Nonylphenol NP 4 - 5 - 6 - 9 - 10 - 20 - 30 - Mole

Alkylphenols are subjected to ethoxylation to give alkylphenol ethoxylates ( APEs) , which are widely used as industrial surfactants. They are used in applications as disparate as the processing of wool and metals, as emulsifiers for emulsion polymerization, as laboratory detergents, and as pesticides. APEs are a component of some household detergents outside of Europe. In Europe, due to environmental concerns, they have been replaced by more expensive alcohol ethoxylates, which are less problematic environmentally. Nonoxynol-9, one of the APEs, is used as a surfactant in cleaning and cosmetic products, and as a spermicide in contraceptives.