Abstract
Conventional ethoxylation of fatty methyl esters, or other fatty-fatty esters or diesters, produces poor yields of the desired ethoxylated ester. A proprietary ethoxylation catalyst, currently in use to produce “peaked” or “narrow-range” alcohol ethoxylates, has been found to successfully insert ethylene oxide into the ester linkage of fatty esters. The mechanism for this insertion likely involves an ethoxylation-transesterification step in the ethoxylation process. Physical, performance, and environmental/human safety properties were evaluated. Results, in general, show that methyl ester ethoxylates behave similarly to alcohol ethoxylates with the exception of having a lower foam profile and being less irritating.
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Cox, M.F., Weerasooriya, U. Methyl ester ethoxylates. J Amer Oil Chem Soc 74, 847–859 (1997). https://doi.org/10.1007/s11746-997-0228-4
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DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/s11746-997-0228-4