Classifications

• • C—CHEMISTRY; METALLURGY
  • C11—ANIMAL OR VEGETABLE OILS, FATS, FATTY SUBSTANCES OR WAXES; FATTY ACIDS THEREFROM; DETERGENTS; CANDLES
  • C11D—DETERGENT COMPOSITIONS; USE OF SINGLE SUBSTANCES AS DETERGENTS; SOAP OR SOAP-MAKING; RESIN SOAPS; RECOVERY OF GLYCEROL
  • C11D1/00—Detergent compositions based essentially on surface-active compounds; Use of these compounds as a detergent
  • C11D1/88—Ampholytes; Electroneutral compounds
  • C11D1/92—Sulfobetaines ; Sulfitobetaines

Definitions

• the present invention relates to amphoteric surfactants and more particularly to a novel class of amphoteric surfactants which are compatible with high levels of caustic.
• the present invention is directed to a class of surfactants which are soluble in strongly basic alkaline solutions, are storage stable for extended time periods of storage in strongly basic alkaline solutions, and which are very low to moderate foamers. Moreover, such surfactants retain their surfactant properties when incorporated into strongly basic aqueous solutions.
• the novel surfactants which possess such unique combination of properties are alkyl sulfobetaines wherein the alkyl group ranges from about 6 to 12 carbon atoms in chain length.
• Another aspect of the present invention is an aqueous solution of the alkyl sulfobetaine and a base, such as, for example, sodium hydroxide or potassium hydroxide in concentrations ranging up to 30%-50% in concentration.
• Advantages of the present invention include an amphoteric surfactant which is soluble in water. Another advantage is an amphoteric surfactant which is soluble and storage stable in an aqueous basic solution. A further advantage is an amphoteric surfactant which retains its surfactant properties in an aqueous basic solution. Yet another advantage is an amphoteric surfactant which is stable in strongly basic aqueous solutions.
• amphoteric sulfobetaine surfactants of the present invention are unique in their ability to meet diverse criteria required of them in formulating aqueous basic surfactant solutions.
• the sulfobetaines of the present invention can be represented conventionally by the following general structure: where R is a C6-C12 alkyl group; R2 and 3 are a methyl group, a 2-hydroxy ethyl group, or a 2-hydroxy propyl group; and R4 is H or OH.
• the sulfobetaine possesses the requisite degree of water solubility and surfactancy required of it. While various reaction schemes may be envisioned for synthesis of the alkyl sulfobetaines of the present invention, the following two-step reaction scheme currently is favored where R4 is OH.
• the initial step involves the formation of an epichlorhydrin/­bisulfite intermediate. This reaction conveniently is conducted in water in the presence of a base (for example, sodium hydroxide) at relatively moderate reaction temperatures (e.g. 120°-200°F) and preferably under inert atmosphere.
• a base for example, sodium hydroxide
• bases may be used in conjunction with the sulfobetaines of the present invention.
• bases include, for example, sodium hydroxide, potassium hydroxide, calcium hydroxide, calcium oxide, sodium metasilicate, tetrapotassium pyrophosphate, sodium tripolyphosphate, trisodium phosphate, potassium silicate, and the like, and even mixtures thereof.
• the alkyl dimethyl hydroxy sulfobetaines of the present invention are stable in potassium hydroxide and sodium hydroxide solutions ranging up to about 40-50 percent concentration.
• aqueous basic solutions of sulfobetaines of the present invention find use in a variety of applications.
• Such applications include, for example, bottle washing compounds, hot vat cleaning compounds, paper pulping, paint strippers, railroad and aircraft cleaners, dairy and food plant cleaners, detergent sanitizers, polymer-based wax strippers, and the like.
• the excellent stability, surfactancy, and low foaming characteristics of the alkyl dimethyl sulfobetaine caustic solutions make them useful in these and a variety of additional applications.
• Example shows how the present invention can be practiced but should not be construed as limiting. All percentages and proportions are by weight in this application unless otherwise expressly indicated.
• the first step involved the charging of a small Parr reactor with sodium bisulfite (242 g), epichlorohydrin (228 g), deionized water (910 g), and solid sodium hydroxide (2 g). The water and base were mixed and nitrogen sparged to remove dissolved oxygen prior to charging the reactor.
• the reactor was pressurized to 20 psi with nitrogen and heated to 125°F at which point the reaction exothermed to a reaction temperature of 140°-150°F.
• the reaction was conducted for one hour and then sampled for determination of free sodium bisulfite. After the one hour reaction time, this analysis showed that the percent free sodium bisulfite was 0.2 percent.
• the reactor was cooled to 100°F and the product removed as the reaction was judged to be complete.
• the lauryldimethyl hydroxy sulfobetaine was tested for solubility in aqueous potassium hydroxide solution. Concentrations of potassium hydroxide at 10%, 20%, 30%, 40%, and 50% solutions were formulated at percent solids content of lauryldimethyl hydroxy sulfobetaine of 1%, 3%, 5%, and 10%.
• the lauryldimethyl hydroxy sulfobetaine was judged to be soluble at all concentrations of sulfobetaine at all concentrations of potassium hydroxide.
• the lauryldimethyl hydroxy sulfo-­betaine then was subjected to Ross-Miles foam test at 1.0% by weight actives in 72°F distilled water. The following foam heights were measured: initial, 205mm; and +5 minutes, 26mm. In 150 ppm hard (Ca) water at 1% concentration, Ross-Miles foam heights were: initial, 200 mm; and +5 minutes, 29mm.
• the lauryldimethyl hydroxy sulfobetaine is low foaming as well as soluble in high concentrations of potassium hydroxide.
• Solubility of the octyl dimethyl hydroxy sulfobetaine to the alkaline solutions was evaluated by dissolving the surfactant into a 50% NaOH solution at active levels of 1, 3 and 5%. The following results were obtained:

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• Chemical & Material Sciences (AREA)
• Life Sciences & Earth Sciences (AREA)
• Engineering & Computer Science (AREA)
• Chemical Kinetics & Catalysis (AREA)
• Oil, Petroleum & Natural Gas (AREA)
• Wood Science & Technology (AREA)
• Organic Chemistry (AREA)
• Detergent Compositions (AREA)
• Organic Low-Molecular-Weight Compounds And Preparation Thereof (AREA)
• Agricultural Chemicals And Associated Chemicals (AREA)
• Emulsifying, Dispersing, Foam-Producing Or Wetting Agents (AREA)
• Steroid Compounds (AREA)

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• 1986
  • 1986-05-06 EP EP86630080A patent/EP0213054B1/de not_active Expired - Lifetime
  • 1986-05-06 AT AT86630080T patent/ATE55117T1/de not_active IP Right Cessation
  • 1986-05-06 DE DE8686630080T patent/DE3673099D1/de not_active Expired - Lifetime
  • 1986-05-08 JP JP61105783A patent/JPS61260055A/ja active Pending

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