Conoco Inc.

Gerald L Nield

Kang Yang

Paul H Washecheck

Cresylic acid ethoxylation is catalyzed by basic compounds and salts of alkaline earth metals. Ethoxylates from such reactions have narrow ethylene oxide distributions, lower pour points and lower by-products as compared to alkali base catalyzed ethoxylation. Suitable catalysts include strontium-containing and barium-containing materials. The catalyst also includes co-catalyst combinations using these materials with one or more promoters including polyols, amines, amides, carboxylic acids and phenols. The co-catalyst combinations can be preformed prior to introduction into the reaction mixture.

Alkoxylation of cresylic acids

Basic compounds of Ba and Sr used in the production of peaked alcohol alkoxylates can be removed from the products by precipitating with some polybasic organic acids. Examples of effective acids include glutaric, diglycolic, adipic, and azelaic acids.

Catalyst removal from alcohol alkoxylates

Strontium-containing materials catalyze the alkoxylation of alcohols. Strontium produced alkoxylates have sharper alkoxylate distributions, lower free alcohols, lower pour points, and better detergency than alkoxylates obtained from alkali base catalysis.

Strontium catalyzed alkoxylations

Strontium and barium-based catalyzed alkoxylation of alcohols of all classes is carried out more rapidly and produces a more peaked reaction product when carried out in the presence of co-catalysts such as calcium oxide, calcium carbide, calcium hydroxide, magnesium metal, magnesium hydroxides, zinc oxide, and aluminum metal.

Inorganic catalyst for alkoxylation of alcohols

Basic compounds of strontium catalyzed the ethoxylation of alcohols in the presence of phenol or alkylphenol co-catalyst. Strontium-produced ethoxylates have sharper ethylene oxide distributions, lower free alcohol, lower pour points, and better detergency than the ethoxylates obtained from alkali base catalysis.

Ethoxylation with strontium bases

Cresylic acid (phenol or alkylated phenols) is used to promote barium oxide or hydroxide which is used as an ethoxylation catalyst for the reaction of ethylene oxide and alkanols of all classes. The reaction is carried out at temperatures of from about 150.degree. to about 200.degree. C. to yield the ethoxylated product. The product obtained has a very narrow high adduct distribution with low levels of by-products and unreacted free alcohols. Calcium and magnesium oxides show negligible catalytic effect.

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Ponca City, OK, United States of America

Gerald L Nield