C12-16 PARETH-5

C12-16 PARETH-5 is a long-chain fatty alcohol that is tetradecane in which one of the terminal methyl hydrogens is replaced by a hydroxy group.
C12-16 PARETH-5 is a long-chain primary fatty alcohol, a fatty alcohol 14:0 and a primary alcohol.
C12-16 PARETH-5 is typically a viscous, clear to slightly hazy liquid at room temperature, and it is generally soluble in water, forming micelles that help solubilize oils, grease, and other hydrophobic compounds. 

CAS Number: 68551-12-2
Molecular Formula: C14H30O
EINECS Number: 272-490-6

Synonyms: C12-16 Pareth-5, C12-16 Alketh-5 (Formerly C12-16 Pareth-5), C12-16 PARETH-5 [INCI], R66626285W, RefChem:573030, SC-1000Alcohols, C12-16, ethoxylated;ETHOXYLATED ALCOHOLS (C12-C15);Alcohol-(C12-C16), ethoxylated;Alcohol Ethoxylated AEO;C12-16 Alcohol ethoxylate, Alcohols, C12-16;C12-16 ALCOHOLS;Alkohole, C12-16;Cetyl/dodecyl alcohol.

C12-16 PARETH-5 is nonionic, meaning it does not carry a net electrical charge, which makes it compatible with other types of surfactants, including anionic, cationic, and amphoteric agents. 
Its low foaming characteristics and mildness make it suitable for a wide range of personal care and industrial formulations.
Completely miscible with water a major threat to the environment in case of a spill. Immediate steps should be taken to limit spread.

Can easily penetrate the soil and contaminate ground water and nearby streams. Very toxic to aquatic organisms. 
Irritating to the eyes and respiratory tract prolonged exposure to the skin can cause reddening and scaling. 
C12-16 PARETH-5 is used in the making of surfactants.

C12-16 PARETH-5 is a nonionic surfactant that belongs to the class of polyoxyethylene (POE) ethers of fatty alcohols. 
The designation “C12-16” refers to the length of the alkyl carbon chains, meaning it is derived from fatty alcohols containing 12 to 16 carbon atoms, while the “PARETH-5” indicates that the molecule has been reacted with an average of five moles of ethylene oxide per mole of fatty alcohol. 
This chemical structure gives the molecule a hydrophobic tail (from the fatty alcohol) and a hydrophilic head (from the polyoxyethylene units), which allows it to reduce surface tension between water and oils or other hydrophobic substances.

Alcohols, C12-16 PARETH-5 is stable up to 50° C. Oxidizes on exposure to the air to form peroxides and peracids. 
Combustible but not flammable (flash point > 179°C) auto-ignition temperature: 230°C. 
May react with strong oxidizing agents, strong acids, and strong bases. 

Incompatible with copper and copper alloys and aluminum a mixture of polyether alcohols of formula R-O-(CH2CH2-O-)n-H where R is a C-12 through C-16 alkyl group and n equals 1 through , synthesized by treating a mixture of C-12 to C-16 alcohols with ethylene oxide.
C12-16 PARETH-5 is a polyethylene glycol ether of a mixture of synthetic C12-16 fatty alcoholswith an average of 9 moles of ethylene oxide.

C12-16 PARETH-5 is widely used in household and industrial detergents because it is effective at emulsifying oils, fats, and dirt while remaining gentle on fabrics and surfaces. 
C12-16 PARETH-5 is often included in laundry detergents, dishwashing liquids, and all-purpose cleaners where it helps dissolve greasy soils and improves the overall cleaning performance of the formulation.
In shampoos, body washes, facial cleansers, and other personal care items, C12-16 PARETH-5 acts as a mild cleansing agent and co-surfactant. 

Its nonionic nature ensures it is less irritating to skin and eyes compared to harsher anionic surfactants, while still contributing to foam stabilization and the solubilization of oils, fragrances, and active ingredients.
C12-16 PARETH-5 is also used in emulsions, lotions, creams, and hair conditioners, where it helps to blend oil and water phases to form stable products. 
Its ability to reduce surface tension allows for smooth, homogeneous formulations that maintain texture, viscosity, and shelf stability over time.

