Process for making ethoxylated fatty alcohols with narrow polyethoxy chain distribution
AssigneeThe Procter & Gamble Company
InventorHaydee R. Guilloty
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Abstract
Improved process for making alcohol polyethoxylates with narrow polyethoxy chain distributions using approximately equimolar ratios of alcohol and alkali metal or alkali metal hydride catalyst. The products are useful in making improved carboxyalkylated alkyl polyether surfactants having specific narrow ranges of ethoxylation and containing less than about 6% fatty alcohol. Detergent compositions containing said alkyl carboxyalkylated polyether surfactants and having less than about 6% fatty alcohol by weight of said alkyl carboxyalkylated polyether surfactants. Processes of making said alkyl carboxyalkylated polyether surfactants.
Claims5
The process of preparing fatty alcohol polyethoxylates having a narrow distribution of polyethoxylate chain lengths in which a fatty alcohol containing from about 8 to about 18 carbon atoms is reacted with ethylene oxide in a ratio of ethylene oxide to fatty alcohol of from about 1 to about 20 at a temperature which is between room temperature and about 200.degree. C. in the presence of an alkali metal or alkali metal hydride catalyst which is present in a molar ratio of catalyst to fatty alcohol of from about 0.9 to about 1.5 in which said ethylene oxide is added to the mixture of fatty alcohol and catalyst after the addition of the catalyst and before the formation of the fatty alcohol alkoxide is about 75% complete.
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.