Sustainable development and a performance assessment of Alkyl Polyglucoside as a substitute for Nonylphenol Ethoxylates in detergents.

AbstractWater quality is paramount for human and all living organism’s development. The chemical industry, accelerated industrialization and economic development have led to higher consumption of natural resources and environmental pollution. Detergents are a highly produced pollutant with environmental problems like foam generation and toxic effects in biota. Nonylphenol ethoxylate (NPE) is an efficient, economic, and versatile surfactant, used in detergents due to its detergency capacity. However, in environmental conditions, NPE biodegrades transforming into the metabolite nonylphenol (NP) classified as an endocrine disruptor. Regulations in developed countries, like United States and the European Union, have prohibited or limited NPE use due to the related adverse effects. However, in developing countries there are no regulations in this regard; therefore, the substitution of NPE as a surfactant in detergents is recommended. Alkyl polyglucoside (APG) are sugar-based surfactants that were assessed as a substitute. The feasibility of this substitution was demonstrated according to physical and chemical properties, cleaning performance, and antimicrobial properties. NPE substitution in detergents is proposed as a strategy to minimize exposure risks in humans and the environment.