Question

What is OP-10 octylphenol polyoxyethylene ether? What are its main uses?

Answer
2026-06-06 官方文档 OP-10辛基酚聚氧乙烯醚

OP-10 octylphenol polyoxyethylene ether is an excellent non-ionic surfactant widely used in industrial cleaning, textile printing and dyeing, pesticide emulsification, water-based coatings and other fields, with excellent emulsifying, wetting, penetrating and dispersing capabilities.

Product Overview

OP-10 (CAS number: 9036-19-5), chemical name octylphenol polyoxyethylene ether or polyoxyethylene(10) octylphenyl ether, aliases include emulsifier OP-10, polyethylene glycol octylphenyl ether, etc., is a similar substitute for Triton X-100. The product appears as a colorless to light yellow transparent liquid or paste, belonging to typical non-ionic surfactants, produced by Haian Guoli Chemical Co., Ltd.

The core advantage of OP-10 lies in its excellent comprehensive surface activity performance: it can efficiently reduce oil-water interfacial tension to form stable emulsions, significantly reduce liquid surface tension for rapid wetting, and at the same time have good suspension and dispersion effects on dirt particles. In addition, the product maintains stable performance over a wide pH range, has good hard water resistance, and excellent compatibility with various auxiliaries.

Main Uses

Industrial and Domestic Cleaning Agents

As an efficient non-ionic surfactant, it is widely used in formulations such as metal degreasers and hard surface cleaners, quickly wetting and emulsifying oil stains, significantly improving detergency, and is a core component in the field of industrial cleaning.

Textile Printing and Dyeing Auxiliaries

Used as a penetrating agent, leveling agent, and wetting agent in textile processing, it helps dye liquor uniformly penetrate into fibers, improving dyeing quality and processing efficiency, effectively reducing color difference and uneven dyeing.

Pesticide Emulsifier

Used in pesticide formulations such as emulsifiable concentrates and aqueous emulsions, it uniformly disperses active ingredients in the water phase, enhancing the stability and adhesion of the spray liquid, thereby improving application effect and pesticide utilization.

Water-based Coatings and Inks

As a wetting dispersant and emulsion polymerization emulsifier, it improves the dispersion state of pigments in the system, prevents sedimentation and flocculation, and enhances the storage stability and application performance of coatings and inks.

Other Application Areas

OP-10 is also widely used in leather degreasers (effectively removing natural oils and process oils), paper machine felt cleaners and waste paper deinking agents (promoting ink separation and removal), crude oil demulsifiers and oilfield acidizing aids (helping oil-water separation and improving operational efficiency), and as a component in metalworking fluids (providing lubrication, cooling, and cleaning functions).

Application Suggestions

OP-10 can be used flexibly in formulations, either directly added to the water phase or oil phase. The specific dosage needs to be optimized according to the target system and process requirements. Generally recommended at 1%~10% in cleaning agent formulations, 5%~15% in pesticide emulsifiable concentrates, and 2%~8% in textile auxiliaries. It is recommended to verify the optimal addition amount through small-scale tests.

Precautions

  • Safety Risks: Harmful if swallowed (H302), Causes skin irritation (H315), Causes serious eye irritation (H319), Harmful to aquatic life with long lasting effects (H412).
  • Operational Protection: Wear chemical-resistant gloves (such as nitrile rubber), protective clothing, and chemical safety goggles during operation, and ensure the operating area is well-ventilated.
  • Storage Conditions: Recommended to store in a cool, dry, well-ventilated environment at 5°C to 40°C, keep containers tightly closed, and keep away from strong oxidizing agents, strong acids, and strong bases.
  • Environmental Tips: Strictly prohibited from discharging untreated into the environment, sewers, or water bodies; waste must be disposed of in compliance with relevant regulations.