Surfactant composition

Claim 2

A process for the preparation of a composition which comprises reacting together (1) at least one compound containing at least one poly(oxyalkylene) group and having at least two -OH groups; (2) at least one compound other than as defined in (1) which contains at least two reactive hydrogen atoms which are present as -OH, -NH₂ or -NHR groups; (3) at least one carboxylic acid containing at least two carboxylic acid groups or the anhydride or chloride thereof; and (4) at least one mono-carboxylic acid or at least one mono-hydroxy compound, or at least one secondary mono-amino compound or at least one primary hindered mono-amine; where components (2) and (3) may be at least partially replaced by a compound containing both a reactive hydrogen atom and a carboxylic acid group; and R      is a hydrocarbyl group or is an amino- or -OH substituted hydrocarbyl group.

Claim 3

A process as claimed in claim 1 wherein component (4) is at least one mono-carboxylic acid or at least one mono-hydroxy compound or at least one secondary mono-amino compound.

Claim 4

A process as claimed in either claim 1 or claim 2 wherein component (1) has a molecular weight in excess of 5000 and reaction is effected to obtain a product which has an -OH number of less than 5.

Claim 5

A process as claimed in any one of claims 1 to 3 in which component (1) is a condensate of a poly(oxyalkylene) with a polyol; a condensate of a poly(oxyalkylene) with a diamine or is a compound in which at least one poly(oxyalkylene) chain is attached as a side chain to a silicone polymer chain.

Claim 6

A process as claimed in any one of claims 1 to 4 wherein component (2) is, or includes, a compound containing at least three reactive hydrogen atoms which are present as -OH groups.

Claim 7

A process as claimed in any one of claims 1 to 5 wherein component (3) is an acid containing only two carboxylic acid groups or is the anhydride or chloride of such an acid.

Claim 8

A process as claimed in any one of claims 1 to 6 wherein component (4) is a compound containing at least six carbon atoms.

Claim 9

A process as claimed in any one of claims 1 to 7 which is effected to obtain a product which has an acid number of not more than 5.

Claim 10

A process as claimed in any one of claims 1 to 8 which is effected to obtain a product which has an -OH number of not more than 3.

Claim 11

A process as claimed in any one of claims 1 to 9 which comprises reacting together (1) an ethylene diamine alkoxylate having a molecular weight of at least 10000 and containing oxyethylene and oxypropylene groups wherein the oxyethylene groups are at least 60% by weight of the oxyalkylene groups; (2) pentaerythritol or glycerol; (3) phthalic acid and/or phthalic anhydride; and (4) linoleic acid.

Claim 12

A process as claimed in any one of claims 1 to 10 wherein the reactive hydrogen atoms are present as -OH groups and components (1), (2), (3) and (4) are reacted together under esterification conditions.

Claim 13

A process as claimed in any one of claims 1 to 9 wherein at least some of the reactive hydrogen atoms are present as -NH₂ or -NHR groups and components (1), (2), (3) and (4) are reacted together under conditions appropriate for the production of amide compounds.

Claim 14

An oil-in-water emulsion which contains, as an emulsifier, 2 to 10% by weight of the emulsion of a composition which is the reaction product of (1) at least one compound containing at least one poly(oxyalkylene) group and having at least two -OH groups; (2) at least one compound other than as defined in (1) which contains at least two reactive hydrogen atoms which are present as -OH, -NH₂ or -NHR groups; (3) at least one carboxylic acid containing at least two carboxylic acid groups or the anhydride or chloride thereof; and (4) at least one mono-carboxylic acid or at least one mono-hydroxy compound, or at least one secondary mono-amino compound or at least one primary hindered mono-amine; where components (2) and (3) may be at least partially replaced by a compound containing both a reactive hydrogen atom and a carboxylic acid group; and R      is a hydrocarbyl group or is an amino- or -OH substituted hydrocarbyl group.

