The compund 1,4-dioxane can be formed as a by-product during the polymerisation of ethylene oxide (EO) to produce a polyethoxylate surfactant such as fatty alcohol ethoxylates (FAEO) and polysorbates, as a result of the combination and rearrangement of EO. Polyethoxylated raw materials are widely used in cosmetic and personal care (CPC) products as surfactants, emulsifiers, foaming agents and dispersants. These CPC product containing 1,4-dioxane if the ethoxylated product containing 1,4-dioxane is used in their formulations.

Main Research: Bonnie Tay Yen Ping