissolved oxygen in water, causing physical harm to aquatic organisms (such as gill attachment). Containment and recovery must be implemented.
  • Contaminated packaging containers must not be discarded or buried indiscriminately, and should be handed over to units with hazardous waste operating permits for disposal.
  • Any test report is batch-specific and time-sensitive. Upon receipt, please verify the product batch number and test date.