What is the APEO and its harmfulness
APEO is short for Alkylphenol polyoxyethylene ethers, are now the main representative of the non-ionic surfactants are widely used.APEO are alkyl phenol is the starting raw material, with KOH as the catalyst, under certain pressure and temperature, by adding ethylene oxide condensation drops into.Alkyl phenol polyoxyethylene ether is a class of products called, due to the length of the alkyl and ethylene oxide adduct number of varying size to form the surface activity of a non-ionic surfactant family.APEO family, Nonylphenol Ethoxylates (NPEO) the most widely used, more than 80% per cent of APEO, followed by n-Octylphenol Ethoxylates (OPEO), accounted for more than 15%.In addition to this some other alkyl phenol polyoxyethylene ether there are special use and less by using.
APEO has a good wetting, penetrating, emulsifying, dispersing, solubilizing and washing effect, widely used in detergents and personal care products, textiles, paper, petroleum, metallurgy, chemicals, pharmaceuticals, printing, synthetic rubber, synthetic resin, plastic, and even food industries product processing or manufacturing, the main purpose of washing products and Textile auxiliaries.Near omnipresence in the APEO in textile processing, textile processing used by scouring agent, wetting agent, penetrant, enzyme preparation, printing paste, Binder, coating agent, leveling agent, waterproof agent and repair agent, emulsion, dispersing agents are likely to be found, such as APEO figure.World surfactant consumption total about 7.5% share.
Eco-toxicity of APEO related mainly to safety and biodegradability.Security includes acute toxicity, toxicity to aquatic organisms, caused by skin irritation, teratogenic and variability.Studies have shown that APEO toxicity to aquatic organisms larger, on stimulation of the eyes and skin are also significantly higher than other non-ionic surfactant.APEO itself is not carcinogenic, teratogenic or mutagenic, but its synthesis byproducts is likely to be carcinogenic.Secondly, APEO and biodegradability of anionic or compared to other non-ionic surfactants are the worst, other bio-degradable metabolites toxicity to aquatic organisms are considerable.In addition, studies have shown that APEO belonging to environmental endocrine disrupting chemicals, and estradiol effects similar to harm human normal hormone secretion, resulting in reduced male sperm counts, abnormal genital mutilation.
APEO-related regulatory requirements
Poor due to larger APEO toxicity, biodegradability, degradation metabolites are toxic and, from some of the world's countries in the 1980 of the 20th century began to gradually restrict or prohibit the use of APEO products.
In fact, the European Parliament and the European Commission issued Directive 2003/53/EC as early as June 18, 2003, on the restriction of certain hazardous substances such as: nonylphenol/NP, nonylphenol, Nonylphenol nonylphenol ethoxylate/NPEO Ethoxylates, circulation and the use of emission.
Set forth in 2003/53/EC, if the content of NP and NPEO in products or in content of NP and NPEO in emissions are equal to or higher than 0.1% (by weight), the material cannot be used for:
Industrial cleaning, unless:
Strict control of dry cleaning system, so lotion can recycling or incineration
Washing system with special processing, so lotion can recycling or incineration.
Household scrubber, textile and leather processing technology in use, unless:
Production processes do not discharge waste water;
Have a special treatment system to ensure biological sewage treatment process water in the preprocessed before, complete removal of the organic fraction.
Agricultural emulsifier
Metal processing, unless:
Closed system, and the washing liquid is recycled or incinerated.
Pulp or paper, cosmetics and other personal care products;
Compound of pesticides or biocides.
The decree in force in Member States of the European Union since January 17, 2005.On June 1, 2009, after the European Union after the abolition of 76/769/EEC series regulations into EU REACH regulations.
At present, based on the "cleaner production" and "environmental friendly" concept, some of the world's famous brands and buyers, has requested the product processing and production enterprise may not use the APEO.
APEO substitutes are many, such as fatty alcohol polyoxyethylene ether (FEO), the effect of alkyl polysaccharides (APG) glucose, n-alkyl amide (AGA), nonionic Gemini surfactant, polyoxyethylene ester of rosin esters (RPGC), fatty acid polyethylene glycol ether (FMEE).
Solutions
APEO to ensure that the final product meets the requirements, key to check the source to ensure ecological security of buying from the source and use of dyes. PTS Testing Service is the leading global provider of quality testing and certification services, to a wide range of industries and product safety testing and certification, certificate of the tests and to issue internationally recognized reports.
