Environmental policies continue to tighten, and the outlook for the alkylphenol polyoxyethylene ether (APEO) industry is not optimistic.

Alkylphenol polyoxyethylene ether (APEO) is a polyoxyethylene nonionic surfactant and is currently the second largest nonionic surfactant in the world. APEO has hydrophobic groups and hydrophilic groups. With its good emulsification, dispersion, penetration, infiltration and washing functions, it can be used as a refining agent, wetting agent, adhesive, detergent, dispersant, etc. in textile, Daily chemicals, papermaking, petroleum, metallurgy and other fields.

APEO biodegrades slowly and easily produces short ethoxy chain alkylphenol polyoxyethylene ethers (AP1EO, AP2EO), octylphenol, nonylphenol, NPEO, OPEO and other substances. Since the above substances are all environmental hormone chemicals, It is similar to estrogen. After it enters the human body, it will reduce the body’s immunity, affect the body’s normal hormone secretion, and then lead to mutations in the human reproductive organs. In the context of rising residents’ health awareness and stricter environmental protection policies, the reduction in the application of APEO in consumer goods will be an inevitable trend.

APEO is a mixture produced by polymerizing nonylphenol (NP) and octylphenol (OP) in a certain ratio under high temperature, catalyst and other environments. The APEO mixture is mainly composed of octylphenol polyoxyethylene ether (OPEO) and nonylphenol polyoxyethylene ether (NPEO), of which NPEO accounts for more than 80%. In the EU, APEO has been banned from use in textile, printing and dyeing and other industries. In 2021, the “Comprehensive List of Environmental Protection” issued by the Ministry of Ecology and Environment listed ethylene oxide and nonylphenol as high environmental risk products, and APEO as a high-pollution and high-environmental-risk product. Under strict environmental protection policies, the development prospects of the APEO market are not optimistic.

According to the “2022-2027 my country Alkyl Phenol Polyoxyethylene Ether (APEO) Industry Market In-depth Research and Development Prospects Forecast Report released by the Industrial Research Center ” shows that in 2020, the output of China’s alkylphenol polyoxyethylene ether industry was less than 70,000 tons, accounting for about 5.5% of nonionic surfactants. APEO is a product with high pollution and high environmental risk. In recent years, as environmental protection regulatory policies have become increasingly strict, APEO consumption has been decreasing year by year, with the most obvious downward trend in demand in the textile printing and dyeing industry.

APEO-related companies mainly include Jiangsu Lingfei Technology Co., Ltd., Jiangsu Jiafeng Chemical Co., Ltd., etc. The application of APEO is limited, and the demand for environmentally friendly and harmless APEO substitutes is increasing. However, from the aspects of raw material sources, product performance, economy, ease of use, etc., there are still few varieties that can fully replace APEO, and relevant companies still need to step up their efforts. Large investment in relevant research.

Industry analysts said that APEO is an important non-ionic surfactant, but it is not easy to degrade and is harmful to the human body and It is highly harmful to the environment. APEO does not conform to the current trend of green and environmentally friendly consumption, and many countries around the world have restricted its application. APEO is a product with high pollution and high environmental risks. Against the backdrop of continued tightening of environmental protection policies, the development prospects of the APEO industry are not optimistic.