# US 4,396,779 A · Alkanol alkoxylate preparation

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- Number: US 4,396,779 A
- Document ID: US4396779A
- Status: Granted
- Kind: A
- Application number: 06/366,438
- Filed: 1982-04-07
- Granted: 1983-08-02
- Earliest claimed: 1982-04-07
- Assignees: Shell Oil Company
- Inventors: Charles L. Edwards
- Web page: https://patentgrep.com/patent/US4396779A

## CPC

- C07C 41/03: by reaction of oxirane rings with hydroxy groups
- C07C 41/44: by treatments giving rise to a chemical modification (by chemisorption C07C41/36)
- C08G 65/26: from cyclic ethers and other compounds
- C08G 65/30: Post-polymerisation treatment, e.g. recovery, purification, drying
- C07C: ACYCLIC OR CARBOCYCLIC COMPOUNDS
- C08G: MACROMOLECULAR COMPOUNDS OBTAINED OTHERWISE THAN BY REACTIONS ONLY INVOLVING UNSATURATED CARBON-TO-CARBON BONDS

## Abstract

A process for the preparation of alkanol alkoxylates, useful as nonionic surfactants, comprises steps for alkoxylating one or more alkanols having carbon number in the range from 8 to 18 by reaction with one or more alkylene oxides having carbon number in the range from 2 to 4 under alkaline pH and in the presence of one or more soluble compounds of calcium, and neutralizing the resulting alkoxylation mixture by addition thereto of an acid selected from the group consisting of propionic acid, benzoic acid, and mixtures thereof. The products are characterized by a single liquid phase of low viscosity.

## Claims

### Claim 1

A process for the preparation of alkanol alkoxylates which comprises steps for alkoxylating one or more alkanols having carbon number in the range from 8 to 18 by reaction with one or more alkylene oxides having carbon number in the range from 2 to 4 under alkaline pH and in the presence of one or more soluble compounds of calcium, and neutralizing the resulting alkoxylation mixture by addition thereto of an acid selected from the group consisting of propionic acid, benzoic acid, and mixtures thereof.

### Claim 2 (depends on 1)

The process of claim 1, wherein the acid is propionic acid.

### Claim 3 (depends on 1, 2)

The process of claim 1 or claim 2, wherein the alkanols are of a carbon number in the range from 9 to 15 and the alkylene oxides are of a carbon number of 2 or 3.

### Claim 4 (depends on 3)

The process of claim 3, wherein the alkylene oxide is ethylene oxide.

### Claim 5 (depends on 4)

The process of claim 4, wherein the alkoxylation reaction is catalyzed by a soluble, basic compound of calcium.