Nonoxynols



Nonoxynols or nonylphenol ethoxylates are nonionic surfactant mixtures varying in the number of repeating ethoxy groups. They are used as detergents, emulsifiers, wetting agents, defoaming agents, etc. Nonoxynol-9, the compound with 9 repeating ethoxy groups, is a spermatocide, formulated primarily as a component of vaginal foams and creams.

synthesis
These compounds are synthesised by alkylation of phenol by a trimer of propene (propylene) under the influence of an acidic catalyst.

Toxicity concerns
Since these compounds are widely produced over the world and are designed to flush down the sink, concerns about their safety has increased in the past years. Several research programs have shown that these surfactants have a mild to medium estrogenic function. Consequently, this class of detergents has been effectively banned for commercial "down-the-drain" applications in Europe, and these compounds are not found in laundry detergents in the USA.