Nonionic surfactants are a kind of surfactants that are used in production later. However, since its application in the 1930s, it has developed very rapidly and widely used. Many properties exceed ionic surfactants. With the development of petroleum industry, there are abundant sources of raw materials, continuous improvement of process and decreasing cost. Its output accounts for an increasing proportion of the total output of surfactants, and gradually tends to surpass other surfactants.
The hydrophilic groups of applied non-ionic surfactants are mainly composed of polyethylene glycol group, i.e. polyoxyethylene group, and the other is based on Polyols (such as glycerol, pentaerythritol, sucrose, glucose, sorbitol, etc.).
Because the non-ionic surfactant does not exist in the ionic state in the solution, it has high stability and is not easily affected by the presence of strong electrolyte, acid and alkali. It can be mixed with other types of surfactants with good compatibility, good solubility in various solvents and no strong adsorption on the solid surface.
Nonionic surfactants are surfactants in molecules containing ether groups that do not dissociate in aqueous solution as the main hydrophilic groups, and their surface activity is embodied by neutral molecules. Nonionic surfactants have high surface activity, good solubilization, washing, electrostatics, calcium soap dispersion, and other properties, with little irritation, as well as excellent wetting and washing functions. The applicable pH value range is wider than that of the general ionic surfactants and can also be used in conjunction with other ionic surfactants, where the addition of small amounts of non-ionic surfactants results in an improved surface activity of the system. Non ionic surfactants can be classified into polyoxyethylene, polyol, alkanol amide, polyether, amine oxide types according to the structure of the hydrophilic groups.