Process for making polyoxyethylene surfactants with desirable low temperature behavior

US5069817A · kind A · utility

Assignee

• Henkel Kommanditgesellschaft auf Aktien · DE

Inventors

• Karl Schmid · Mettmann, DE
• Alfred Meffert · Monheim, DE
• Klaus Friedrich · Lake Forest, US
• Michael Langen · Aachen, DE
• Klaus Herrmann · Monheim, DE

Key dates

• Filing date: Jan 25, 1989
• Grant date: Dec 3, 1991
• Expiry date: Jan 25, 2009

Classification

• Technology area (CPC Y): Emerging Cross-Sectional Technologies
• CPC primary: Y10S516/92
• WIPO field: Macromolecular chemistry, polymers
• WIPO sector: Chemistry

Abstract

A process for the production of alkyl polyoxyethylenes showing improved low-temperature behavior, by reaction of alcohols with ethylene oxide at elevated temperature in the presence of basic alkali metal compounds as catalysts and subsequent neutralization of the alkaline catalyst with acids, which under prior art practice was impractical because of clogging of reaction vessels and equipment associated with precipitation of salts during neutralization, is made practical by adding a finely divided solid to serve as a precipitation control agent during neutralization. The finely divided solids used are, in particular, organic and/or inorganic materials known in the prior art as filter aids, such as kieselguhr and sawdust or other finely divided cellulose.