2025
Greener, APEO Free Alternatives for Mining Applications
Anand Parthasarathy
Nalco Water (an Ecolab company)
ABSTRACT: Developing products and technologies with consideration to environment is a high priority
goal for the chemical industry. To help provide safer products for human health and ecosystem, Ecolab is
proactively working to identify Alkylphenol ethoxylates (APEO) free alternatives. APEOs are one of the largest
classes of non-ionic surfactants currently used worldwide in commercial and industrial products and concerns
about APEOs’ environmental impact exists. Ecolab has developed APEO free products for mining applications
such as dust control, dewatering aids, flocculants. Some of the major industrial challenges associated with
developing APEO free alternatives are equivalent performance, cost effectiveness and supply chain. This work
will be highlighted in this presentation.
INTRODUCTION
Alkyl phenol ethoxylates (APEOs) type surfactants are
widely used commercial and industrial products. They
belong to a class of non-ionic surfactants and used as deter-
gents and pesticides, emulsifiers, laundry formulations,
lubricating oil additives, etc., These chemicals are produced
more than one million pounds per year in the U.S. and
thus are classified as high production volume (HPV) chem-
icals.1,2 A representative structure of alkyl phenol ethoxyl-
ates is shown in Figure 1. The length of the alkyl group
and extent of ethoxylation can vary thus yielding surfactant
structures of varying physical properties suitable for numer-
ous applications.
APEOs and Alkyl phenols (AP, Degradation product of
APEOs) have been detected not only in surface waters and
groundwaters but also in drinking water. Various stud-
ies have suggested that APEO metabolites have adverse
effects on humans, aquatic organisms, and environment.
APEOs are classified as endocrine disruptors due to their
weak estrogen like activity. Due to these concerns, various
regulatory agencies around the world, including EPA, have
initiated both voluntary and regulatory actions to phase
out APEO surfactants.1,2
SUMMARY OF THE WORK
In the mining industry, chemistries play an important role
for various applications such as dewatering aids, dust con-
trol, crystal growth modifiers and flocculation, to name a
few. For example, dust control is one of the most important
challenges that mine sites and mineral processing plants
face. Mining operations handle massive quantities of mate-
rial every day, and the dust generated during handling can
become a serious health and safety hazard to both the min-
ing personnel and surrounding community. In general, sev-
eral mining sites spray water alone to suppress dust and to
Alkyl group
Ethoxylate
Figure 1. Representative structure of alkyl phenol ethoxylates
Greener, APEO Free Alternatives for Mining Applications
Anand Parthasarathy
Nalco Water (an Ecolab company)
ABSTRACT: Developing products and technologies with consideration to environment is a high priority
goal for the chemical industry. To help provide safer products for human health and ecosystem, Ecolab is
proactively working to identify Alkylphenol ethoxylates (APEO) free alternatives. APEOs are one of the largest
classes of non-ionic surfactants currently used worldwide in commercial and industrial products and concerns
about APEOs’ environmental impact exists. Ecolab has developed APEO free products for mining applications
such as dust control, dewatering aids, flocculants. Some of the major industrial challenges associated with
developing APEO free alternatives are equivalent performance, cost effectiveness and supply chain. This work
will be highlighted in this presentation.
INTRODUCTION
Alkyl phenol ethoxylates (APEOs) type surfactants are
widely used commercial and industrial products. They
belong to a class of non-ionic surfactants and used as deter-
gents and pesticides, emulsifiers, laundry formulations,
lubricating oil additives, etc., These chemicals are produced
more than one million pounds per year in the U.S. and
thus are classified as high production volume (HPV) chem-
icals.1,2 A representative structure of alkyl phenol ethoxyl-
ates is shown in Figure 1. The length of the alkyl group
and extent of ethoxylation can vary thus yielding surfactant
structures of varying physical properties suitable for numer-
ous applications.
APEOs and Alkyl phenols (AP, Degradation product of
APEOs) have been detected not only in surface waters and
groundwaters but also in drinking water. Various stud-
ies have suggested that APEO metabolites have adverse
effects on humans, aquatic organisms, and environment.
APEOs are classified as endocrine disruptors due to their
weak estrogen like activity. Due to these concerns, various
regulatory agencies around the world, including EPA, have
initiated both voluntary and regulatory actions to phase
out APEO surfactants.1,2
SUMMARY OF THE WORK
In the mining industry, chemistries play an important role
for various applications such as dewatering aids, dust con-
trol, crystal growth modifiers and flocculation, to name a
few. For example, dust control is one of the most important
challenges that mine sites and mineral processing plants
face. Mining operations handle massive quantities of mate-
rial every day, and the dust generated during handling can
become a serious health and safety hazard to both the min-
ing personnel and surrounding community. In general, sev-
eral mining sites spray water alone to suppress dust and to
Alkyl group
Ethoxylate
Figure 1. Representative structure of alkyl phenol ethoxylates