The eco-environmental protection of APEO has been debated for many years. Among APEO, 80-85% are nonylphenol polyoxyethylene ether (NPEO), more than 15% are octylphenol polyoxyethylene ether (opeo), 1% are dodecyl phenol polyoxyethylene ether (dpeo) and 1% are dinonyphenol polyoxyethylene ether (dnpeo). The annual consumption of alkylphenol polyoxyethylene ether (APEO) in the world is 880 million pounds, of which more than 80% is nonylphenol polyoxyethylene ether (NPEO). The potential harm of APEO to the environment has been widely studied and demonstrated. Countries all over the world began to restrict the use of APEO one after another. For example, Norway stipulated to stop using APEO at the end of 2000. The Netherlands, Portugal, Sweden, Spain, the United States and other countries have informal agreements on the suspension and replacement of APEO. Some European enterprises set the maximum limit of APEO on textiles at 30-50Mg / kg. The value of China's textile and clothing exports to Europe every year is up to 10 billion US dollars. With the abolition of the quota in 2005, the sales trend is bound to rise, so we must take APEO seriously.

It seems that the limitation of APEO content in eco textiles and clothing is a matter for printing and dyeing enterprises, but in fact, in this production chain, it is inseparable from the close cooperation of the auxiliary industry. In the face of the prohibition of APEO, we should first pay attention to it, and then take some effective measures to eliminate the production and use of additives containing APEO. The key to solve this problem is to find suitable surfactants to effectively replace the role and function of APEO in our dyeing and finishing processes. The ecological impact of APEO can be summarized into four aspects: toxicity, biodegradability, environmental hormones, and harmful by-products in the production process of APEO.

Countermeasures

APEO was replaced by aliphatic alcohol polyoxyethylene ether or branched aliphatic alcohol polyoxyethylene ether. Such as AEO series (C12-C16 fatty alcohol polyoxyethylene ether), Pingjia 0 (C18 fatty alcohol polyoxyethylene ether) or xl-50 (ISO C10 alcohol polyoxyethylene ether), T07 (ISO C13 alcohol polyoxyethylene ether), these products also have excellent performance of penetration, emulsification and solubilization. If the alkali resistance of scouring agent and penetrating agent needs to be improved, surfactants with high alkali resistance such as AES (dodecyl polyoxyethylene ether sulfate), SAS (sodium secondary alkyl sulfonate), AOS (α - olefin sulfonate), alkyl polyglycosides (APG) can be compounded in the additives. These surfactants have good biodegradability, and do not contain carcinogenic aromatic amines and heavy metal ions, which are harmful to human health No harm. Using the surfactants mentioned above, we can synthesize penetrating agent, scouring agent, emulsifier, detergent, soaping agent and leveling agent that meet all kinds of requirements.

In recent years, the ecological requirements for textiles in Europe are increasing year by year. Therefore, we must pay attention to the relevant ecological textile laws and regulations and technical standards in Europe, and formulate corresponding countermeasures to further develop the European market. According to the limit requirement of APEO on textiles, the printing and dyeing and auxiliary industry should cooperate closely and sincerely.

Printing and dyeing factories must choose environmental protection auxiliaries purposefully, and strictly control the auxiliaries from pretreatment to finishing. Strengthen the testing work, sign a letter of commitment with the auxiliary factory, and realize the safe use of eco textile chemicals without APEO.

Ecological textiles and environmental management of printing and dyeing enterprises need the close cooperation of auxiliaries factories. Auxiliary manufacturers know best whether prohibited chemicals are contained in products, and only they know best the possible components in products. It is easier for auxiliary manufacturers to detect their products than on fabrics. It often requires high-precision and expensive instruments and equipment to detect very small quantities on fabrics, while it is easier to detect them in auxiliaries. We must be honest in the development, production and sales of additives.