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Talloil polyglycolethers are non‑ionic surfactants and emulsifiers produced by ethoxylation (and occasionally propoxylation or esterification) of tall oil fatty acids or other long‑chain fatty derivatives (including tallow).
Tall oil is a byproduct of kraft pulping of pine (Pinus) wood and contains a complex mixture of fatty acids (oleic, linoleic), resin acids (abietic), and other long‑chain components; it is an economical feedstock for producing specialty surfactants.
The polyglycolether derivatives impart water solubility, reduced interfacial tension, wetting, emulsification, solubilization and dispersion properties.
They are used across agrochemical formulations, metalworking fluids, textile auxiliaries, paints and coatings, cleaners, personal care (where permitted), and polymer additives.
Because the term covers multiple related substances, properties and CAS numbers vary by degree of ethoxylation (EO units), esterification, or capping groups.
Representative CAS entries include polyethoxylated tallow amines (e.g., POE‑tallowamines CAS 61791‑26‑2 for certain grades), tall oil fatty acid esters with polyethylene glycol mono(nonylphenyl) ether (CAS 68990‑46‑5 for specific reaction products), and related tall‑oil polymers with ethylene glycol (CAS 68015‑04‑3).
When specifying materials for regulatory or formulation work, always use the exact product grade and supplier SDS/technical data sheet.
Names, identifiers and synonyms (representative CAS numbers)
Class names / common trade names:
Tall‑oil polyglycol ether
Tall oil ethoxylate
Tallow/tall oil polyethoxylate
Polyoxyethylene tall oil ester
POE tall oil derivatives
Tall oil polyethylene glycol esters
Representative CAS numbers and entries (not exhaustive):
61791‑26‑2 — commonly referenced for polyethoxylated tallow amines / polyoxyethylene tallow amine derivatives (POE‑tallowamine).
Example grades: POE(15) tallow amine. Sources: supplier catalogs and regulatory listings.
(Note: these are tallow amine ethoxylates — a related class; often confused/overlapped in industrial usage with tall oil ethoxylates.)
68990‑46‑5 — Fatty acids, tall‑oil, esters with polyethylene glycol mono(nonylphenyl) ether (a tall‑oil fatty acid ester with PEG‑mono(nonylphenyl) ether).
Listed in EPA/SRS and chemical catalogs.
68015‑04‑3 — Tall oil, polymer with ethylene glycol, glycerol, pentaerythritol, phthalic anhydride and sorbitol (polymerized tall oil derivative; included here as an example of tall‑oil polymer chemistry on inventories).
Other related CAS entries: 9004‑98‑2 (PEG monooleyl ether — example of PEG‑alkyl ether family), 162627‑14‑7 and others for specific tall‑oil reaction products.
Common synonyms (example list):
Tall oil PEG‑ether
Tall oil ethoxylate
Polyethylene glycol tall oil ester
Fatty acids, tall‑oil, ethoxylated / polyglycolether derivatives
Tallow ethoxylates (when animal fat feedstock used)
Practical note: Because the industry often sells grades identified by average EO number (e.g., Tall Oil Ethoxylate EO‑6, EO‑10, EO‑15) rather than a single molecular entity, procurement and regulatory work must reference product-specific identifiers (INCI when applicable, supplier CAS mixtures, or internal trade names).
Historical background and production feedstocks
Origins of tall oil
Tall oil (crude tall oil, CTO) is a by‑product of the kraft pulping process of pinewood used in the pulp and paper industry.
Historically, tall oil was recovered as an inexpensive source of fatty acids, resin acids and sterol fractions.
Over decades, tall oil derivatives found uses in soaps, adhesives, metal‑working fluids, and as raw material for making surfactants and lubricants.
Development of ethoxylation technology
Ethoxylation — the reaction of ethylene oxide (EO) with alcohols, fatty acids, amines or other nucleophiles — has been a workhorse for producing non‑ionic surfactants since the mid‑20th century.
Combining tall oil fatty acids with EO (directly or via PEG intermediates) or reacting tall oil with PEG‑based alkylphenol or other PEG‑ethers allowed manufacture of water‑soluble or water‑dispersible derivatives tailored by EO chain length.
Market drivers and adoption
Using tall oil as a renewable, lower‑cost feedstock combined with ethoxylation enabled production of biodegradable (relative to some petrochemical surfactants), high‑efficiency emulsifiers for agrochemicals, metalworking, and industrial cleaning.
Environmental concerns and regulatory scrutiny (e.g., for POEA surfactants in some regions) have driven refinements in formulation and greater clarity on composition and purity.
Chemical structure and nomenclature (class description)
General structural features
One may represent a tall‑oil polyglycolether generically as:
R–(CO)O–(CH2CH2O)n–H (for tall oil fatty acid esters of PEG mono‑ether)
R–NH–(CH2CH2O)n–H (for ethoxylated tallow amines; R = C12–C18 alkyl/tallow residue)
Where R represents a long‑chain aliphatic moiety derived from tall oil fatty acids (predominantly C16–C18 types) or tallow alkyl chains.
The variable n denotes the average degree of ethoxylation (EO units), which controls hydrophilicity and aqueous solubility.
