Strategies to Tackle the Waste Water from α-Tocopherol-Derived Surfactant Chemistry

Abstract

The implications of the use of surfactant TPGS-750-M in water as a micellar reaction medium on the concomitant aqueous waste streams and their sustainable disposal have been studied. Biodegradability, log Pow, solubility, and German water hazard class of the surfactant have been determined and enabled establishment of a waste water concept, which builds on the lipophilicity and ester group lability of the molecule. The presented data and examples suggest preferred ways for designing surfactant processes and their aqueous waste streams in a sustainable manner.