Ether-capped poly(oxyalkylated) alcohol surfactants

An ether-capped poly(oxyalkylated) alcohol having the formula:

• R1O[CH2CH(R3)O]xCH2CH(OH)CH2OR2
• wherein R1 and R2 are linear or branched, saturated or unsaturated, aliphatic or aromatic hydrocarbon radicals having from 6 to 20 carbon atoms;
• R3 is H, or a linear aliphatic hydrocarbon radical having from 1 to 4 carbon atoms;
• x is an integer having an average value from 6 to 15, wherein when x is 2 or greater R3 may be the same or different;
• further wherein when x is 15 or greater and R3 is H and methyl, at least four of R3 are methyl, further wherein when x is 15 or greater and R3 includes H and from 1 to 3 methyl groups, then at least one R3 is ethyl, propyl or butyl, further wherein R2 can optionally be alkoxylated, wherein said alkoxy is selected from ethoxy, propoxy, butyloxy and mixtures thereof.

A method for the suppression of suds, said method comprising the step of adding an effective amount of a suds suppressing surfactant to an aqueous cleaning solution, said surfactant comprises an ether-capped poly(oxyalylated) alcohol surfactant having the formula:

• R1O[CH2CH(R3)O]x[CH2]kCH(OH)[CH2]jOR2
• wherein R1 and R2 are linear or branched, saturated or unsaturated, aliphatic or aromatic hydrocarbon radicals having from 6 to 30 carbon atoms;
• R3 is H, or a linear aliphatic hydrocarbon radical having from 1 to 4 carbon atoms;
• x is an integer having an average value from 1 to 40, wherein when x is 2 or greater R3 may be the same or different and k and j are integers having an average value of 1;
• further wherein when x is 15 or greater and R3 is H and methyl, at least four of R3 are methyl, further wherein when x is 15 or greater and R3 includes H and from 1 to 3 methyl groups, then at least one R3 is ethyl, propyl or butyl, further wherein R2 can optionally be alkoxylated, wherein said alkoxy is selected from ethoxy, propoxy, butyloxy and mixtures thereof.