Long Chain Alkyl Polyglycosides–A New Generation of Emulsifiers

Abstract

AbstractAlkyl polyglycosides (APG°) are a new category of mild carbohydrate‐derived surfactants. The industrial manufacturing processes are based upon the „Fischer Glycosidation”︁. The surfactant properties of the glycosides with alkyl chains from octyl to tetradecyl are well characterised. They are commercially available as pale coloured aqueous pastes. The best performance as O/W emulsifiers however is shown by products with alkyl chains from sixteen to eighteen carbon atoms. The physical properties of these long chain alkyl polyglycosides made it necessary to develop a new manufacturing process. This process yields a white solid product which consists of approx. 30 wl. % glycosides and 70 wl. % fatty alcohol. The glycosides herein are an efficient nonionic emulsifier and the fatty alcohol is a well known consistency provider and co‐emulsifier. With respect to international standard test methods (OECD), the compound is readily biodegradable and it shows a very good skin compatibility in a dermatological investigation. On account of the performance and the high quality, regarding the light colour and the good odour, this self‐emulsifying compound is particularly appropriate to cosmetic lotions and creams.