Method for protecting glycerol alkyl ethers from oxidation

A method of protecting glycerol alkyl ethers from oxidation, comprising step (a.) and step (b.):

• a. providing a glycerol alkyl ether of the general formula (Ia) or (Ib):
• R—O—CH2—CHOH—CH2OH (Ia) or
• H—O—CH2—CHOR—CH2OH (Ib)
• wherein, in general formula (Ia) or (Ib), R is a C3-C18 alkyl or alkenyl group, in which the alkyl or alkenyl group is branched or unbranched, unsubstituted or substituted by one or more hydroxyl, one or more C1-C4 alkoxy groups, or both one or more hydroxyl and one or more C1-C4 alkoxy groups, and the C3-C18 alkyl group, whether branched or unbranched, unsubstituted or substituted, is optionally interrupted by up to four oxygen atoms, or R is a C6-C10 aromatic hydrocarbon, unsubstituted or substituted by one or more hydroxyl, one or more C1-C4 alkoxy groups, or both one or more hydroxyl and one or more C1-C4 alkoxy groups, and
• b. adding to the glycerol alkyl ether of the general formula (Ia) or (Ib) one or more compound selected from general formula (II):
• wherein, in the general formula (II), each of R1-R10 is independently selected from hydrogen, hydroxyl, alkyl hydroxyl, alkoxy, alkyl ether, alkyl ester and glycoside, wherein the alkyl, the alkoxy and the alkyl portion of the alkyl ester contains from 1 to 4 carbon atoms, branched or unbranched, and the ester of the alkyl ester contains from 1 to 5 carbon atoms, branched or unbranched.