Oxyethylation of fatty acid methyl esters

Catalysts for Oxyethylation of Fatty Acid Methyl Esters.273... 

CATALYSTS FOR OXYETHYLATION OF FATTY ACID METHYL ESTERS... 

Alejski, K., Bialowas, E., Hreczuch, W., Trathnigg, B., Szymanowski, J. 2003. Oxyethylation of fatty acid methyl esters. Molar ratio and temperature effects. Pressure drop modeling. Ind. Eng. Chem. Res. 42 2924-2933. 

FIGURE 16.4 Comparison of homologue distribution in OMD, oxyethylated coco fatty acid methyl esters (OCFAME), and oxyethylated rapeseed fatty acid methyl esters (ORFAME) (average degree of oxyethylation is approximately 6). 

Alejski, K., Bartkowiak, P., Szymanowski, J. 2004. Modeling of fatty acid methyl ester oxyethylation in a semi-batch reactor with successive dosing of ethylene oxide. Tenside Surfact. Deterg. 41 130-134. 

Production of Oxyethylated Fatty Acid Methyl Esters... 

Up to early 1990s, it was assumed that oxyethylation can occur only when the hydrophobic reagent had a labile hydrogen [1-3,5]. Thus, fatty acid methyl esters (FAME) were not considered as a raw material for the direct synthesis of nonionic surfactants with a polyoxyethylene chain. However, esters of fatty acids and PEG monomethyl ethers were known and their properties were described [6]. They were synthesized in a two-step process. Methanol was oxyethylated to PEG monomethyl ether that was then converted into the final product by transesterification with FAME or by esterification with fatty acids, carried out in the presence of an alkaline B or an acid catalyst, respectively. Esters of typical nonionics were synthesized in similar ways and their properties were described [7-9]. 

Hreczuch, W., Szymanowski, J., Bekierz, G., Pyralski, K. 1999. Comparison of the synthesis and composition of directly oxyethylated fatty acid methyl esters and oxyethylated alcohols with narrow and broad range distribution of homologues. Proceedings XXIX Joumadas Anuales del CED. Barcelona, 351-358. 

Bialowas, E. and Szymanowski, J. (2004) Catalysts for oxyethylation of alcohols and fatty acid methyl esters. Ind. Engng Chem. Res., 43, 6267-6280. 

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