N-acyl amino acid surfactants and derivatives thereof

Abstract

Surfactant compositions and derivatives with low amounts of impurities are disclosed along with a method of making the same. A surfactant composition includes greater than 80% by weight of N-acyl amino acid surfactant of formula (I) and is substantially free of solvents and/or NaCl. A process for preparing an N-acyl amino acid surfactant includes combining an amino acid, a waterless base and a fatty alkyl ester of formula (III) to form a mixture that includes an amino acid salt of formula (II). The temperature of the mixture is increased to form a reaction mixture. Alkyl alcohol is removed from the reaction mixture, and the reaction mixture becomes substantially clear.

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