Method of producing bio-derived branched alkyl glyceryl ether, and bio-derived branched alkyl glyceryl ether produced by said method

A method of producing a bio-derived branched alkyl glyceryl ether, comprising:

• a step of dimerizing a bio-derived compound in the presence of a catalyst or a basic compound at 60 to 320° C. to produce a bio-derived branched primary alcohol having a branched alkyl group having 6 to 12 carbon atoms, wherein the bio-derived compound is one or more selected from the group consisting of:
• a bio-derived linear primary alcohol having a linear alkyl group having 3 to 6 carbon atoms;
• a bio-derived linear primary alcohol having a linear alkenyl group having 3 to 6 carbon atoms;
• a bio-derived linear aldehyde having a linear alkyl group having 3 to 6 carbon atoms;
• and a bio-derived linear aldehyde having a linear alkenyl group having 3 to 6 carbon atoms;
• and
• a step of reacting the bio-derived branched primary alcohol having a branched alkyl group having 6 to 12 carbon atoms to produce a bio-derived branched alkyl glyceryl ether,
• wherein the step of reacting the bio-derived branched primary alcohol having a branched alkyl group having 6 to 12 carbon atoms to produce the bio-derived branched alkyl glyceryl ether comprises:
• a hydrination step comprising subjecting a mixture of the bio-derived branched primary alcohol and bio-derived epichlorohydrin to a reaction at from 20° C. to 150° C. for from 1 minute to 24 hours while performing heating and/or cooling to provide a hydrinated product,
• a ring-closing step of ring-closing the hydrinated product comprising adding an alkali agent to the hydrinated product followed by mixing and allowing the reaction to proceed at from 20° C. to 150° C. for from 1 minute to 24 hours while performing heating and/or cooling to condense the hydrinated product thereby providing a ring-closed product, and
• a ring-opening step of ring-opening the ring-closed product comprising adding water to the ring-closed product and subjecting the mixture to a reaction at from 20° C. to 200° C. for from 1 minute to 24 hours while performing heating and/or cooling under a reduced pressure or pressurized environment in the presence of a catalyst to produce the bio-derived branched alkyl glyceryl ether.