Methyl ester ethoxylates detergents

Methyl ester ethoxylates (MEEs) are a new introduction to the stable of feedstocks which can be ethoxylated, and have only recently become commercially available (currently being produced and utilized in a detergent formulation in Japan by the Lion Corporation). Based on recent literature, however, a significant amount of effort is being focused on the development of MEEs for detergent applications. 

Cox, M. F., Weerasooriya, U. 1998. Impact of molecular structure on the performance of methyl ester ethoxylates. J. Surfact. Deterg. 1 11-22. 

IV. FORMULATES DETERGENTS WITH METHYL ESTER ETHOXYLATES... 

Based on the surface property data discussed earlier, methyl ester ethoxylates would be expected to perform similarly to alcohol ethoxylates, which is indeed the case. As shown in Fig. 13, methyl ester ethoxylates are comparable to alcohol ethoxylates, as well as other commonly used surfactants (see Table 1), in their ability to remove soil from fabric. Compositional variables affect the performance of methyl ester ethoxylates and alcohol ethoxylates. Lauryl range and tallow range methyl ester ethoxylates provide the best detergency, while optimal ethylene oxide content appears to depend on soil/ cloth-type (Fig. 14). Interaction with other surfactants also affects detergency performance. As shown in Fig. 15, methyl ester ethoxylates act synergistically with alcohol ethoxylates, while the opposite can be observed with alcohol sulfate and alcohol ether sulfate. 

FIG. 13 Fabric detergency performance of methyl ester ethoxylate vs. conventional surfactants. (Conditions, test method, and protocol described elsewhere [15], descriptions of reference surfactants are given in Table 1 distribution for C -is methyl ester = 57% C12, 23% C14, 12% Cig, and 8% Cig MEEs prepared using calcium/aluminum alkoxide catalyst. (From Ref. 27.)... 

FIG. 14 Fabric detergency performance of methyl ester ethoxylates as a function of carbon chain length and EO content. (From Ref. 15.)... 

Short-chain methyl ester ethoxylates appear to be outstanding detergents for removing solid soils from hard surfaces, but only when surfactant use concentration is significant (>1%). At lower use concentrations, higher carbon chain length methyl ester ethoxylates are more effective. 

Since methyl ester ethoxylates are moderate foamers, and undergo significant hydrolysis at a pH greater than 9, they will not likely be used as the main surfactant in either hand or machine dish detergents. However, because of their ability to remove solid soil, methyl ester ethoxylates may find use not as a foam stabilizers or foam-generating surfactants but for enhancement of soil removal properties. 

This chapter first examines the ethoxylation of esters and the composition of methyl ester ethoxylates. Important aspects related to the formulation of liquid detergents with methyl ester ethoxylates are then discussed, followed by a re-... 

Renkin, M., Fleurackers, S., Szwach, I. and Hreczuch, W. (2005) Rapeseed methyl ester ethoxylates a new class of surfactants of environmental and commercial interest. Tenside Surfactants Deterg., 42, 280-287. 

The organic feedstock suitable for surfactant production (i.e., detergent-grade alkylates, fatty alcohols, ethoxylated fatty alcohols, a-olefins, and fatty acid methyl esters) and the S03/gas are fed concurrently. 

Hreczuch, W. 2001. Ethoxylated rape seed oil acid methyl esters as new ingredients for detergent formulations. Tenside Surfact. Det. 38 72-79. 

FIG. 35 Increase of viscosity of liquid detergents. LAS = linear alkylbenzene sulfonate FAEO = fatty alcohol ethoxylate FAS = fatty alcohol sulfate MBS = methyl ester sulfonate. 

Hama, L, Sasamoto, H., Tamura, T. et al. (1998) Skin compatibility and ecotoxicity of ethoxylated fatty methyl ester nonionics. J. Surfactants Deterg., 1, 93-97. 

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