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August 28, 2026

Sustainability and Tailored Performance Can Be a Reality, A Review of Bioderived and Bio-Produced Surfactants

Publications
Household & Industrial
Oil & Gas
Personal Care

A trend towards biorenewability and sustainability has incentivized the increased commercialization of natural classes of surfactants; bioderived (e.g., alkyl polyglucosides) and bio-produced (e.g., sophorolipids and rhamnolipids). Bio-based surfactants also offer the formulator marketing advantages around renewable carbon or bio-based formula content and less reliance on petroleum-based ingredients. They demonstrate favorable safety profiles including low skin irritation, as well as negative sensitization, and genotoxicity results. Sophorolipids and rhamnolipids are capable of significant surface activity and antimicrobial properties. However, there are also limitations involved when dealing with bio-produced surfactants including an inefficient manufacturing process, high-priced material, and lack of application flexibility. In contrast, alkyl polyglucosides, are versatile and can be further functionalized synthetically allowing the chemistry to be geared towards specific applications. Additionally, functionalized alkyl polyglucosides can also be altered to different ionic classes of surfactants such as anionic, amphoteric or cationic. This allows them to compete with petroleum-based surfactants in many industries in terms of performance while enhancing sustainability. This article explores bio-based surfactants, their advantages and limitations.

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Cited:

Lucas R. Moore, Barae Jomaa, Garret Bryant, Zechariah Avello

Sustainability and Tailored Performance Can Be a Reality, A Review of Bioderived and Bio-Produced Surfactants. Journal of Surfactants and Detergents (2026)

https://doi.org/10.1002/jsde.70093

August 20, 2026

The Chemistry of Ether Carboxylates – Part Two

Blog
Industrial Lubricant Additives
Oil & Gas

Part II: The Chemistry of Ether Carboxylates

Ether carboxylates can be produced through several routes, but they are most commonly manufactured by Williamson ether synthesis using alkoxylates (alcohols) and a strong base to introduce the terminal carboxymethyl group. This process has several drawbacks, including relatively low yield (about 90%), the use of sodium chloroacetate which brings in a classified hazardous material, formation of organic by-products such as diglycolic and glycolic acids, and generation of significant, aqueous inorganic salt waste. Although alternative processes may offer higher yields and fewer by-products, etherification remains the most cost-effective route because it is easier to scale and provides a high degree of carboxymethylation. The structure and alkoxylation pattern of the starting alkoxylate, along with the base used, directly affect the final product composition and performance.


In general, the Williamson etherification process produces the corresponding ether carboxylic acid after acidification and removal of aqueous waste. At the customer’s request, the acid form can be converted to salt through neutralization with alkaline hydroxides or amines, often with intentionally added water.


Key quality indicators include acid value, degree of carboxymethylation, residual water content, and residual inorganic salts. In most, if not all, commercial ether carboxylic acid products, the final material contains the acid or salt form together with unreacted alkoxylate substrate. The acid value directly indicates the degree of etherification when compared with the estimated theoretical acid value. As noted above, the alkoxylate substrate and base selection affect the product’s acid value.


Commercial ether carboxylates typically contain low levels of inorganic salts, generally below 1 wt%. For applications requiring ultra-low inorganic salt content, an additional aqueous wash is needed, which significantly increases production cost and can reduce yield.


In addition to inorganic salts, ether carboxylates typically contain organic acid impurities, such as glycolic acid and diglycolic acid. The levels of these impurities vary by supplier and product. Academic and industrial research has explored ways to reduce hydroxylation and dimerization of chloroacetic acid, but neither side reaction has been shown to be completely avoidable.


Overall, etherification remains the primary manufacturing process after balancing performance, cost, scalability, and impurity considerations. In addition to the intended acid component, ether carboxylates contain unreacted alkoxylates, minor organic by-products, and residual inorganic salts.

