5. Industrial applications

The industrial applications of non-ionic surfactants are many and varied. A fairly comprehensive summary can be found in the chapter dedicated to non-ionic surfactants in the reference .

• As a first approximation, we could say that esters are used mainly for their lubricating, emulsifying and emollient properties and for their excellent ecotoxicological profile:

  • for controlling static electricity and as plasticizers and anti-fogging agents in plastics (PVC, PE, PP, ABS). Glycerol C18 α-monoesters are the most widely used products in food...