Degree of ethoxylation and HLB
The EO number (e.g., EO‑3, EO‑6, EO‑10, EO‑15, EO‑30) is a primary specification. Low EO (2–6) yields solubility in organic solvents and limited water dispersibility (good for emulsifiers in oil‑rich systems), while high EO (>12) produces water‑soluble surfactants used in aqueous cleaners and formulations. The Hydrophile‑Lipophile Balance (HLB) of tall oil polyglycolethers depends on both the R chain length and EO number, enabling rational selection for oil‑in‑water (O/W) vs water‑in‑oil (W/O) emulsions.
Chemical variability and complexity
Tall oil itself is a complex mixture; ethoxylation of such a feedstock produces a distribution of molecules (different fatty acid chains, degrees of ethoxylation, possible esterification/ether linkages). Thus commercial products are typically characterized as "mixtures" with specified average properties (saponification value, acid number, hydroxyl number, EO average, viscosity, cloud point).
SAFETY INFORMATION ABOUT TALLOIL POLYGLYCOLETHER
First aid measures:
Description of first aid measures:
General advice:
Consult a physician.
Show this safety data sheet to the doctor in attendance.
Move out of dangerous area:
If inhaled:
If breathed in, move person into fresh air.
If not breathing, give artificial respiration.
Consult a physician.
In case of skin contact:
Take off contaminated clothing and shoes immediately.
Wash off with soap and plenty of water.
Consult a physician.
In case of eye contact:
Rinse thoroughly with plenty of water for at least 15 minutes and consult a physician.
Continue rinsing eyes during transport to hospital.
If swallowed:
Do NOT induce vomiting.
Never give anything by mouth to an unconscious person.
Rinse mouth with water.
Consult a physician.
Firefighting measures:
Extinguishing media:
Suitable extinguishing media:
Use water spray, alcohol-resistant foam, dry chemical or carbon dioxide.
Special hazards arising from the substance or mixture
Carbon oxides, Nitrogen oxides (NOx), Hydrogen chloride gas
Advice for firefighters:
Wear self-contained breathing apparatus for firefighting if necessary.
Accidental release measures:
Personal precautions, protective equipment and emergency procedures
Use personal protective equipment.
Avoid breathing vapours, mist or gas.
Evacuate personnel to safe areas.
Environmental precautions:
Prevent further leakage or spillage if safe to do so.
Do not let product enter drains.
Discharge into the environment must be avoided.
Methods and materials for containment and cleaning up:
Soak up with inert absorbent material and dispose of as hazardous waste.
Keep in suitable, closed containers for disposal.
Handling and storage:
Precautions for safe handling:
Avoid inhalation of vapour or mist.
Conditions for safe storage, including any incompatibilities:
Keep container tightly closed in a dry and well-ventilated place.
Containers which are opened must be carefully resealed and kept upright to prevent leakage.
Storage class (TRGS 510): 8A: Combustible, corrosive hazardous materials
Exposure controls/personal protection:
Control parameters:
Components with workplace control parameters
Contains no substances with occupational exposure limit values.
Exposure controls:
Appropriate engineering controls:
Handle in accordance with good industrial hygiene and safety practice.
Wash hands before breaks and at the end of workday.
Personal protective equipment:
Eye/face protection:
Tightly fitting safety goggles.
Faceshield (8-inch minimum).
Use equipment for eye protection tested and approved under appropriate government standards such as NIOSH (US) or EN 166(EU).
Skin protection:
Handle with gloves.
Gloves must be inspected prior to use.
Use proper glove
removal technique (without touching glove's outer surface) to avoid skin contact with this product.
Dispose of contaminated gloves after use in accordance with applicable laws and good laboratory practices.
Wash and dry hands.
Full contact:
Material: Nitrile rubber
Minimum layer thickness: 0.11 mm
Break through time: 480 min
Material tested:Dermatril (KCL 740 / Aldrich Z677272, Size M)
Splash contact
Material: Nitrile rubber
Minimum layer thickness: 0.11 mm
Break through time: 480 min
Material tested:Dermatril (KCL 740 / Aldrich Z677272, Size M)
It should not be construed as offering an approval for any specific use scenario.
Body Protection:
Complete suit protecting against chemicals, The type of protective equipment must be selected according to the concentration and amount of the dangerous substance at the specific workplace.
Respiratory protection:
Where risk assessment shows air-purifying respirators are appropriate use a fullface respirator with multi-purpose combination (US) or type ABEK (EN 14387) respirator cartridges as a backup to engineering controls.
If the respirator is the sole means of protection, use a full-face supplied air respirator.
Use respirators and components tested and approved under appropriate government standards such as NIOSH (US) or CEN (EU).
Control of environmental exposure
Prevent further leakage or spillage if safe to do so.
Do not let product enter drains.
Discharge into the environment must be avoided.
Stability and reactivity:
Chemical stability:
Stable under recommended storage conditions.
Incompatible materials:
Strong oxidizing agents:
Hazardous decomposition products:
Hazardous decomposition products formed under fire conditions.
Carbon oxides, Nitrogen oxides (NOx), Hydrogen chloride gas.
Disposal considerations:
Waste treatment methods:
Product:
Offer surplus and non-recyclable solutions to a licensed disposal company.
Contact a licensed professional waste disposal service to dispose of this material.
Contaminated packaging:
Dispose of as unused product
