Method of producing polyoxyalkylene glycerol ether fatty acid esters

Abstract

The invention relates to a method of producing fatty acid esters of polyoxyalkylene glycerol ethers. The method comprises reacting an alkylene oxide or oxides directly with a mixture of a natural fat or oil, water and a catalyst. The method of the invention can avoid the complicatedness encountered in the prior art production processes and give polyoxyalkylene glycerol ether fatty acid esters excellent in surfactant performance.

1 . A method of producing polyoxyalkylene glycerol ether fatty acid esters which comprises reacting an alkylene oxide or oxides directly with a mixture of a natural fat or oil, water and a catalyst.  
     
     
         2 . A method as claimed in  claim 1 , wherein the natural fat or oil is at least one member selected from the group consisting of coconut oil, palm oil, olive oil, soybean oil, rapeseed oil, linseed oil, sunflower oil, lard beef tallow, bone oil, animals fat, fish oil, hardened oils and semihardened oils derived from these, and refined oils and recovered oils obtained in the process of purification of the foregoing.  
     
     
         3 . A method as claimed in  claim 1 , where in the water is at least one member selected from the group consisting of distilled water, deionized water, industrial water and well water.  
     
     
         4 . A method as claimed in  claim 1 , wherein the catalyst is at least one member selected from the group consisting of sodium methylate, potassium methylate, sodium hydroxide, potassium hydroxide, potassium carbonate, sodium acetate and potassium lactate.  
     
     
         5 . A method as claimed in  claim 1 , wherein the alkylene oxide is at least one member selected from the group consisting of ethylene oxide, propylene oxide and butylene oxide.  
     
     
         6 . A method as claimed in  claim 1 , wherein water is used in an amount of 0.01 to 3 moles per mole of the natural fat or oil.  
     
     
         7 . A deinking agent for waste paper regeneration which comprises a polyoxyalkylene glycerol ether fatty acid ester obtained by addition reaction of an ethylene oxide-containing alkylene oxide reacting with a mixture of a natural fat or oil, water and a catalyst.  
     
     
         8 . A deinking agent as claimed in  claim 7 , wherein the polyoxyalkylene glycerol ether fatty acid ester is the product of addition of 5 to 200 moles of an ethylene oxide-containing alkylene oxide reactant to each mole of the natural fat or oil-water mixture.  
     
     
         9 . A deinking agent as claimed in  claim 7 , wherein the natural fat or oil is at least one member selected from the group consisting of coconut oil, palm oil, olive oil, soybean oil, rapeseed oil, linseed oil, sunflower oil, lard, beef tallow, bone oil, animals fat, fish oil, hardened oils and semihardened oils derived from these, and refined oils and recovered oils obtained in the process of purification of the foregoing.  
     
     
         10 . A deinking agent as claimed in  claim 7 , wherein the water is at least one member selected from the group consisting of distilled water, deionized water, industrial water and well water.  
     
     
         11 . A deinking agent as claimed in  claim 7 , wherein the catalyst is at least one member selected from the group consisting of sodium methylate, potassium methylate, sodium hydroxide, potassium hydroxide, potassium carbonate, sodium acetate and potassium lactate.  
     
     
         12 . A deinking agent as claimed in  claim 7 , wherein the alkylene oxide reactant contains ethylene oxide in an amount of 40 to 100% by weight.