(621cf) Ethoxylation of Isotridecanol Catalized By Potassium Hydride

Ethoxylation of isotridecanol catalized by potassium
hydride

Zeyang CHEN, Yun FANG*, Xueyi HU

The
Key Laboratory of Food Colloids and Biotechnology, Ministry of Education;
School of Chemical & Material Engineering, Jiangnan University, 1800 Lihu
Avenue, Wuxi, Jiangsu 214122, P. R. China

Abstract: Polyoxyethylene isotridecanol ether  is one of the  novel nonionic surfactants which was
developed on the purpose of partially replacing a potentially carcinogenic  and reproductive toxicity surfactant, polyoxyethylene nonyl phenyl
ether in some application areas. While the properties and the performance were well heavily relied on the distribution of
the ethoxylates. Conventional homogeneous alkaline catalyst other than heterogeneous alkaline earth metal oxides were
examined in order to obtain the narrow distributed ethoxylates
by a loop reaction process. Catalyst, feed ratio and other reaction conditions
were well investigated in this paper. The optimized reaction conditions were as
following: isotridecanol and ethylene oxide of  1 to 3 mole ratio
were reacted at 120^oC , 0.2 MPa
partial  pressure of ethylene oxide
which was catalized by 0.3 % (wt) potassium hydride.
The properties and the performance were also measured and compared with the commercial
products.

Key words: Polyoxylene isotridecanol, Ethoxylation, Catalyst, Narrow
distribute ethoxylates,