Acticarbone: High Performance, Renewable CECA Activated Carbons

J R Hess & Company, Inc. is now offering Acticarbone® activated carbons developed by CECA, a member of the Arkema global specialty chemical group. As a specialty chemical distributor and partner in product development, we are excited to introduce this line of cutting edge activated carbons to members of the New England pharmaceutical, biotechnology and life sciences sectors. Activated Carbons Made From Renewable …

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Amphoteric Alternatives for Cocamide DEA (Updated)

Cocamide DEA is used by product formulators as a surfactant in several hard surface cleaning applications, including liquid dish detergents, all-purpose cleaners, degreasers, and manual and automatic vehicle care detergents.

(Receive a PDF version of this article and detailed product comparison sheet via email)

Stepan Company, a global supplier of surfactant technologies, produces commonly used Cocamide DEA based surfactants under the trade names NINOL® 40-CO (1:1 Cocamide DEA) and NINOL® 11-CM (Modified 2:1 Cocamide DEA, 15% added Coco Fatty Acid).

Despite its broad use and acceptance in hard surface cleaning applications, Cocamide DEA has recently come under scrutiny by the US EPA and NTP and, as of June 22, 2012, has been listed by California’s Office of Environmental Health and Hazard Assessment (OEHHA) as a known carcinogen under California’s Proposition 65.

The Proposition 65 listing poses unique challenges for formulators who either manufacture products with Cocamide DEA or otherwise offer the product for commercial sale in the State of California.

Specifically, formulators must meet all Proposition 65 warning requirements or reformulate by June 22, 2013.

Stepan has broad amphoteric product support and technical expertise in hard surface care to assist customers with product recommendations and re-formulation.

In order to provide formulators and manufacturers with performance based alternatives to Cocamide DEA, Stepan investigated a series of their specialty amphoterics to facilitate reformulation and replace Cocamide DEA in major application areas.

Based on Stepan’s studies, which reviewed performance testing along with the handling, lead-time and market price characteristics of alternative materials, we are working with customers to recommend substitutes and deliver suitable product alternatives from Stepan.

Continue reading to learn about available Cocamide DEA alternatives or receive the full PDF and detailed product comparison sheet via email by clicking here.

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Concerns About NPEs

As we’ve highlighted in previous posts, nonlyphenol ethoxylates (NPEs) are under increasing pressure from domestic and international regulatory bodies. The regulatory emphasis stems from the negative environmental and eco-toxicity characteristics of this non-ionic surfactant. Specifically, NPEs have been found to be persistent in the aquatic environment, moderately bioaccumulative, and extremely toxic to aquatic organisms. As …

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Supplier Focus: DeFOREST Enterprises Inc.

DeFOREST Enterprises Inc. offers a diversified and comprehensive line of surfactants and specialties for a variety of end use applications. They develop a multifunctional range of products, including surfactants, hydrotopes, corrosion inhibitors, metal working lubricants, emulsifiers and gelling agents (Click here to view the full DeFOREST product catalog). DeFOREST is also a leader in developing …

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Critical Micelle Concentration: Measuring Surfactant Efficiency

Critical Micelle Concentration (CMC) values are important indicators when considering which surfactant will provide optimal performance benefits for your formulation. But what is CMC and why is it important for formulators? When a certain amount of surfactant is added to water, the molecules will begin to form micelles. Micelles consist of agglomerates of surfactant molecules …

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Material Update: Dimethyl Sulfoxide (DMSO)

DMSO is used as a polar aprotic solvent in several applications, including electronics (photoresist stripping and cleaning), polyurethane coating formulations, fiber manufacturing and as a general purpose clean-up solvent. Due to lower toxicity concerns and minimal regulatory constraints, DMSO has been found to be an effective alternative to other polar solvents such as dimethyl acetamide …

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Revisions to the DfE Standards for Safer Cleaning Products

Specialty Chemical News & Product Updates The EPA released a revised version of the Standards for Safer Cleaning Products in April 2011. Formulators adhering to DfE standards or seeking to pursue DfE certification in the future may benefit from an overview of the revisions. Specific updates include: Ingredient Communication: addressing ingredient disclosure requirements – Section …

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Supplier Focus: Stepan

As a specialty chemical distributor of Stepan products for over 30 years, we are excited to promote their versatile surfactant offerings and add to our growing list of safer and more compliant alternatives for the consumer and industrial sectors. Two relatively new Stepan products of note – and with greener attributes and Cleangredients approval – are …

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New Partnership . . .

Specialty Chemical News & Product Updates John R. Hess & Co., Inc. is proud to announce its recent distribution agreement with StarChem, LLC, a specialty chemical company delivering innovative solutions and chemistries for a broad range of market applications. Hess is now an authorized distributor of the StarChem, LLC product line for the Northeast. Receive …

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Surfactant Focus – Ethoxylated Alcohols

Our selection of nonionic surfactants includes a wide range of high performance ethoxylated alcohols ideal for use as wetting agents, emulsifiers, and detergents. Ethoxylated alcohols are also used as functional alternatives for formulators seeking alkyl phenol ethoxylate replacements. Whether your product development efforts focus on foaming properties, surface tension, viscosity, cloud point, or natural v.s. …

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