Amidated fatty acids and derivatives thereof

A process for preparing amidated fatty acids or derivatives thereof represented by the general formula (I):

• R1—C(O)—NH—(P)—H (I)
• wherein R1 is a linear or branched alkyl chain containing 4 to 26 carbon atoms, or a linear alkenyl chain containing 4 to 26 carbon atoms and from 1 to 3 double bonds;
• P comprises an average of n units of —(CH2CH2O)—, and/or an average of m units of —(CH2CHR2O)— or —(CHR2CH2O)—, and/or an average of q units of —(CH2CHR3O)— or —(CHR3CH2O)—, wherein R2 represents a —CH3 group, R3 represents a —CH2CH3 group, n represents a number within the range of 0 to 20, m represents a number within the range of 0 to 20, q represents a number within the range of 0 to 20, and the sum of n+m+q represents the average alkoxylation degree which corresponds to a number from 1 to 40;
• and wherein the process comprises the steps of:
• (A) reacting a compound of formula (II) with an alkanolamine,
• wherein R4, R5 and R6 of formula (II) independently represent a linear or branched alkyl chain containing 4 to 26 carbon atoms, or a linear alkenyl chain containing 4 to 26 carbon atoms and from 1 to 3 double bonds;
• (B) alkoxylation of the mixture obtained in the previous step;
• and
• (C) steam distillation of the mixture obtained in the previous step,
• wherein steps (A) and (B) are performed in the presence of a catalyst;
• and
• wherein the process further comprises the addition of additive(s) selected from the group consisting of antioxidants, reducing agents, chelating agents, preservatives, and mixtures thereof, into the reaction medium performed in two separate addition steps:
• first addition of one or more additives, once finished step (B) and before step (C);
• and
• second addition of one or more additives before, during, or after step (C),
• wherein the first addition step comprises adding a mixture comprising the antioxidant(s) and preservative(s).