7.2.2. Polyethoxylates
The second most important use for ethylene oxide is for multiethoxylated
alkyl phenols, fatty alcohols, fatty acids, and fatty
amines.
In the reaction of these starting products with 10-30 moles
ethylene oxide per mole, they lose their hydrophobic character
and form widely used industrial products whose hydrophilic
character can be regulated by the number of ethylene oxide units.
An inadequate water solubility with an ethylene oxide content
below five units can be improved by esterifying the terminal
hydroxyl groups with H2S0, to form ether sulfates.