A comparison of surfactants derived from alcohols based on petrochemical and oleochemical sources

Samples of lauryl-range alcohols derived from palm kernel oil, coconut oil and ethylene (Ziegler) were derivatized into alcohol sulfates and alcohol ether sulfates (2 moles of ethylene oxide adduct). Physical properties and performance characteristics for earch surfactant were evaluated both individually and in light-duty liquid (LDL) dish-washing formulations. The slight differences observed in the physical and performance properties of the surfactants and their formulations were assignable to slight differences the individual alcohol, alcohol sulfate and alcohol ether sulfate samples employed in this study. The magnitude and type of variation found in the samples resulted from normal production variation and not from any properties inherent to the nature of the alcohol source. We therefore conclude that alcohol sulfates, alcohol ether sulfates and LDLs formulated from them exhibit identical physical property and performance characteristics, regardless of whether the original alcohol was manufactured from petrochemical or eleochemical sources.