Outside personal care, C12-16 PARETH-5 can be used as a wetting agent, dispersant, and emulsifier in various industrial products, including paints, coatings, adhesives, and metalworking fluids. 
C12-16 PARETH-5 aids in the uniform distribution of pigments, oils, and other hydrophobic components in aqueous systems, improving product performance and application consistency.

The main advantages of C12-16 PARETH-5 include its versatility, mildness, and compatibility with a wide range of other surfactants and ingredients. 
It provides effective cleaning, emulsification, and solubilization while being gentle on skin, hair, and fabrics, which makes it a preferred choice for formulations that require both performance and mildness. 
Its nonionic nature ensures it maintains stability in the presence of electrolytes and varying pH levels, making it highly adaptable for both household and industrial products.

Melting Point: 19–24 °C
Boiling Point: 255–290 °C
Density: 0.838 g/cm³
Flash Point: 138 °C
Form: Liquid
Color: Colorless
Odor: Mild sweet pungent

C12-16 PARETH-5 is a non-ionic surfactant from the group of ethoxylated fatty alcohols (INCI name: C12-15 Pareth-5). 
C12-16 PARETH-5 belongs to the ROKAnol DB series based on C12-C15 fatty alcohol. 
Its high surface activity allows it to be used as an excellent detergent and a cleaning agent, and opens up the possibility of using it in other branches of industry. 

C12-16 PARETH-5 is a nonionic surfactant derived from C12-16 fatty alcohols and ethylene oxide, used primarily in detergents, personal care products, cosmetic emulsions, and industrial applications. 
C12-16 PARETH-5 is valued for its mild cleansing properties, emulsifying ability, compatibility with other ingredients, and ability to solubilize oils and hydrophobic substances, making it a versatile and widely used chemical in both consumer and industrial formulations.

C12-16 PARETH-5 is a member of the polyethylene glycol (PEG) ether of fatty alcohols, specifically derived from alcohols with carbon chain lengths between 12 and 16. The “5” in PARETH-5 indicates that each molecule has been ethoxylated with an average of five ethylene oxide units, forming a hydrophilic polyethylene oxide chain. 
This combination of a long hydrophobic tail and a short hydrophilic head allows the molecule to act as an amphiphilic surfactant, meaning it can simultaneously interact with water-soluble and oil-soluble substances, thereby reducing interfacial tension. 
Its nonionic nature ensures that it does not form strong electrostatic interactions, which increases its compatibility with both anionic and cationic compounds, making it highly flexible in formulation chemistry.

C12-16 PARETH-5 works by forming micelles in aqueous solutions, where the hydrophobic tails aggregate inward while the hydrophilic ethoxylated heads remain in contact with water. 
This micelle formation traps oils, greases, and hydrophobic soils inside the micelle cores, allowing them to be suspended and washed away easily. 
In addition to cleaning, the surfactant also stabilizes emulsions, prevents phase separation in creams and lotions, and improves the solubility of poorly soluble active ingredients or fragrances in cosmetic and industrial products.

In liquid laundry detergents, dishwashing liquids, and multi-purpose cleaners, C12-16 PARETH-5 improves the removal of greasy and oily stains, while remaining gentle on fabrics, skin, and surfaces. 
C12-16 PARETH-5 can also reduce water spotting and residue in cleaning formulations by enhancing wetting and rinsing properties. 
Its low foaming tendency makes it particularly useful in automatic dishwashers and industrial cleaning systems, where excess foam could interfere with machinery.

In shampoos, body washes, facial cleansers, and baby-care products, C12-16 PARETH-5 acts as a co-surfactant, enhancing foaming, stabilizing mixtures of other surfactants, and solubilizing oils and active ingredients. 
In creams, lotions, and hair conditioners, it serves as an emulsifying agent, helping water and oil phases blend smoothly to form stable emulsions with consistent texture, viscosity, and shelf life. 
C12-16 PARETH-5 also helps to deliver hydrophobic actives, such as vitamins or essential oils, evenly throughout a formulation.

