Flexible Solutions To Meet the 1,4-Dioxane Regulatory Challenges

The countdown is on for a limit on 1,4-Dioxane in household cleansing, personal care products, and cosmetic products. The New York law takes effect on Jan. 1, 2022, but several other states are evaluating measures to control 1,4-Dioxane. The law has formulators scrambling to find alternative chemistries to meet the 1,4-Dioxane limits, but BASF already has several solutions.
 
But before providing formulating answers, it helps to understand the question: What is 1,4-Dioxane? It’s a synthetic chemical primarily used as a solvent and historically as a stabilizer for chlorinated solvents used in commercial and industrial applications. It can also be found as an impurity in household products such as deodorants, shampoos, toothpastes and cleaning products. 1,4-Dioxane forms as a byproduct during the manufacturing process of certain surfactants and emulsifiers produced with ethylene oxide. It is completely miscible in water.
 
The material came under scrutiny in 2016 when the US Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) found 1ppb levels of 1,4-Dioxane in groundwater in New York, with the highest levels in Long Island. Despite much wrangling with trade associations and industry, former New York Governor Andrew Cuomo signed into law a bill banning all but trace amounts of 1,4-Dioxane in personal care and cleaning products. 

Under the new law, household cleaning products and personal care products are restricted to:
• 2ppm by Dec. 31, 2022;
• 1ppm by Dec. 31, 2023; and
• By 2025, the DEC will consult with the Department of Health to determine, by rule, if the “trace concentration threshold shall be lowered to better protect human health and the environment.”
 
The regulations for cosmetic products differ in one respect; cosmetics are restricted to:
• 10ppm by Dec. 31, 2022; and
• By 2025, the DEC will consult with the Department of Health to determine, by rule, if the “trace concentration threshold shall be lowered to better protect human health and the environment.”
 
The move came prior to an EPA evaluation of 1,4-Dioxane under the amended Toxic Substances Control Act (TSCA) and a completed final risk evaluation in December 2020 that found no unreasonable risks to consumers from any conditions of use. 
 

The EPA under the new administration petitioned to remand the risk evaluation of 1,4-Dioxane. The request was granted, and the risk evaluation is to be revised by the end of 2022. The remanded Risk Evaluation is expected to include additional exposure pathways and conditions of use.
 
New York isn’t the only state targeting 1,4-Dioxane. The California Department of Toxic Substances, via the Safer Consumer Products (SCP) is looking to potentially limit 1,4-Dioxane in household and personal care identified products. 
 
To keep up with regulations restricting 1,4-Dioxane in the household and personal products industry, formulators must remain engaged with state and federal lawmakers through their corporations, their trade associations and especially their suppliers.

 
BASF Solutions

The BASF team helps customers navigate the implications of the new regulations. BASF relies on state-of-the-art manufacturing and analytical technology; Testing is performed at production sites to ensure consistently low levels of 1,4-Dioxane.
 
In addition, BASF offers Flex, a line of products with low 1,4-Dioxane or those not expected to contain 1,4-Dioxane. BASF says it systematically evaluated its entire portfolio to create the flexibility and confidence formulators need to create low 1,4-Dioxane formulas. 
 
“We have been providing continuous regulatory and technical support to our partners for this important topic,” said Marcelo Lu, senior vice president, BASF Care Chemicals, North America. “Our customers in personal care, household cleaning and industrial solutions leverage the Flex line to adhere to the new 1,4-Dioxane industry requirements while meeting product performance criteria. Additionally, we continuously expand the Flex range of low 1-4-Dioxane products as an important step in providing our customers with a broad portfolio of flexible formulation solutions.”