July 28, 2026

Evaluation of N2 and CO2 Foams Generated by a Novel Alkyl Polyglucoside Surfactant Formula

Publications
Oil & Gas

Foam-based enhanced oil recovery (EOR) continues to gain attention as an effective technique for mobility control and sweep improvement in heterogeneous and high-permeability reservoirs. However, foam performance is strongly influenced by water chemistry, gas composition, and surfactant selection, particularly in high-salinity environments where foam destabilization commonly limits field applicability. This study evaluates the foaming behavior, stability, and viscosity of two distinct surfactant systems. This evaluation was carried out in deionized (DI) water and brine, using both nitrogen and carbon dioxide as the gas. The study provides a systematic comparison of the two surfactant formulations and identifies the conditions under which each system is most effective. The findings suggest that AOS (alpha olefin sulfonate) system yielded significant foam degradation in the high brine water, while the Mod APG (alkyl polyglucoside) formulation maintains a robust and improved foam under such conditions. This work offers practical insights for selecting foaming agents capable of generating stable, high-strength foams in reservoirs containing high-salinity formation waters.

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Cited:

Lucas R. Moore, Clint Stoddard, Gavin Erickson

Evaluation of N2 and CO2 Foams Generated by a Novel Alkyl Polyglucoside Surfactant Formula. Journal of Surfactants and Detergents (2026)

https://aocs.onlinelibrary.wiley.com/doi/abs/10.1002/jsde.70080

June 2, 2026

Introduction to Ether Carboxylates – Part One

Blog
Industrial Lubricant Additives
Oil & Gas

Versatility, High Performance, Multifunctionality, and Environmental Friendliness

Colonial Chemical is a leading global manufacturer of ether carboxylates, offering a comprehensive product portfolio designed to meet ever-increasing industry performance needs. This 9-part series is intended to provide a better understanding of ether carboxylate chemistry, mechanisms of action, applications, and product selection.

Introduction

Ether carboxylates are a unique class of surfactants characterized by a three-part structure: a lipophilic alkyl chain (R¹), a hydrophilic alkoxylate chain, and a terminal carboxylic acid group, as shown in the scheme below. The hydrophilic alkoxylate portion may be composed entirely of ethylene oxide (EO), as in ethoxylates, or of both ethylene oxide and propylene oxide (EO-PO copolymers), where R² may be H or Me.

The General Structure for Ether Carboxylates

The structure and performance of ether carboxylates can be highly customized by varying the length and branching of the hydrophobic alkyl chain, as well as the degree of ethoxylation or alkoxylation, to achieve the desired performance profile. Not all ether carboxylates are created equal. In many cases, co-application of ether carboxylates with complementary performance attributes is required, leading to the development of a wide range of ether carboxylate blends tailored for optimal performance.

The ionic state of ether carboxylates is pH-dependent because they contain a weakly acidic terminal carboxylic acid group. As a result, ether carboxylates are often regarded as nonionic-anionic surfactants, or “crypto-anionic” surfactants, because they behave more like nonionic surfactants under acidic, low-pH conditions and more like anionic surfactants under alkaline conditions. Their degree of ionization depends on the pH of the application medium. Although ether carboxylates are used in both acidic and alkaline environments, they are most commonly applied under alkaline conditions.

Ether carboxylates are typically marketed in free acid, alkali metal salt, or alkanolamine salt form, with the free acid form dominating the market.

Ether carboxylates are known by several names, including ether carboxylates (ECs), ether carboxylic acids, polyoxyethylene alkyl ether carboxylic acids (AECs), and alkoxylate acetic acids. Regardless of the terminology, the underlying chemistry and mechanism of action remain the same.

As surfactants, ether carboxylates can deliver ultra-low interfacial tension (IFT) under high-temperature and high-salinity conditions. Ether carboxylates are generally low to medium foaming depending on the actual usage. And most of them are generally viewed biodegradable. Ether carboxylates generally offer emulsification, emulsion stabilization, lime soap dispersing, surface wetting, lubrication, and corrosion protection. Ether carboxylates are well known for their outstanding hardwater tolerance and lime-soap dispersing capabilities under harsh application environments.
Ether carboxylates had their prime time in personal care related applications. Although they are still being used in the personal care products, because of the regulatory campaign against 1,4-doxane in recent years, they are no longer as popular as before as emulsifiers and foaming agents in the personal care space. For industrial applications, they are extensively and increasingly used in industrial lubricants, i.e. metalworking fluids, hydraulic fluids, treatment fluids, etc., oilfield operations, i.e., water-based drilling muds, enhanced crude oil recovery, etc., industrial cleaning, construction (concrete admixtures as superplasticizers), textile industry, and other industrial applications,

The global market for ether carboxylate has been witnessing a significant increase on account of growth of its expanding industrial applications as bio-based, eco-friendly technology alternates.

