Product Name: Alkyl Ether Carboxylates
Chemical Family: Anionic surfactants
CAS Numbers: Commonly ranges between 68439-50-9 and 9004-82-4, varies by AEC grade
Synonyms: Polyoxyethylene alkyl ether carboxylate, Ether carboxylic acid, Fatty alcohol ethoxylate carboxylic acid
Recommended Use: Household detergents, industrial cleaners, personal care products, textile auxiliaries
Supplier Identification: Must include company name, address, and contact information
Emergency Contact: Provide local and international emergency phone numbers
Product Code/Identifier: List relevant codes for internal tracking and shipping
Classification: Irritant to skin and eyes, not classified as hazardous under GHS for many grades but always verify with supplier
Signal Word: Warning
Hazard Statements: Causes skin irritation, may cause serious eye irritation, potential to harm aquatic organisms
Precautionary Statements: Use gloves, wash hands after handling, avoid eye contact, avoid release to environment
Label Elements: GHS symbols for irritants
Other Hazards: Some grades can form hazardous degradation products under heat or fire, like aldehydes or acids
Main Component: Alkyl ether carboxylic acid (multi-ethylene oxide chain)
Typical Concentration: 70%-100% active ingredient, water present in aqueous solutions
Impurities: Trace amounts of unreacted alcohols (less than 2%), ethylene oxide residue (typically below 1 ppm)
Formulation Additives: Stabilizers and preservatives may be present, typically under 1%
Eye Contact: Rinse gently with water for 15 minutes, remove contact lenses if present, seek medical attention for irritation
Skin Contact: Wash with soap and water, remove contaminated clothing
Inhalation: Move to fresh air, seek medical attention if breathing becomes difficult
Ingestion: Rinse mouth with water, do not induce vomiting, seek immediate medical advice for significant ingestion
Most Important Symptoms: Redness, stinging or burning sensation in eyes, skin dryness or mild rash
Notes to Physician: Symptomatic treatment, monitor for delayed eye or skin reactions
Suitable Extinguishing Media: Water spray, foam, CO₂, dry chemical powder
Unsuitable Extinguishing Media: Direct water jet on liquid pools may spread the material
Special Protective Equipment for Firefighters: Full protective suit, self-contained breathing apparatus
Fire Hazard: Does not ignite easily, but can decompose at high temperatures producing irritant gases
Hazardous Combustion Products: Carbon monoxide, carbon dioxide, hydrocarbons, low molecular weight aldehydes
Advice for Firefighters: Mobilize containment to keep run-off from contaminated areas
Personal Precautions: Wear gloves, goggles, if in enclosed space use respiratory protection
Environmental Precautions: Prevent from entering drains or waterways
Methods for Containment: Cover spill with inert absorbent (sand, earth, vermiculite)
Methods for Cleaning Up: Shovel absorbed material into containers for disposal, flush small spills with large amounts of water
Spill Reporting: Notify authorities if significant amount enters the environment
Handling Precautions: Avoid skin and eye contact
Personal Hygiene: Wash hands after handling, avoid eating or drinking near chemicals
Safe Storage: Store in tightly closed containers in cool, dry, well-ventilated areas
Incompatibilities: Strong acids, strong bases, oxidizers
Specific Storage Requirements: Protect from sunlight, do not store near food or animal feed
Transfer Precautions: Use grounded pumps, minimize splashing
Exposure Limits: No established occupational exposure limits in most jurisdictions (verify with local regulations)
Engineering Controls: Local exhaust ventilation recommended for bulk handling
Personal Protective Equipment: Chemical-resistant gloves, safety goggles, long-sleeved clothing
Respiratory Protection: Not usually required except for high aerosol or vapor concentrations
General Protection Measures: Emergency eyewash and safety shower in working area
Appearance: Pale yellow liquid or waxy solid, may appear clear or cloudy
Odor: Faint alcohol or ether-like odor
pH (1% Solution): 6.5–8.5
Melting Point/Freezing Point: Approximately -5°C to 25°C, depends on chain length
Boiling Point: Decomposes before boiling
Solubility in Water: Miscible at working concentrations
Density: 1.02 – 1.12 g/cm³
Viscosity: Highly variable, usually 50–400 mPa·s at 25°C
Partition Coefficient (n-octanol/water): 0.5 to 1.5
Flash Point: More than 120°C (open cup)
Vapor Pressure: Low, not significant at ambient temperature
Chemical Stability: Stable at ambient temperature and pressure
Conditions to Avoid: Excessive heat, open flames, prolonged exposure to strong sunlight
Incompatible Materials: Strong acids, alkalis, oxidizing agents
Hazardous Decomposition Products: Carbon oxides, organic acids, aldehydes
Polymerization: Not known to occur
Acute Toxicity: Oral LD₅₀ in rats >2,000 mg/kg—low acute toxicity profile for humans
Skin Irritation: Causes mild to moderate irritation with repeated exposure
Eye Irritation: Can cause moderate to severe irritation
Sensitization: Not known to cause skin sensitization
Chronic Toxicity: No evidence of organ-level toxicity in animal studies at normal exposure
Carcinogenicity: Not identified as cancer-causing by IARC, NTP, OSHA
Specific Target Organ Toxicity: Not documented at typical workplace exposures
Ecotoxicity: Harmful to aquatic organisms (LC₅₀ for fish typically ranges from 1–10 mg/L)
Persistence and Degradability: Readily biodegradable, >60% within 28 days (OECD 301B)
Bioaccumulative Potential: Low, due to high biodegradability and low log Kow values
Mobility in Soil: High mobility, dissolves and moves easily with water
Other Adverse Effects: Large spills may cause significant oxygen depletion and foaming in natural water bodies
Waste Treatment Methods: Dispose via licensed professionals in accordance with local, national and international regulations
Recommended Disposal: Incinerate under controlled conditions, or treat in an approved wastewater plant after dilution
Container Handling: Rinse and recycle if possible, otherwise dispose as hazardous chemical waste
Precautions for Disposal: Do not discharge undiluted product into sewers or waterways
UN Number: Not classified as dangerous goods under current UN, IMDG, IATA rules (verify for concentrates or mixtures)
Proper Shipping Name: Alkyl Ether Carboxylate Solution or relevant trade name
Transport Hazard Class: Not regulated for road, rail, sea, or air
Packing Group: Not assigned
Environmental Hazards: Marine pollutant classification rarely applies, check for specific product grades
Special Precautions: Prevent movement of large bulk containers during transport, avoid contamination with incompatible chemicals
Inventory Listings: Registered on TSCA (USA), EINECS/REACH (EU), DSL (Canada), ENCS (Japan), AICS (Australia) for main grades
GHS Classification: Not classified as hazardous for transport, typically labeled Irritant for workplace use
Labeling Requirements: Comply with regional workplace and consumer product labeling
Restrictions: Certain applications in food contact, direct human consumption, or near potable water supplies may be restricted
Other Regulations: Check local country requirements for environmental release reporting, wastewater discharge permits, and use in eco-label products
