Surface Active Agents Derived from Biodiesel-Based Alkylated Aromatic Compounds
AssigneeHuntsman Petrochemical Corporation
InventorsGeorge A. Smith, Daniel R. Weaver, Zheng Chai
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Abstract
A surface active agent comprising an arylated methyl ester of a fatty acid, or mixture of fatty acids, derived from biodiesel or a triglyceride source is disclosed. The fatty acid mixture is condensed to methyl esters and alkylated with aromatic substituents under Friedel-Crafts conditions. The alkylated methyl esters may be alkoxylated using a catalyst derived from fatty acids, alkaline earth salts, and strong acids. The resulting nonionic surfactant may also be sulfonated to produce one class of anionic surfactants. The alkylated methyl esters may also be directly sulfonated to produce another class of anionic surfactants.
Claims15
A chemical compound, comprising:
- a carboxyl group comprising a first carbon atom bonded to a carbonyl oxygen and a hydroxyloxygen;
- a hydrocarbon chain bonded to the first carbon atom;
- and
- an aromatic group bonded to the hydrocarbon chain at a secondary location.
A precursor for making a surface active agent, the precursor comprising:
- a polyethoxylated methyl ester of an arylated long-chain unsaturated fatty acid.
A method of making a chemical composition, comprising:
- forming an unsaturated fatty acid methyl ester composition by subjecting a natural oil or biodiesel precursor to an esterification process;
- forming an aromatic alkylate from the unsaturated fatty acid methyl ester composition by performing an aromatic alkylation process on the unsaturated fatty acid methyl ester composition;
- and
- ethoxylating the aromatic alkylate.
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.