Oxyethylated alkylphenols

The polymeric latex obtained in a hydrophobic organic solvent is poorly dispersed in water because of the presence of an emulsifier with a low HLB value. For this reason, a wetting agent is added to water or emulsion prior to the dissolution. The wetting agent (a surface active substance with a high HLB value) facilitates the inversion of latex phases to produce a direct type emulsion. Usually, it belongs to oxyethylated alkylphenols, fatty alcohols, or fatty acids. 

Oxyethylated Alkylphenol, Fatty Acid Amide, and Alkylphosphate Mixtures... 

A solution of a surfactant mixture in liquid paraffin, containing oil-soluble oxyethylated alkylphenol, having the formula with an Cg to C12 alkyl rest, the alkylphosphate of a higher fatty acid alcohol (RO)2PO — OH where R is Cio to C20, and a fatty acid amide of diethanolamine, are suitable for removing oils... 

It was established by Yeliseyeva and Bakaeva (1968) that in the polymerization of polar monomers (MA) the decrease of emulsifier adsorption depends on tbe structure of the latter and for some types of emulsifiers may reach limiting values. This was observed in tbe polymerization ofMA in the presence of a mixed type of emulsifier, partially sulfurated with sulfuric acid oxyethylated alkylphenol (emulsifier C-I0 ). Its adsorption on the particle surface increases with the initial concentration and reaches > 100% filling of the adsorption layer, conditionally corresponding to 0.3S nm per molecule. Stable, concentrated latexes with small particles are formed. Therefore, emulsifier adsorption and the mechanism ctf particle formation associated with it depends not only on monomer polarity but also on the chemical structure of the emulsifier. 

The polymer emulsions can be concentrated by headng imder vacuum to remove excess water and organic solvent by evaporation [43]. In this method, it is possible to reduce the water down to 2% and to increase the polymer crmtent in the emulsion up to 70% [30]. To be effective flocculants, the polymer emulsions must exhibit excellent freeze-thaw properties [11]. Another important requirement concerns their ability to invert wiA excess water to yield a highly viscous dilute polymer solution used as such for applications. A wetting ageru like a surfactant with a high HLB value (10-14) may be used to facilitate inversion. Typical surfactants are oxyethylated alkylphenols, fatty alcohols or fatty acids. They are added (up to 5% by weight of the total formulation) to water or to polymer emulsion prior to dissolution [22,43]. 

A peculiar example of a diblock copolymer is a high molecular weight surfactant whose head group, if it has an affinity for the surface, can be likened to the anchor block, whilst the tail corresponds to the buoy block. Thus, for aqueous media, non-ionic surfactants, such as the oxyethylated alkylphenols or fatty alcohols, are classic stabilisers with the general formula... 

These consist of a hydrophilic part, the oxyethylated chain, and a hydrophobic part (alkylphenol or fatty alcohol) which adsorbs onto hydrophobic particles. The same family of molecules can also stabilise the opposite systems, of water-in-oil (W/0) type by acting on the number of ethylene oxide links, we can adjust the Hydrophile-Lipophile Balance (HLB) of these molecules and adapt them to 0/W and W/0 dispersions. 

Oxyethylation is a moderately fast gas-liquid reaction in which mass transfer and reaction are consecutive, often rate-determining processes. A kinetic model [34,40-42] was proposed for oxyethylation of various starting materials (alcohols, alkylphenols, and fatty acids), carried ont in the presence of a typical alkaline catalyst. Oxyethylation of nonylphenol carried out in an autoclave under common conditions and vigorous mixing (up to 3000 rpm) is controlled by diffusion. 

Szymanowski, J., Miesiac, L, Jerzykiewicz, W. 1980. Synthesis and properties of esterification products of some oxyethylated alcohols and alkylphenols with fatty acids, Fett. Wiss. Technol. 82 244-249. 

Using this copolymer as an auxiliary stabilizer next to the product of oxyethylation and alkylphenol gives a polymer with a porous structure and a homogeneous grain. 

Alkyl ether sulfates, also called alcohol ethoxysulfates, are prepared by addition of one to four oxyethylene groups to an alcohol which is then sulfated. Oxyethylation enhances water solubility and foaming over the analogous alcohol sulfate, giving a product useful in shampoos and in liquid and powdered detergents. The raw material for these products can be either natural fatty alcohols or primary or secondary synthetic alcohols, usually of C12-C18 chain length. The analogous alkylphenol ether sulfates are found in industrial applications. Ether sulfates are not as sensitive to water hardness as are other anionic surfactants. 

---