New nonionic detergents based on epoxidized oils. II

The physical and surface-active properties of alkylolamides prepared from methyl-9,10-epoxystearate are discussed. These materials are prepared by reacting methyl-9,10-epoxystearate with a polyoxyethylene alcohol to produce the methyl ester of the hydroxyalkoxypolyoxyether substituted carboxylic acid which is subsequently subjected to aminolysis with diethanolamine. The properties of the derivatives as a function of the molecular weight of the polyoxyethylene alcohol are explored and appear to exhibit critical changes at a value of about 500. All the materials thus prepared exhibit higher water solubility than corresponding N,N-di(2-hydroxyethyl) amides and foam somewhat less. Possible applications for materials such as these include formulation of low-foam, heavyduty cleaning compounds, both of a liquid and dry type. This would, of course, be especially important in the growing field of automatic liquid dishwater formulations. A need for such materials also exists in heavy-duty metal cleaning, floor washing, and other heavy-duty cleaning applications. Presented at AOCS Meeting, New Orleans, April 1964.