- ▸ Nonionic emulsifier/solubilizer
- ▸ Thickener & viscosity booster
- ▸ Wetting agent
A grade-specific Safety Data Sheet (SDS) — with the complete hazard classification, handling precautions, and transport information — is supplied with every shipment and available on request. Confirm all safety and regulatory details against the SDS for your specific grade.
Request SDS →PEG-9 Oleate (INCI: PEG-9 OLEATE; CAS 9004-96-0; EC 500-015-7) is a nonionic surfactant: the monoester of oleic acid and polyethylene glycol with an average of 9 moles of ethylene oxide. The oleate chain anchors into oil while the PEG chain pulls toward water, cutting interfacial tension to form finely dispersed oil-in-water emulsions. Its HLB of 12 places it in the Griffin oil-in-water band, where it emulsifies natural and synthetic oils and contributes detergency and lubricity. Buyers formulate it into personal-care emulsions, HI&I cleaners, textile spin finishes, crop-protection concentrates and metalworking fluids.
One caution before you spec it: CAS 9004-96-0 is a generic polymer CAS covering PEG monooleates of several chain lengths, so purchase documents must state the EO mole count or trade grade, never the CAS alone. PEG-9 Oleate sits in our nonionic surfactants range alongside PEG-7 Oleate and PEG-14 Oleate.
Key Properties
| Property | Typical value | Source |
|---|---|---|
| Ionic class / form | Nonionic surfactant; liquid at room temperature (POE (9) oleate) | Ethox MO-9 |
| HLB | 12 | Ethox MO-9 |
| Water behavior | Dispersible in water at 9 EO; fully soluble at 14 EO | Ethox MO-9 / MO-14 |
| Solvent solubility | Soluble in toluene, ethanol and acetone | ChemicalBook |
| Appearance | Colorless to light-beige oil; PEG 400 mono-oleate grade: viscous amber liquid, mild fatty odor, color ~7 Gardner | ChemicalBook / Vicchem |
| Density | 1.034 g/mL at 25 °C (lit.); SG 1.01 at 20 °C for a commercial PEG 400 mono-oleate grade | ChemicalBook / Vicchem |
| Boiling point | >260 °C (lit.) | ChemicalBook |
| Flash point | 113 °C | ChemicalBook |
| Acid value | 5 mg KOH/g (PEG 400 mono-oleate grade) | Vicchem |
| Cloud point | 0 °C (PEG 400 mono-oleate grade) | Vicchem |
| Moisture | 0.2% (PEG 400 mono-oleate grade, supplied anhydrous) | Vicchem |
| Typical assay | 95–100% | Good Scents |
| Generic formula | (C2H4O)n · C18H34O2 | Parchem |
Values are typical reference points from published grade data, several from adjacent commercial grades under the same CAS as marked. The Certificate of Analysis (CoA) for the lot you purchase governs.
Applications
Beauty & Personal Care
Under INCI PEG-9 OLEATE, the ingredient carries the CosIng classification surfactant – emulsifying agent. COSMILE Europe documents it in face toners, aftershaves, hair tonics, creams and cleansing products, where it solubilizes fragrances, actives and dyes, builds consistency and binds the oil phase into fine O/W droplets. For clear aqueous tonics, weigh the water-dispersibility limit covered under grade selection below.
HI&I and industrial cleaning
Ethox lists detergent and scouring duty among the core functions of its 9-mole POE oleate, and the chemistry appears in industrial degreaser formulations. PCC documents the same-CAS PEG-7 grade as low-foaming in its product literature; its low-foam profile fits machine cleaning and other low-foam detergent systems.
Textiles
PEG oleate works as a lubricant and antistat in spin finishes, and doubles as a scouring and softening agent in wet processing. HLB 12 keeps it in the O/W-emulsifying band while retaining fiber-lubricating character. A commercial PEG 400 mono-oleate grade is also specified as a thickener and emulsifier for printing pastes, emulsifying the oil phase and building paste consistency at once.
