Emulsifier components and methods of using the same

Abstract

This invention relates to an additive comprising a functional group derived from a first hydrocarbyl-substituted acylating agent and a functional group derived from a second hydrocarbyl-substituted acylating agent, where the functional groups are coupled by a functional group derived from an alkylene glycol. The invention also relates to an emulsifier component prepared by a process that utilizes the described additive and converts it to an emulsifier component by reacting it with a neutralizing component. The invention also relates to a process of making the described emulsifier component, and a method of customizing an emulsifier component in a composition by using the described additive and the described process for converting it to the described emulsifier component.

What is claimed is: 
     
         1 . An additive comprising (i) a functional group derived from a first hydrocarbyl-substituted acylating agent and (ii) a functional group derived from a second hydrocarbyl-substituted acylating agent, where the functional groups (i) and (ii) are coupled by a functional group derived from an alkylene glycol;
 wherein the first hydrocarbyl-substituted acylating agent comprises a hydrocarbyl substituent group containing at least about 20 carbon atoms; and   wherein the second hydrocarbyl-substituted acylating agent comprises a hydrocarbyl substituent group containing less than about 20 carbon atoms.   
     
     
         2 . The additive of  claim 1  wherein the first hydrocarbyl-substituted acylating agent comprises the reaction product of a long chain hydrocarbon with a monounsaturated carboxylic acid; wherein said long chain hydrocarbon has a number average molecular weight greater than about 400. 
     
     
         3 . The additive of  claim 1  or  claim 2  wherein the first hydrocarbyl-substituted acylating agent comprises polyisobutylene succinic anhydride, the polyisobutylene group having a number average molecular weight greater than about 400. 
     
     
         4 . The additive of any one of  claims 1  through  3  wherein the second hydrocarbyl-substituted acylating agent comprises the reaction product of a long chain hydrocarbon with a monounsaturated carboxylic acid; wherein said long chain hydrocarbon has a number average molecular weight less than about 280. 
     
     
         5 . The additive of any one of  claims 1  through  4  wherein the second hydrocarbyl-substituted acylating agent comprises hexadecenyl succinic anhydride. 
     
     
         6 . The additive of any one of  claims 1  through  5  wherein the alkylene glycol comprises a glycol having the general formula HO(CH(R)) x —O m —H where each R is independently H or an alkyl group of 1 to 6 carbon atoms, each x is independently an integer from 2 to about 10, and m is an integer from 1 to about 10. 
     
     
         7 . The additive of any one of  claims 1  through  6  wherein the alkylene glycol is a linear alkylene glycol. 
     
     
         8 . The additive of any one of  claims 1  through  7  wherein the alkylene glycol comprises a poly(ethylene glycol), a poly(1,3-propylene glycol) or a copolymer of ethylene glycol and 1,3-propylene glycol. 
     
     
         9 . The additive of any one of  claims 1  through  8  wherein the alkylene glycol comprises a glycol having the general formula HO—(CH 2 ) x —OH wherein x is an integer from 2 to about 10. 
     
     
         10 . The additive of  claim 9  wherein the alkylene glycol comprises ethylene glycol. 
     
     
         11 . The additive of any one of  claims 1  through  7  wherein the first hydrocarbyl-substituted acylating agent comprises polyisobutylene succinic anhydride, the polyisobutylene group having a number average molecular weight greater than about 750;
 wherein the second hydrocarbyl-substituted acylating agent comprises hexadecenyl succinic anhydride; and 
 wherein the alkylene glycol comprises ethylene glycol. 
 
     
     
         12 . The additive of any of  claims 1  through  11  which is reacted with a neutralizing component comprising an amine. 
     
     
         13 . A process of making an emulsifier component comprising the steps of:
 I. reacting a first hydrocarbyl-substituted acylating agent, a second hydrocarbyl-substituted acylating agent, and an alkylene glycol;   wherein the first hydrocarbyl-substituted acylating agent comprises a hydrocarbyl substituent group containing at least about 20 carbon atoms; and   wherein the second hydrocarbyl-substituted acylating agent comprises a hydrocarbyl substituent group containing less than about 20 carbon atoms;   resulting in an intermediate comprising (i) a functional group derived from said first hydrocarbyl-substituted acylating agent and (ii) a functional group derived from said second hydrocarbyl-substituted acylating agent, where the functional groups (i) and (ii) are coupled by a functional group derived from said alkylene glycol;   II. providing said intermediate for use as an emulsifier component precursor; and thereafter   III. converting said intermediate to an emulsifier component by reacting said intermediate with a neutralizing component.   
     
