Ethoxylation
Ethoxylation is a chemical reaction in which ethylene oxide adds to alcohols and phenols. The process converts the group ROH into R(OC2H4)nOH where n ranges from 1 to as high as 10. Such compounds are called alcohol ethoxylates. Alcohol ethoxlates are often converted to related species called ethoxysulfates. Alcohol ethoxylates and ethoxysulfates are surfactants, used widely in cosmetic and other commercial products. The process is of great industrial significance with more than 2,000,000 metric tons various ethoxylates produced world wide 1994.