 
A Wide Range of Offerings

Personal Care:
• Pluracare F 127 NF Prill Flex (INCI: Poloxamer 407). This copolymer of ethylene oxide and propylene oxide acts as a solubilizer, gelling agent, co-emulsifier and bodying agent. It has applications in oral care, face care, sun care, color care, body care and hair care. In these formulations it provides great solubilization for essential oils and active substances. Pluracare F 127 NF Prill Flex is miscible and compatible with nearly all anionic and cationic surfactant. It provides good thickening, emulsifying and bodying properties.
• Pluracare E 400 NF PEG Flex (PEG-8) and Pluracare E 600 NF PEG Flex (PEG-12). They are easily dissolvable in water and their solubility is not affected by water hardness. According to BASF, both provide excellent solubilization that is sparingly soluble in water; such as perfume oils or active ingredients. Both PEGs have applications in oral and body care formulations, body cleansers, and hair styling and treatment products.
• Flex O/W Nonionic Emulsifiers, including Eumulgin O 15 Flex (Oleth-10), Eumulgin B 2 Flex (Ceteareth-20) and Eumulgin B 25 Flex (Ceteareth-25). All have applications in face and body care, cleansers, and hair care shampoos, conditioners, treatments and styling products.
• Eumulgin 1000 NI Flex (Cetearyl alcohol (and) ceteareth-20). This ingredient has applications in face and body care formulas and AP/deo products.
• Cetiol HE Flex (PEG-7 glyceryl cocoate). It enhances the lipid layer, promotes solubility of essential oils and actives, and has good water solubility. Cetiol HE Flex has applications in baby care/cleansing, shampoos, facial cleansing, shower and bath products, hair stylers and treatments and face care.
• Plantapon ACG 50 is a gentle anionic co-surfactant for use in mild skin and hair cleansing applications. It is 100% naturally derived, readily biodegradable and recommended for natural/organic formulations. Applications include facial cleansers, baby cleansers, toothpastes and mouthwashes, natural cleansers, and gentle body wash, shampoo and bath preparations. 
• For formulators reconsidering their surfactant blends, BASF offers a range of plant-based options that provide a seamless transition to new formulations. For example, Plantaren and Plantacare are the original alkylpolyglycoside (APG) ingredients that are extremely mild, compatible with various surfactants and excellent eco-toxicological profiles. They have applications in body washes, shampoos, facial cleansers and sensitive skin formulas. New Plantapon LGC Sorb NA (INCI: Sodium lauryl glucose carboxylate (and) lauryl glucoside) retains the excellent mildness of APG surfactants while improving foam and sensorial experience. It is Cosmos-approved, is suitable for EO-free and sulfate surfactant alternatives. According to BASF, Plantapon LGC Sorb NA can be considered for products with EU Ecolabel, Nordic Swan and Swedish ecolabel Bra Miljöval (Good Environmental Choice).

Once you’ve created a low 1,4-Dioxane formula using these materials, check its adherence with BASF’s 1,4-Dioxane Calculator at: https://carecreations.basf.us/Dioxane-calculator
 
Household, Industrial and Institutional Cleaning:
• Dehypon LS-54 Flex is a low-foaming, nonionic surfactant; sold as a liquid, it offers good performance for cleaning and foam control. Suitable for high temperature cleaning (greater than 60°C). Cloud point is 30°C and is very low foaming above that temperature, which is ideal for carpet extraction operating temperatures (typically 35 to 50°C).
• Lutensol TDA 3 Flex is a 100% active nonionic surfactant composed of a 3-mole ethylene oxide adduct of tridecyl alcohol and can act as a low foam detergent. Sold as 100% active liquid, it has excellent and rapid wetting, relatively low foam and good detergency, especially on oily soils. The cloud point is <0°C. Ideal for manual and auto dishwashing and hard surface cleaning. 
• Plurafac SLF 180 Flex is a low foaming surfactant with a cloud point of 18 °C. It is suitable for low temperature cleaning (less than or equal to 45°C). It is an excellent choice for eliminating spotting and filming in automatic dishwashing. The product provides very good synergy with Pluronic N3 specially when used as a rinse aid in low temperature warewash machines. Final surfactant choice will be formulation dependent.
• Pluriol E 8000 E Flex – is a polyethylene glycol of molecular weight 8000. It is sold as a 100% active, and is available in bulk or as prill. The product is listed on EPA’s Safer Chemical Ingredients List and isideal for manual dishwashing applications.
 
Need support with your formulations?
These are just some of the many low 1,4-Dioxane products in the Flex range. The BASF team members can assist with detecting the ingredients that are the greatest 1,4-Dioxane contributors, and help you choose from a range of alternative solutions. Additionally, the BASF team can provide technical guidance for reformulation and replacement efforts. 
 
Get in touch
Readers can reach out to the BASF team to request assistance:
 
Personal Care:
Email BeautyCare-NA@basf.com or visit https://CareCreations.basf.us
 
Home Care and I&I Cleaning:
Email Detergents-Cleaners-NA@basf.com or visit https://hcii.basf.us

Industrial Solutions:
Email Industrial-Formulators-NA@basf.com or visit https://if.basf.us