Agriculture
The 7-mole grade under the same CAS is documented as an emulsifier for plant-protection EC and EW formulations; its high resistance to acidic media and low foam suit pesticide concentrates. In the US, alpha-oleoyl-omega-hydroxypoly(oxyethylene) of average MW 600 holds a tolerance exemption at 40 CFR 180.910 as an emulsifier for use on growing crops and post-harvest commodities. Confirm inert status for your specific formulation.
Metalworking fluids and oilfield
The PEG-7/9 oleate chemistry emulsifies machining coolants across soluble oils, semi-synthetics and neat oils, runs in flame-retardant HFA hydraulic fluids for mining, and is credited with anti-wear properties as a lubricating-oil component. PCC cites FDA 21 CFR 175.300 compliance for indirect food-contact coatings for its grade; confirm food-contact compliance for the specific grade and application you purchase. Parchem additionally documents PEG oleate as a surfactant for oil-spill dispersants and an emulsifier in PVC production; Ethox lists oil-field service directly.
Selecting a Grade
EO count is the selection lever. Lengthening the polyoxyethylene chain raises water affinity and HLB; on the Griffin scale, HLB 7–9 corresponds to wetting agents and HLB 9–18 to oil-in-water emulsifiers. PEG-9 Oleate at HLB 12 sits inside the O/W band, with PEG-8 oleate at HLB 11.6 as an adjacent reference point.
| Grade | HLB | Water behavior | Lean toward it when |
|---|---|---|---|
| PEG-5 Oleate | Not published in our sources — request the TDS | Most lipophilic of the ladder (per the EO/HLB relationship) | You need maximum oil-phase affinity |
| PEG-7 Oleate | Not listed; min. 99% active liquid | Dissolves in water and low aliphatic alcohols; highly soluble in mineral and vegetable oils | Oil-favoring systems, acidic media, low-foam duty |
| PEG-9 Oleate | 12 | Dispersible in water | General O/W emulsification of natural and synthetic oils with added lubricity and detergency |
| PEG-14 Oleate | 13.5 | Fully water-soluble | Water-borne O/W emulsions and clear aqueous systems |
Supplier water-solubility descriptors above are grade- and ester-distribution-specific; confirm each against the current TDS.
The trade-off at 9 moles: you gain oil compatibility and lubricity relative to PEG-14, and give up full water solubility. Pre-disperse it in the oil phase rather than dosing straight into water. Cold storage matters too. The PEG 400 mono-oleate grade clouds at 0 °C and the same-CAS PEG-7 grade solidifies near 0 °C, so keep drums above freezing to stay pumpable. This chemistry has been marketed under trade names including Pegosperse 400-MO, Mulsifan 400MO and Rolfat OL 9.
Bulk Supply
RawSource supplies PEG oleate esters from LTL drum quantities through full-container loads, with a CoA and Safety Data Sheet (SDS) on every shipment. Send a quote request with your target grade (PEG-5, 7, 9 or 14), volume and the spec anchors that matter to you: assay, acid value, HLB and moisture.
Sources
- Ethox Chemicals — ETHOX MO-9 (POE (9) oleate) and ETHOX MO-14
- Parchem — PEG oleate, CAS 9004-96-0
- PCC Group — ROKAcet O7 (PEG-7 Oleate)
- PCC Group — HLB technical article
- COSMILE Europe — PEG-9 OLEATE
- Victorian Chemical Company — ESTEROL 241 (PEG 400 mono-oleate)
- Cornell LII — 40 CFR 180.910
Regulatory & registration requirements
- TSCA (US):
- REACH (EU): Not determined from public registry
- EC number: 500-015-7
TSCA Inventory flag XU: a substance exempt from reporting under the Chemical Data Reporting Rule (40 CFR 711) (EPA flag legend).
Source: EPA TSCA Inventory (July 2025 release) · ECHA CHEM — retrieved 2026-07-12
Frequently Asked Questions
Is PEG-9 Oleate safe?
PCC states that its PEG-7 grade under the same CAS carries no CLP hazard classification, and the ingredient is listed in the EU’s CosIng ingredient database with the function surfactant – emulsifying agent. That absence of a hazard classification describes the label, not a blanket safety claim; the SDS shipped with your specific grade and lot governs handling, storage and transport. Confirm regulatory status for your application and jurisdiction.