Beyond consumer products, C12-16 PARETH-5 is utilized in metalworking fluids, coatings, paints, adhesives, and textile treatments. 
In these applications, it functions as a wetting agent, dispersant, and emulsifier, improving the uniform distribution of oils, pigments, or other hydrophobic components in aqueous systems. 
By reducing interfacial tension, it ensures that industrial formulations remain homogeneous, stable, and easy to apply.

Because of its mildness and solubilization properties, C12-16 PARETH-5 is sometimes used to formulate fragrance emulsions, essential oil dispersions, and even agricultural adjuvants, where it ensures even distribution of hydrophobic actives and prevents phase separation. 
Its versatility allows chemists to incorporate it into both high-performance and skin-sensitive formulations without compromising product stability.

Uses:
C12-16 PARETH-5 is widely used in creams, lotions, hair conditioners, serums, and emulsions to function as an emulsifier, allowing water and oil phases to blend seamlessly into a stable, homogenous product. 
Its action ensures that hydrophobic active ingredients, such as vitamins, plant oils, or silicones, are effectively solubilized and evenly distributed, improving both efficacy and sensory experience. 
By stabilizing emulsions, it also prevents separation, viscosity changes, or phase inversion during storage, which is critical for maintaining product performance and customer satisfaction.

In shampoos, body washes, facial cleansers, baby-care products, and intimate hygiene formulations, C12-16 PARETH-5 functions as a mild nonionic surfactant and co-surfactant, enhancing foam stability, improving oil solubilization, and helping distribute active ingredients uniformly. 
Because it is nonionic, it does not disrupt the natural pH or irritate sensitive skin, making it highly suitable for products aimed at sensitive populations, including infants or people with delicate skin. 
C12-16 PARETH-5 also helps maintain product stability over time, ensuring that fragrances, essential oils, and other hydrophobic components remain evenly dispersed without separating.

C12-16 PARETH-5 is widely used in liquid laundry detergents, dishwashing liquids, and multi-purpose cleaners because it effectively emulsifies and removes oils, grease, and other hydrophobic soils from surfaces and fabrics. 
Its low-foaming property ensures that it performs efficiently in automatic dishwashers and mechanical cleaning systems without generating excess foam that could interfere with machinery or cleaning cycles. 
Additionally, it helps reduce water spotting, improves rinseability, and ensures that fabrics and surfaces are left clean, soft, and residue-free after washing.

In shampoos, body washes, facial cleansers, and other personal care formulations, C12-16 PARETH-5 functions as a mild nonionic surfactant and co-surfactant. 
C12-16 PARETH-5 stabilizes foams, solubilizes oils, and helps disperse active ingredients and fragrances evenly throughout the product, ensuring consistent performance. 
Its nonionic and gentle nature makes it suitable for sensitive skin and hair, while still providing effective cleansing and emulsification of sebum, dirt, and other impurities.

C12-16 PARETH-5 is frequently incorporated into lotions, creams, and hair conditioners as an emulsifying agent, allowing water and oil phases to blend smoothly into stable products with uniform texture, viscosity, and shelf life. 
C12-16 PARETH-5 helps solubilize hydrophobic actives, such as essential oils, vitamins, or other functional ingredients, ensuring that they are distributed evenly and remain effective throughout the formulation. 
By improving the stability of emulsions, it allows cosmetic products to maintain their desired appearance and performance during storage and use.

Beyond consumer products, C12-16 PARETH-5 is used in industrial coatings, paints, adhesives, metalworking fluids, and textile treatments. 
In these applications, it acts as a wetting agent, dispersant, and emulsifier, helping to evenly distribute pigments, oils, or other hydrophobic components in aqueous systems. 
This improves product stability, consistency, and ease of application, while preventing phase separation, uneven coverage, or sedimentation in industrial formulations.

