Soap-based detergent formulations: II. Oxyethylated fatty amides as lime soap dispersing agents

Nonionic surface active agents with two oxyalkyl chains were prepared from the triethylamine catalyzed reaction of ethylene oxide with diethanolamides of palmitic, stearic and tallow fatty acids. The addition of 4 moles of ethylene oxide was required to render these diethanolamides water soluble, whereas 9 moles were required to make the corresponding monoethanolamide soluble. Efficiency of lime soap dispersion increased as oxyethyl chain length was increased. Best detergency of soap-nonionic combinations was achieved when the oxyethyl chain length was at the minimum required for water solubility. Theγ-hydroxyethanolamides and -diethanolamides were prepared by the uncatalyzed reaction of the corresponding amines withγ-stearolactone. These compounds became water soluble at lower levels of oxyethylation, but the lime soap dispersing power and detergency were not improved over those of corresponding compounds derived from stearic acid. Presented at the AOCS Meeting, Los Angeles, April 1972. E. Market. Nutr. Res. Div., ARS, USDA.