# US 12,110,475 B2 · Process for manufacturing alkoxylated polyethyleneimines > Agents: this data is available as JSON from the patentgrep API and MCP server — see https://patentgrep.com/llms.txt - Number: US 12,110,475 B2 - Document ID: US12110475B2 - Status: Granted - Kind: B2 - Application number: 17/267,067 - Filed: 2019-07-30 - Published: 2021-10-07 - Granted: 2024-10-08 - Earliest claimed: 2018-08-10 - Assignees: BASF SE - Applicants: BASF SE - Inventors: Holger Tuerk; Thomas Wesley Holcombe; Andrew David Green; Alyn James Parry; Julie Bennett; Robert John Carswell - Web page: https://patentgrep.com/patent/US12110475B2 ## CPC - C08L 79/02: Polyamines - C11D 1/008: {Polymeric surface-active agents} - C08G 73/0206: {Polyalkylene(poly)amines} - C08G 73/0213: {Preparatory process} - C11D 3/3723: {Polyamines or polyalkyleneimines} - C08J 2377/00: Characterised by the use of polyamides obtained by reactions forming a carboxylic amide link in the main chain; Derivatives of such polymers - C11D 2111/12: Soft surfaces, e.g. textile - C08L: COMPOSITIONS OF MACROMOLECULAR COMPOUNDS (compositions based on polymerisable monomers C08F, C08G; artificial filaments or fibres D01F; textile treating compositions D06) - C11D: DETERGENT COMPOSITIONS; USE OF SINGLE SUBSTANCES AS DETERGENTS; SOAP OR SOAP-MAKING; RESIN SOAPS; RECOVERY OF GLYCEROL - C08G: MACROMOLECULAR COMPOUNDS OBTAINED OTHERWISE THAN BY REACTIONS ONLY INVOLVING UNSATURATED CARBON-TO-CARBON BONDS - C08J: WORKING-UP; GENERAL PROCESSES OF COMPOUNDING; AFTER-TREATMENT NOT COVERED BY SUBCLASSES C08B, C08C, C08F, C08G or C08H (working, e.g. shaping, of plastics B29) ## Abstract Described herein is a process for manufacturing ethoxylated polyethylene-imines. Also described herein are the ethoxylated polyethyleneimines and methods for using the ethoxylated polyethyleneimines. ## Claims ### Claim 1 A process for manufacturing ethoxylated polyethyleneimines by reacting at least one polyethyleneimine (PEI) with at least one ethylene oxide EO, wherein, in a first step (1), the polyethyleneimine (PEI) is reacted with ethylene oxide EO in a quantity of less than one molar equivalent per PEI, and subsequently, in a second step (2), the product of step (1) is reacted with a further quantity of ethylene oxide EO, in the presence of a basic catalyst C, and wherein the ethylene oxide EO is added in step (1) in an amount of 0.01 to 0.85 ethylene oxide units per NH-group of the polyethyleneimine (PEI), and wherein the polyethyleneimine (PEI) has a weight average molecular weight Mw prior to ethoxylation in the range of 1000 to 5000. ### Claim 2 (depends on 1) The process according to claim 1, wherein the polyethyleneimine (PEI) has a weight average molecular weight Mw prior to ethoxylation in the range of 1300 to 5000. ### Claim 3 (depends on 1) The process according to claim 1, wherein the polyethyleneimine (PEI) has a weight average molecular weight Mw prior to ethoxylation in the range of 1600 to 2400. ### Claim 4 (depends on 1) The process according to claim 1, wherein the ethylene oxide EO is added in step (1) in an amount of 0.1 to 0.7 ethylene oxide units per NH-group of the polyethyleneimine (PEI). ### Claim 5 (depends on 1) The process according to claim 1, wherein the sum of the amounts of ethylene oxide EO added in steps (1) and (2) lies in the range of 15 to 40 ethylene oxide units per NH-group of the polyethyleneimine (PEI). ### Claim 6 (depends on 1) The process according to claim 1, wherein the basic catalyst C is selected from the group consisting of alkaline earth metal containing basic catalysts. ### Claim 7 (depends on 1) The process according to claim 1, wherein the basic catalyst C is selected from the group consisting of LiOH, NaOH, KOH, CsOH and mixtures thereof. ### Claim 8 (depends on 1) The process according to claim 1, wherein the basic catalyst C is added in an amount of 0.05 to 0.3% by weight relative to the ethoxylated polyethyleneimine (EPEI). ### Claim 9 (depends on 1) The process according to claim 1, wherein the temperature during the first step (1) is in the range of 90° to 180° C. ### Claim 10 (depends on 1) The process according to claim 1, wherein the temperature during the second step (2) is in the range of 1000 to 250° C. ### Claim 11 (depends on 1) The process according to claim 1, wherein additionally 1 to 50% by weight of water, relative to the unreacted polyethyleneimine (PEI), is added in the first step (1). ### Claim 12 (depends on 1) The process according to claim 1, wherein the product obtained after step (2) is treated with a bleaching agent. ### Claim 13 (depends on 12) The process according to claim 12, wherein the bleaching agent is selected from the group consisting of borates, hypochlorites and borohydrates. ### Claim 14 (depends on 1) The process of claim 1, wherein the weight average molecular weight Mw prior to ethoxylation is determined by gel permeation chromatography (GPC), with 1.5% by weight aqueous formic acid as eluent and cross-linked polyhydroxyethyl methacrylate as stationary phase and by using an RI detector and Pullulan standards for calibration. ### Claim 15 (depends on 1) The process according to claim 1, wherein the polyethyleneimine (PEI) has a weight average molecular weight Mw prior to ethoxylation in the range of 1800 to 2200. ### Claim 16 (depends on 1) The process according to claim 1, wherein the sum of the amounts of ethylene oxide EO added in steps (1) and (2) lies in the range of 20 to 40 ethylene oxide units per NH-group of the polyethyleneimine (PEI). ### Claim 17 (depends on 1) The process according to claim 1, wherein the basic catalyst C is selected from the group consisting of mixtures containing KOH. ### Claim 18 (depends on 1) The process according to claim 1, wherein the basic catalyst C is added in an amount of 0.15 to 0.25% by weight, relative to the ethoxylated polyethyleneimine (EPEI).