Arkopal

Arkopal is a non-ionic surfactant consisting of a hydrophobic 9-carbon atom alkyl tail connected to a phenol molecule, that is in turn connected to an ethylene glycol chain.^[1] The length of this ethylene glycol chain is given by the code for the amphiphile Arkopal-N60 means, for example, that there are on average 6 ethylene glycol units connected to the phenol. The average means there are molecules with more and with less ethylene glycols, this is due to the chemical synthesis. Therefore, it has a polydispersity. It is a widely used industrial surfactant.

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Uses

It is used as additive in crop protection, lowering surface tension and thereby increasing the effectiveness of the pesticide, and it is used as detergent, for example in oil drilling fluids.

See also

• Nonylphenol

References

1. ^ http://www.reptox.csst.qc.ca/Produit.asp?no_produit=14175&nom=ARKOPAL+N&incr=0

Further reading

• J.K.G. Dondt, G. Gomppner, D. Richter (Eds) Soft matter: complex materials on mesoscopic scales - Schriften des Forschungszentrum Jülich, Vol. 10, 2002.