Claim 15

An oil-in-water emulsion which contains, as an emulsifier, 2 to 10% by weight of the emulsion of a composition which is the reaction product of (1) at least one compound containing at least one poly(oxyalkylene) group and having at least two -OH groups; (2) at least one compound other than as defined in (1) which contains at least two reactive hydrogen atoms which are present as -OH, -NH₂ or -NHR groups; (3) at least one carboxylic acid containing at least two carboxylic acid groups or the anhydride or chloride thereof; and (4) at least one mono-carboxylic acid or at least one mono-hydroxy compound, or at least one secondary mono-amino compound or at least one primary hindered mono-amine; where components (2) and (3) may be at least partially replaced by a compound containing both a reactive hydrogen atom and a carboxylic acid group; and R      is a hydrocarbyl group or is an amino- or -OH substituted hydrocarbyl group.

Claim 16

A liquid composition containing an agrochemical and a composition which is the reaction product of (1) at least one compound containing at least one poly(oxyalkylene) group and having at least two -OH groups; (2) at least one compound other than as defined in (1) which contains at least two reactive hydrogen atoms which are present as -OH, -NH₂ or -NHR groups; (3) at least one carboxylic acid containing at least two carboxylic acid groups or the anhydride or chloride thereof; and (4) at least one mono-carboxylic acid or at least one mono-hydroxy compound, or at least one secondary mono-amino compound or at least one primary hindered mono-amine; where components (2) and (3) may be at least partially replaced by a compound containing both a reactive hydrogen atom and a carboxylic acid group; and R      is a hydrocarbyl group or is an amino- or -OH substituted hydrocarbyl group.

Claim 17

A liquid composition containing an agrochemical and a composition which is the reaction product of (1) at least one compound containing at least one poly(oxyalkylene) group and having at least two -OH groups; (2) at least one compound other than as defined in (1) which contains at least two reactive hydrogen atoms which are present as -OH, -NH₂ or -NHR groups; (3) at least one carboxylic acid containing at least two carboxylic acid groups or the anhydride or chloride thereof; and (4) at least one mono-carboxylic acid or at least one mono-hydroxy compound, or at least one secondary mono-amino compound or at least one primary hindered mono-amine; where components (2) and (3) may be at least partially replaced by a compound containing both a reactive hydrogen atom and a carboxylic acid group; and R      is a hydrocarbyl group or is an amino- or -OH substituted hydrocarbyl group.

Claim 18

A dispersion of a solid in water which contains, as a dispersant, a composition which is the reaction product of (1) at least one compound containing at least one poly(oxyalkylene) group and having at least two -OH groups; (2) at least one compound other than as defined in (1) which contains at least two reactive hydrogen atoms which are present as -OH, -NH₂ or -NHR groups; (3) at least one carboxylic acid containing at least two carboxylic acid groups or the anhydride or chloride thereof; and (4) at least one mono-carboxylic acid or at least one mono-hydroxy compound, or at least one secondary mono-amino compound or at least one primary hindered mono-amine; where components (2) and (3) may be at least partially replaced by a compound containing both a reactive hydrogen atom and a carboxylic acid group; and R      is a hydrocarbyl group or is an amino- or -OH substituted hydrocarbyl group.

Claim 19

A dispersion of a solid in water which contains, as a dispersant, a composition which is the reaction product of (1) at least one compound containing at least one poly(oxyalkylene) group and having at least two -OH groups; (2) at least one compound other than as defined in (1) which contains at least two reactive hydrogen atoms which are present as -OH, -NH₂ or -NHR groups; (3) at least one carboxylic acid containing at least two carboxylic acid groups or the anhydride or chloride thereof; and (4) at least one mono-carboxylic acid or at least one mono-hydroxy compound, or at least one secondary mono-amino compound or at least one primary hindered mono-amine; where components (2) and (3) may be at least partially replaced by a compound containing both a reactive hydrogen atom and a carboxylic acid group; and R      is a hydrocarbyl group or is an amino- or -OH substituted hydrocarbyl group.