     
         14 . The process of  claim 13  wherein the first hydrocarbyl-substituted acylating agent comprises the reaction product of a long chain hydrocarbon with a monounsaturated carboxylic acid; wherein said long chain hydrocarbon has a number average molecular weight greater than about 400; and
 wherein the second hydrocarbyl-substituted acylating agent comprises the reaction product of a long chain hydrocarbon with a monounsaturated carboxylic acid; wherein said long chain hydrocarbon has a number average molecular weight less than about 280; 
 wherein the alkylene glycol comprises a glycol having of the general formula HO(C(R)) x —O m —H wherein each R is independently H or an alkyl group of 1 to 6 carbon atoms, each x is independently an integer from 2 to about 10 and m is an integer from 1 to about 10. 
 
     
     
         15 . The process of  claim 13  or  claim 14  wherein the alkylene glycol comprises a poly(ethylene glycol), a poly(1,3-propylene glycol) or a copolymer of ethylene glycol and 1,3-propylene glycol. 
     
     
         16 . The process of  claim 13  or  claim 14  wherein the alkylene glycol comprises a glycol having the general formula HO—(CH 2 ) x —OH wherein x is an integer from 2 to about 10. 
     
     
         17 . The process of  claim 14  wherein the first hydrocarbyl-substituted acylating agent comprises polyisobutylene succinic anhydride having a number average molecular weight greater than about 750;
 wherein the second hydrocarbyl-substituted acylating agent comprises hexadecenyl succinic anhydride; and 
 wherein the alkylene glycol comprises ethylene glycol. 
 
     
     
         18 . The process of any one of  claims 13  through  17  wherein the neutralizing component comprises an amine. 
     
     
         19 . A method of customizing an emulsifier component in a composition, said method comprising the steps of:
 I. reacting a first hydrocarbyl-substituted acylating agent, a second hydrocarbyl-substituted acylating agent, and an alkylene glycol;   wherein the first hydrocarbyl-substituted acylating agent comprises a hydrocarbyl substituent group containing at least about 20 carbon atoms; and   wherein the second hydrocarbyl-substituted acylating agent comprises a hydrocarbyl substituent group containing less than about 20 carbon atoms;   resulting in an intermediate comprising (i) a functional group derived from said first hydrocarbyl-substituted acylating agent and (ii) a functional group derived from said second hydrocarbyl-substituted acylating agent, where the functional groups (i) and (ii) are coupled by a functional group derived from said alkylene glycol;   II. providing said intermediate for use as an emulsifier component precursor; and thereafter   III. converting said intermediate to an emulsifier component by reacting said intermediate with a neutralizing component;   resulting in a customized emulsifier component.   
     
     
         20 . The method of  claim 19  wherein the first hydrocarbyl-substituted acylating agent comprises the reaction product of a long chain hydrocarbon with a monounsaturated carboxylic acid; wherein said long chain hydrocarbon has a number average molecular weight greater than about 400; and
 wherein the second hydrocarbyl-substituted acylating agent comprises the reaction product of a long chain hydrocarbon with a monounsaturated carboxylic acid; wherein said long chain hydrocarbon has a number average molecular weight less than about 280; 
 wherein the alkylene glycol comprises a glycol having of the general formula HO—(CH 2 ) x —OH wherein x is an integer from 2 to about 10. 
 
     
     
         21 . The method of  claim 19  or  claim 20  wherein the neutralizing component comprises an amine. 
     
     
         22 . An emulsifier component prepared by a process comprising the steps of:
 I. reacting a first hydrocarbyl-substituted acylating agent, a second hydrocarbyl-substituted acylating agent, and an alkylene glycol;   wherein the first hydrocarbyl-substituted acylating agent comprises a hydrocarbyl substituent group containing at least about 20 carbon atoms; and   wherein the second hydrocarbyl-substituted acylating agent comprises a hydrocarbyl substituent group containing less than about 20 carbon atoms;   resulting in an intermediate comprising (i) a functional group derived from said first hydrocarbyl-substituted acylating agent and (ii) a functional group derived from said second hydrocarbyl-substituted acylating agent, where the functional groups (i) and (ii) are coupled by a functional group derived from said alkylene glycol;   II. providing said intermediate for use as an emulsifier component precursor; and thereafter   III. converting said intermediate to an emulsifier component by reacting said intermediate with a neutralizing component.   
     
     
         23 . The emulsifier component of  claim 22  where said neutralizing component comprises an amine.