N-alkyl polyhydroxy fatty acid amide compositions and their method of synthesis

A liquid surfactant composition comprising, by weight:

• (i) from about 2% to about 15% of an organic solvent selected from the group consisting of methanol, ethanol, propanol, isopropanol, butanols, glycerol, 1,2-propylene glycol, 1,3-propylene glycol,and mixtures thereof;
• and
• (ii) at least about 40% of a mixture of polyhydroxy fatty acid amides comprising:
• (a) a N-methyl polyhydroxy fatty acid amide having the formula:
• ##STR5## (b) a N-alkyl polyhydroxy fatty acid amide having the formula:
• ##STR6## wherein R1 is an alkyl group having from 3 to 8 carbon atoms;
• R2 is C11-C19 alkyl, alkenyl or mixtures thereof, and
• Z is a polyhydroxyhydrocarbyl moiety having a linear hydrocarbyl chain with at least 3 hydroxyls directly connected to the chain;
• wherein the weight ratio of N-methyl polyhydroxy fatty acid amide to N-alkyl polyhydroxy fatty acid amide is from 25:1 to 1:1.

A liquid surfactant composition comprising:

• (i) from about 0% to about 15%, by weight, of an organic solvent selected from the group consisting of methanol, ethanol, propanol, isopropanol, butanols, glycerol, 1,2-propylene glycol, 1,3-propylene glycol, and mixtures thereof;
• and
• (ii) a mixture of polyhydroxy fatty acid amides comprising:
• (a) a N-methyl polyhydroxy fatty acid amide having the formula:
• ##STR7## wherein R2 is C11-C19 alkyl, alkenyl or mixtures thereof;
• and Z is a polyhydroxyhydrocarbyl moiety having a linear hydrocarbyl chain with at least 3 hydroxyls directly connected to the chain;
• and
• (b) a N-alkyl polyhydroxy fatty acid amide having the formula:
• ##STR8## wherein R1 is an alkyl group having from 3 to 8 carbon atoms;
• R2 is C11-C19 alkyl, alkenyl or mixtures thereof;
• and
• Z is a polyhydroxyhydrocarbyl moiety having a linear hydrocarbyl chain with at least 3 hydroxyls directly connected to the chain;
• and
• (iii) water
• wherein the surfactant composition comprises at least about 30%, by weight, of N-methyl polyhydroxy fatty acid amide and further wherein the surfactant composition has a weight ratio of N-methyl polyhydroxy fatty acid amide of from about 25:1 to about 1:1 and is capable of remaining as a homogeneous liquid for at least 1 week when stored at 25.degree. C.