NP-40

NP-40 (also known as Tergitol-type NP-40 and nonyl phenoxypolyethoxylethanol^[1]) is a commercially available detergent with CAS Registry Number 9016-45-9. NP-40 is an ethoxylated nonylphenol for non-ionic surfactants and can act as emulsifier and demulsifier agent.

NP-40

Names
Other names Polyethylene glycol nonylphenyl ether; Nonyl phenoxypolyethoxylethanol; Nonoxynol-40
Identifiers
CAS Number	26027-38-3 Y
3D model (JSmol)	Interactive image
ChEMBL	ChEMBL194034
ChemSpider	23159
EC Number	500-024-6
PubChem CID	24773
UNII	4867M0AEJI Y
UN number	3082
CompTox Dashboard (EPA)	DTXSID9058600
InChI InChI=1S/C19H32O3/c1-2-3-4-5-6-7-8-9-18-10-12-19(13-11-18)22-17-16-21-15-14-20/h10-13,20H,2-9,14-17H2,1H3 Key: BLXVTZPGEOGTGG-UHFFFAOYSA-N
SMILES CCCCCCCCCC1=CC=C(C=C1)OCCOCCO
Properties
Chemical formula	H(C2H4O)nO(C6H4)C9H19
Molar mass	Variable
Except where otherwise noted, data are given for materials in their standard state (at 25 °C [77 °F], 100 kPa). Infobox references

NP-40 is often used to break open all membranes within a cell, including the nuclear membrane ^{[citation needed]}. To break only the cytoplasmic membrane, other detergents such as digitonin can be used.

NP-40 has applications in paper and textile processing, in paints and coatings, and in agrochemical manufacturing.

Care should be taken to avoid confusing NP-40 with Nonidet P-40 (octyl phenoxypolyethoxylethanol) which is currently out of production. Nonidet P-40 ("Non-Ionic Detergent") was originally manufactured and trademarked by the Shell Chemical Company,^[2] but was phased out of production in the early 2000s. Confusingly, biochemical protocols published between the 1960s^[3] and 2000s refer to Shell's Nonidet P-40 as NP-40. Shell's original Nonidet P-40 had a hydrophilic-lipophilic balance (HLB) value of 13.5,^[4] as opposed to 12.9 for the currently available IGEPAL CA-630,^[5] indicating that the currently available compound is more potent than the compound used in older publications. Indeed, according to a 2017 report,^[6] an additional dilution factor of 10 was required for the currently available NP-40 ("Nonidet P-40 substitutes") to match the activity of the previously available, and now discontinued, Shell's Nonidet P-40.

See also

• Nonoxynol-9
• Surfactant
• Lipid bilayer
• Detergent
• Triton X-100 (differs only in the # of carbons in the aliphatic portion)