Branched primary alcohol ethoxylates

Branched Primary Alcohol Ethoxylates (BPAE). The hydrophobes of BPAE are produced by oligomerization of propylene or butene followed by catalytic addition of CO and H2 to yield highly branched alcohols. The ethoxylates of these alcohols biodegrade more slowly and less extensively than the linear alcohol ethoxylates (11.12). 

A C1215 essentially linear primary alcohol ethoxylate having an average of 9 ethylene oxide (EO) units per mole of alcohol (C12.15LPAE-9). The alcohol was prepared from Ci i.u olefins using catalytic addition of CO and H2. Approximately 80% of this alcohol contained linear alkyl chains. The 20% remaining contained 2-alkyl branches, mostly methyl. 

The correlation equation obtained using the data summarized in Table 10 was 0.938. The modest correlation coefficient may be due to the use of commercial linear primary alcohol ethoxylates from two different manufacturers. Variatiofts in hydrophobe linearity, hydrophobe carbon number distribution about the average value, and EO chain length distribution about the average value were not considered in equation 8. This interpretation is supported by the observation that inclusion of data for three secondary (methyl branched at the alpha position of the hydrophobe) alcohol ethoxylates in the analysis resulted in a decrease of the correlation coefficient to <0.90. 

Glyceryl ethers are formed by the reaction of an epoxide compound with an organic hydroxyl compound as seen in Figure 8.1. The epoxide compounds, which can be used for this reaction, include alkylene oxides, epihalohydrins, nitro epoxide compounds, epoxide ethers, and epoxide thioethers. There are many types of hydroxyl compounds that can be used the most used in industry includes primary alcohols, ethoxylated alcohols, and branched alcohols. The types of catalyst used for this reaction include acid acting compounds and metal halides such as sulfuric acid and stannic chloride, respectively. ... 

Alcohol ethoxylates are relatively inexpensive and readily available, and are considered to be one of the key work-horse surfactants. The primary advantage of alcohol ethoxylates, however, lies in the flexibility of their structure. The hydrophobe can vary in terms of carbon chain length (from Ca to C20+), carbon chain distribution (single homologues or various blends), feedstock source (petrochemically based or oleochemically based), and the degree of minor (methyl) branching. 

Retention was found to be related to the ethylene oxide (EO) content for primary alcohols of a particular alkyl chain (e.g., Cg-Ci2). The more hydrophilic (higher EO) surfactants were found to perform better as deposition agents than the more hydrophobic surfactants. Similarly, the size and shape of the hydrophobic moieties are important. Bulky, highly branched head groups, ethoxylated secondary alcohols, ethoxylated tertiary tallow amines with two ethoxylated tails, and sugars all appear to be efficient as deposition aids [37]. 

The Ballestra CSTR system, because of its back-mixing characteristics long residence time and residence time distribution, can expose the organic material to by-product formation by side rea dom.- (see 5.5.1.) This can prove disadvantageous for sensitive materials such as primary alcohols, alcohol ethoxylates and alpha-olefins. Thgefore> the Ballestra CSTR system is predominantly used for branched and linear alkylbenzenes and fatty acid methyl ester (FAMEl SUlplLQUation. 

Alcohols in the range C12—Ci8 are important raw materials for the production of a key group of surfactants ethoxylates, sulfates and ethoxysulfates among others. Alcohols used in the surfactant industry are primary, linear, or with different degrees of branching, and they can be produced from either petrochemical sources (ethylene or linear paraffins) or from oleochemical products (animal fats and vegetable oils). 

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