Fluorosurfactants having improved biodegradability

Abstract

To address the problem of insufficient biodegradability of perfluorinated surfactants, the present invention provides biodegradable fluorosurfactants derived from olefins having —CHR, —CHRf, —CHF, and/or —CH 2 groups, where R is an alkyl group and Rf is a perfluoro or fluroroalkyl group. Preferably, the —CHR, —CHRf, —CHF, and/or —CH 2 groups are contained within partially fluorinated alkenes.

What is claimed is: 
     
         1 . A fluorosurfactant having the general formula Rf—X—Y, wherein Rf is a perfluorinated alkyl group, X is a fluoroolefin, Y is a neutral group or a hydrophilic group, and wherein the surfactant is biodegradable. 
     
     
         2 . The fluorosurfactant of  claim 1 , wherein X is derived from a partially fluorinated alkene. 
     
     
         3 . The fluorosurfactant of  claim 3 , wherein the partially fluorinated alkene is selected from the group consisting of CF 2 ═CFCl, CH 2 ═CHF, CHF═CHF, CH 2 ═CF 2 , CF 3 CH═CHCF 3 , CF 3 CF═CFCF 3 , CF 3 C═H, and (CF 3 ) 2 CF—CF═CFCF 3  (HFP dimer). 
     
     
         4 . The fluorosurfactant of  claim 2 , wherein X is derived from a partially fluorinated propene. 
     
     
         5 . The fluorosurfactant of  claim 3 , wherein the partially fluorinated propene is selected from the group consisting of CF 3 CF═CH 2  (HFO-1234yf), CF 3 CH═CHF (HFO-1234ze), CF 3 CF═CHF (HFO-1225yf), CF 3 CH═CHCl (HCFO 1233zd), CF 3 CH═CH 2 , CF 3 CH═CF 2 , CF 3 CF═CF 2 , CF 3 CH≡CH, (CF(CF 3 )(CF 2 H)H, and hexafluoropropene trimer. 
     
     
         6 . The fluorosurfactant of  claim 1 , which is an anionic surfactant. 
     
     
         7 . The fluorosurfactant of  claim 6 , wherein the anionic surfactant is selected from the group consisting of carboxylates, sulfonates, sulfates, phosphates, and mixtures thereof. 
     
     
         8 . The fluorosurfactant of  claim 1 , which is a cationic surfactant. 
     
     
         9 . The fluorosurfactant of  claim 8 , wherein the cationic surfactant is selected from the group consisting of amino, amido, ammonio, sulfonamido salts, and mixtures thereof. 
     
     
         10 . The fluorosurfactant of  claim 1 , which is an amphoteric surfactant. 
     
     
         11 . The fluorosurfactant of  claim 10 , wherein the amphoteric surfactant is selected from the group consisting of carboxybetaine, sulfobetaine, sulfatobetaine, and mixtures thereof. 
     
     
         12 . The fluorosurfactant of  claim 1 , which is a nonionic surfactant. 
     
     
         13 . The fluorosurfactant of  claim 12 , wherein the nonionic surfactant is selected from the group consisting of oxyethylated phenols, oxyethylated alcohols, polyhydric alcohols, and mixtures thereof.