Because of its versatility and solubilization properties, C12-16 PARETH-5 is sometimes used to prepare fragrance emulsions, essential oil dispersions, and agricultural adjuvants, where it ensures uniform distribution of hydrophobic substances and prevents separation over time.
C12-16 PARETH-5s mildness allows formulators to incorporate it into products that require skin or fabric sensitivity, while still maintaining effective cleaning, emulsifying, or dispersing performance.

C12-16 PARETH-5 is a nonionic surfactant derived from C12-16 fatty alcohols ethoxylated with five moles of ethylene oxide, primarily used in household detergents, personal care products, cosmetic emulsions, industrial coatings, and specialty formulations. 
Its main functions are emulsification, solubilization, stabilization, and mild cleaning, and it is valued for being versatile, gentle, compatible with other ingredients, and effective in both consumer and industrial applications.

C12-16 PARETH-5 is frequently incorporated into liquid laundry detergents, automatic dishwashing liquids, and all-purpose surface cleaners because it effectively breaks down and emulsifies oils, grease, and hydrophobic soils, allowing them to be rinsed away without leaving residue. 
Its low-foaming property makes it particularly suitable for automatic cleaning machines, including dishwashers and industrial floor scrubbers, where excess foam could disrupt the operation or require additional rinsing. 
Furthermore, in formulations for delicate fabrics, it provides a gentle cleansing effect that removes stains while preserving color, texture, and softness.

In paints, coatings, adhesives, textile treatments, and metalworking fluids, C12-16 PARETH-5 acts as a dispersant, wetting agent, and emulsifier, ensuring even distribution of oils, pigments, or hydrophobic additives within aqueous systems. 
Its presence enhances flow properties, reduces surface tension, and prevents clumping or sedimentation, resulting in products that are easier to apply and perform more consistently. In textile processing, it improves fiber wetting and penetration of dyes, leading to more uniform coloration and finishing. 
In metalworking, it stabilizes emulsions that lubricate and cool tools while preventing corrosion and residue build-up.

Health Hazard:
Inhalation of material may be harmful.
Contact may cause burns to skin and eyes. 
Inhalation of Asbestos dust may have a damaging effect on the lungs. 

Fire may produce irritating, corrosive and/or toxic gases. 
Some liquids produce vapors that may cause dizziness or suffocation. 
Runoff from fire control may cause pollution.

Safety Profile:.
C12-16 PARETH-5, being a nonionic surfactant, is generally considered mild and low in acute toxicity, but direct contact with concentrated forms can cause skin irritation, redness, and itching, especially in individuals with sensitive or compromised skin. 
Prolonged or repeated exposure may lead to dermatitis or increased skin sensitivity, since surfactants can disrupt the natural lipid barrier of the skin.
Eye contact with concentrated solutions can cause temporary irritation, tearing, and stinging, and although severe injury is rare, immediate rinsing with water is recommended. 

Inhalation of aerosols, mist, or vapors generated during industrial processing can irritate the respiratory tract, potentially causing coughing or a burning sensation in the throat and lungs, particularly in poorly ventilated areas. 
Accidental ingestion is unlikely in normal use, but if it occurs, it may lead to mild gastrointestinal irritation, including nausea, vomiting, or diarrhea.

C12-16 PARETH-5 is generally non-flammable under normal storage and handling conditions, and it does not present significant fire or explosion hazards. 
However, in extremely high temperatures or in the presence of strong oxidizers, it may decompose, producing irritating vapors and smoke, so it should be kept away from open flames, sparks, and incompatible substances. 
Its chemical stability under normal conditions makes it safe for long-term storage, but heat or chemical contamination could increase risk.

As a surfactant, C12-16 PARETH-5 can be toxic to aquatic organisms in high concentrations, because it can disrupt cell membranes and impair normal biological processes in fish, invertebrates, and algae. 
While it is generally biodegradable under proper wastewater treatment conditions, uncontrolled release of concentrated solutions into waterways or soil can adversely affect aquatic and soil ecosystems, potentially leading to reduced oxygen availability and microbial imbalance. 
Therefore, proper dilution, treatment, and disposal are essential to minimize environmental impact.