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Additional polymers of ethylene oxide and water and their ethers. They vary in consistency from liquid to solid, depending on the molecular weight, indicated by a number following the name. Used as surfactants in industry, including foods, cosmetics and pharmaceutics; in biomedicine, as dispersing agents, solvents, ointment and suppository bases, vehicles, tablet excipients. Some specific groups are lauromagrogols, nonoxynols, octoxynols and poloxamers.