Difference between molar 7 and molar 10 fatty alcohol ethoxylates and detailed introduction

Differences in chemical composition

Structural comparison:**

mol-7 (C12-C15 alcohol ethoxylate7 EO) :
Each molecule contains an average of 7 oxyvinyl units (-CH2CH2O).
Molar 10 (C12-C15 alcohol ethoxylate-10 EO) :
Each molecule contains an average of 10 oxyvinyl units.

HLB value comparison:

Molar 7 has a **Hydrophilic Lipophilic Equilibrium (HLB Value) of about *12-14*, which is biased towards water-in-oil emulsification (O/W).
Molar-10 has an **HLB value of about *15-17*, which is more inclined to oil-in-water emulsification (W/O) and has stronger hydrophilicity.

Physical Properties:

Moore 7:
The appearance is mostly liquid or waxy solid with low melting point, and the low foaming performance is suitable for formulations that require higher degreasing capacity.
Moore 10:
It is more viscous, forms a stable and transparent solution when dissolved in water, and has high foam properties, making it suitable for formulations that require strong emulsifying or solubilizing properties.

Differences in production process

Both are prepared by using fatty alcohols (C12-C15) and ethylene oxide (EO) for addition reaction, but the degree of ethoxylation is different:

Reaction steps:

Determine the amount of ethoxy (EO) by controlling the ethoxylatation ratio of the reaction.
Mole 10 requires the addition of more ethylene oxide for a longer reaction time.

Catalyst Selection:

Commonly used basic catalysts (e.g., potassium hydroxide) facilitate the reaction and ensure an even distribution of ethoxy groups.

Post-processing:

Products are purified and tested to ensure uniformity and quality.

1. Household cleaner

Molar 7 (7 EO): More suitable for decontamination, grease cleaning, such as kitchen cleaners, dish soap, etc., low foaming and strong detergency.
Molar 10 (10 EO): More suitable for cleaners that require a high-foaming formulation, such as laundry detergent, floor cleaner, etc.

2. Industrial Cleaners

Molar 7 (7 EO): Ideal for industrial cleaning applications with low foaming requirements, such as metal cleaning fluids, parts cleaners, and excellent wetting properties.
Molar 10 (10 EO):** High emulsifying capacity, suitable for emulsifying oily stains, widely used in emulsification systems for water-soluble cleaning agents.

3. Cosmetics & Personal Care

Molar 7 (7 EO): More suitable for low-foaming personal care products, e.g. wetting agents in body washes and shampoos.
Mole 10 (10 EO): Commonly used in high-foaming personal care products such as shower gels or shampoos, it can also be used as an emulsifier to improve formulation stability.

4. Agriculture

Molar 7(7 EO): is used as a wetting agent to improve the adhesion and permeability of pesticides, suitable for high-efficiency penetrant formulations.
Molar 10 (10 EO): as a co-solvent for pesticide formulations that require greater emulsifying capacity.

5. Textile industry

Molar 7 (7 EO): has good permeability and is suitable for textile pre-treatment processes such as removing oil and dirt from fabrics.
Molar 10 (10 EO):** Performs better at emulsifying and dispersing dyes, helping to improve dyeing results.

6. Emulsification system

Molar 7 (7 EO): Prefer water-in-oil (O/W) emulsification systems, such as food emulsifiers, water-in-oil emulsifiers, etc.
Molar 10 (10 EO):** Suitable for oil-in-water (W/O) emulsification systems, it performs better in scenarios where strong hydrophilic properties are required.

Summary of Performance Differences

Decontamination Capacity:**

Moore 7: Stronger degreasing capacity, suitable for removing heavy oil contamination.
Molar 10: Stronger solubility for impurities in emulsified aqueous solutions.

Foam Performance:

Molar 7: Low foam, suitable for industrial and household cleaners with low foaming needs.
Molar 10: High foam, suitable for personal care and cleaners that require a rich lather.

Emulsifying capacity:**

Mole 7: Prefer to stabilize water-in-oil (O/W) emulsion systems.
Molar 10: Oil-in-water (W/O) emulsification system is preferred, suitable for high hydrophilic scenarios.

Selection Suggestion

If higher detergency and lower foaming performance are required (e.g. industrial cleaning), molar 7 is recommended.
If stronger emulsifying properties are required or for use in high-foaming formulations (e.g. laundry detergents, skin care products), Molar 10 is recommended.

Summary:
Mole 7 and Mole 10 are two fatty alcohol ethoxylates that can be adjusted to meet the needs of different applications. The choice of specific model depends on the emulsifying needs of the formulation, its foam characteristics and its detergency capacity.