Methyl ester ethoxylates application

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. 

In 1989, the concept of ethoxylating methyl esters, which do not carry a labile hydrogen, was introduced by Hoechts [2] and Henkel [3]. Hoechst demonstrated the ethoxylation of esters was chemically feasible using catalysts based on alkali and alkaline earth metals (e.g., sodium hydroxide, sodium methoxide, barium hydroxide, etc.). Henkel demonstrated the feasibility of using calcined hydrotalcite (aluminum-magnesium hydroxycarbon-ates) for the reaction. Reactivities and conversions with these catalysts, however, were found to be too low for commercial application. 

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