Biodegradable Nonionic Surfactants

Common nonionic surfactant families include alcohol ethoxylates, alkyl polyglucosides, fatty acid ethoxylates, sorbitan esters, and ethoxylated oils. Nonionic surfactants do not carry an electrical charge, which can make them useful in many water-based cleaning, wetting, and dust-control applications. ZHP Water Wetter is Zircon's non-ionic water-wetting surfactant for dust-control programs.

Environmental performance depends on the specific surfactant, use rate, runoff conditions, biodegradability, aquatic toxicity, and local requirements. ZHP Water Wetter is a non-ionic surfactant designed to improve water coverage, penetration, and moisture retention in dust-control programs. Super Orange Degreaser is a biodegradable citrus cleaner for heavy-duty grease, oil, tar, asphalt, and grime removal. For silica-dust control, OSHA 1926.1153 Table 1 requires water combined with a surfactant for certain asphalt milling machine applications. Always review the product label, SDS, application guidance, and site-specific compliance requirements before use.

The best product depends on the application. For water-based dust control, ZHP Water Wetter is designed to break water surface tension and improve coverage, penetration, and moisture retention at 1,500–3,000 parts water to 1 part surfactant. For heavy-duty cleaning, Super Orange Degreaser uses citrus-based micro-micellular technology to emulsify grease, oil, tar, asphalt, and grime while remaining biodegradable, non-corrosive, and safe for all metals.

ZHP Water Wetter is used at a dilution ratio of 1,500 to 3,000 parts water to 1 part surfactant. This economical pay-as-you-go formulation reduces water consumption by improving surface penetration, and its resin extenders build up over time, allowing users to gradually reduce watering frequency in dust control programs.

ZHP Water Wetter is designed for use in dust-control programs where water must be combined with a surfactant, including applicable OSHA 1926.1153 Table 1 asphalt milling machine applications. It helps water spread, penetrate, and retain moisture more effectively during routine spraying. OSHA compliance depends on the full job-site control method, including equipment setup, water delivery, surfactant use, maintenance, work practices, exposure assessment, and documentation. Review the product label, SDS, and applicable OSHA requirements before use.

ZHP Water Wetter supports dust-control and water-wetting programs for mining, aggregate, quarrying, road construction, lumber yards, steel plants, trucking yards, and other industrial sites. Super Orange Degreaser supports heavy-duty cleaning for engines, trucks, farm equipment, construction equipment, metal parts, concrete, masonry, grease, oil, tar, asphalt, and grime. It may also be used for restaurant drain maintenance. Do not use either product on food-contact surfaces unless the product label or SDS specifically supports that application.