What are the uses of oleic acid ethoxylate?
PEG-9 Oleate is an oleic acid ethoxylate: oleic acid reacted with an average of 9 moles of ethylene oxide. The family’s core duty is oil-in-water emulsification with added detergency and lubricity, and where a grade sits on the EO ladder decides its best fit: the 7-mole grade goes into agricultural EC and EW concentrates built for acidic, low-foam duty, a 14-mole grade suits clear water-borne systems, and the 9-mole grade in between handles general O/W emulsification of natural and synthetic oils. Documented family uses also span personal-care emulsions and cleansers, HI&I and industrial cleaning, textile spin finishes and printing pastes, metalworking coolants and HFA hydraulic fluids, plus oil-spill dispersants and PVC production.
What is a PEG emulsifier?
A PEG emulsifier is a nonionic surfactant built by attaching a polyethylene glycol (polyoxyethylene) chain to a fatty hydrophobe: in PEG-9 Oleate, the monoester of oleic acid with an average of 9 moles of ethylene oxide. The PEG chain pulls toward water while the oleate chain anchors into oil, cutting interfacial tension so the oil phase breaks into fine droplets. It carries no charge, so it formulates across a wide range of ionic environments; at HLB 12 it sits in the Griffin oil-in-water emulsifier band.
What is PEG 600 monooleate used for?
PEG 600 monooleate is the same oleic-acid monoester chemistry under CAS 9004-96-0 with a longer PEG chain: an MW-600 glycol corresponds to roughly 13–14 moles of ethylene oxide, placing it beside PEG-14 Oleate (HLB 13.5, fully water-soluble). That extra water affinity points it at water-borne oil-in-water emulsions, clear aqueous systems and detergent duty, where the 9-mole grade would only disperse. PEG-9 keeps more oil compatibility and lubricity; PEG-14-class grades trade that for full water solubility.
What is PEG-10 Oleate?
PEG-10 Oleate is the oleic-acid monoester carrying an average of 10 moles of ethylene oxide, one step up the same EO ladder from PEG-9, and sold under the same generic CAS 9004-96-0. Expect behavior close to PEG-9 Oleate (HLB 12, water-dispersible), trending slightly more hydrophilic toward PEG-14 (HLB 13.5, fully water-soluble). Because the CAS number does not distinguish chain lengths, spec the EO mole count or trade grade on the purchase order.
Why do PEG-7, PEG-9 and PEG 400 oleate all share CAS 9004-96-0?
Because 9004-96-0 is a generic polymer CAS covering PEG monooleates of every chain length; suppliers sell PEG-7, PEG-9 and PEG 400 mono-oleate grades under the identical number. Spec a purchase by EO mole count or trade grade, plus the anchors that matter (HLB, acid value, assay), never by CAS alone. Put the grade designation on the PO and require it on the Certificate of Analysis.
Is PEG-9 Oleate water-soluble?
At 9 moles of EO it disperses in water rather than dissolving fully; full water solubility arrives further up the ladder at 14 EO. It does dissolve readily in toluene, ethanol and acetone. Because the oleate end anchors in oil while the PEG end reaches for water, wet it into the oil phase first rather than dosing it straight into water. For cold handling, the PEG 400 mono-oleate grade clouds at 0 °C and the 7-mole grade solidifies near 0 °C, so hold drums above freezing to keep them pumpable.
Where can you buy PEG-9 Oleate in bulk?
RawSource supplies PEG oleate esters from LTL drum quantities up to full-container loads, and a Certificate of Analysis and Safety Data Sheet travel with every shipment. Because one number (CAS 9004-96-0) spans the whole EO ladder, name the target grade (PEG-5, 7, 9 or 14) and your volume on the request, and state which anchors you need held: acid value, HLB, assay and moisture. If you are trialing more than one grade side by side, ask for those anchors to be reported the same way on each CoA so the lots compare directly.
What is the REACH and TSCA regulatory status of PEG-9 Oleate?
PEG-9 Oleate (CAS 9004-96-0) is listed as Active on the U.S. EPA TSCA Inventory; its REACH registration status is not determined from the public ECHA registry.