In Part 2 we will explore more in depth the chemistry for Ether Carboxylates.

April 14, 2026

A Novel Alkyl Polyglucoside Surfactant Engineered for Enhanced Foam Stability and Reduction in Interfacial Tension Across Diverse Water Chemistries

Oil & Gas
Publications

The effectiveness and efficiency of oil and gas extraction are heavily influenced by the surfactants employed. These chemical agents play a crucial role in boosting productivity by lowering the interfacial tension, enhancing fluid recovery, modifying the wettability of the formation, and minimizing flow resistance. Surfactants can also generate/stabilize foam in those applications where foam is desired, such as water-sensitive formations. However, water quality varies significantly from site to site, presenting challenges in consistent surfactant performance. This study demonstrates how water chemistry impacts foam properties and interfacial tension using three surfactants: a modified alkyl polyglucoside (Mod APG), sodium lauryl ether sulfate (SLES), and sodium sulfosuccinamate. Among these, the Mod APG has demonstrated strong foaming capabilities, significant reductions in IFT, and high tolerance to diverse water conditions, including salt water and hard water environments.

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Cited:

Lucas R. Moore, Gavin Erickson

A Novel Alkyl Polyglucoside Surfactant Engineered for Enhanced Foam Stability and Reduction in Interfacial Tension Across Diverse Water Chemistries. Journal of Surfactants and Detergents (2026)

https://aocs.onlinelibrary.wiley.com/doi/10.1002/jsde.70050

November 14, 2025

Welcome to the Blog!

Blog
Household & Industrial
Industrial Lubricant Additives
Oil & Gas
Personal Care
Vehicle Care

Welcome to the Colonial Chemical blog, a space designed to give formulators valuable insight into the science, trends, and innovations shaping our industry.

As we continue exploring new ways to share essential information with formulators, we are excited to introduce the CCI Blog. This will be a dedicated space for timely trends and practical formulation insights for people developing products across a wide range of industries. Formulators from all trades including personal care (cosmetics, lotions, cleansers), home care (hard surface, dishes, laundry), pet care, vehicle care (from pre-treatment to drying), institutional, and beyond, will find useful and relevant content here.

This blog builds on what we have already created through our webinar series, the Formula Girls podcast, and our regular email updates. We will be curating highlights from those resources to make them more accessible and searchable on our website, while also adding new content that addresses today’s most pressing formulation challenges and trends. Most articles will be quick reads (about two to three minutes) and are designed to give you actionable tools you can take straight to the bench. If there is a topic you would like to see covered, we would love to hear from you. Please email us at [email protected] with the subject line “CCI Blog”. Your ideas will help guide the types of content we create.

In the coming months, look for articles on navigating the complexity of “free-from” claims, including “sulfate-free”, “PEG-free”, “palm-free”, and more. Also look for tips on building viscosity in modern surfactant systems, increasing foam and developing mild and gentle products for facial care, intimate care, and other sensitive skin applications.

We are excited to share this new resource with you and look forward to your feedback and suggestions.

May 27, 2025

Impact of Water Chemistry on Zwitterionic Foamers for Enhanced Oil Recovery

Publications
Oil & Gas

Selecting the correct surfactant for gas injection enhanced oil recovery is essential for optimal yield during the extraction. The surfactants assist in the retention and effectiveness of the gas being injected by manipulating volume and viscosity through the foam properties being generated. Selection of the right surfactant will determine the foam volume, bubble size, and overall rate of foam deterioration. Unfortunately, not every enhanced oil recovery (EOR) site around the world has access to the same water quality; thus, each site must face the challenges of varying water chemistry. This article presents the experimental work done to screen and rank three zwitterionic surfactant families by evaluating the foam properties and impact on interfacial tension with crude oil in varying water sources.

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Cited:

Lucas R. Moore, Christian Kemefa, Jordan Taylor, Gavin Erickson

Impact of Water Chemistry on Zwitterionic Foamers for Enhanced Oil Recovery. Journal of Surfactants and Detergents (2025)

https://aocs.onlinelibrary.wiley.com/doi/10.1002/jsde.12874