Alkyl glyceryl ether sulfate salts and process for their preparation

Claim 2

A process for preparing a mixture of linear alkyl glyceryl ether alcohols containing 1 to 3 glyceryl units which comprises the steps of bringing together and reacting, a C 10 -C 20 linear alkyl alcohol and glycidol which is predissolved in hexyl acetate, in the presence of an acid catalyst in a reaction zone, said alcohol and glycidol being brought together and reacted in a molecular ratio within the range of from about 1.5:1 to about 8:1; maintaining the resulting reaction mass in an agitated condition; maintaining the temperature of the reaction mass within the range of from about 25° to about 125° C. during the reaction period; and recovering said mixture of linear alkyl glyceryl ether alcohols from the reaction mass.

Claim 3

The process of claim 1 wherein the linear alkyl alcohol reactant is a C 12 -C 16 linear alkyl alcohol.

Claim 4

The process of claim 1 wherein the linear alkyl alcohol reactant is lauryl alcohol.

Claim 5

The process of claim 1 wherein the linear alkyl alcohol and glycidol are brought together and reacted in a molecular ratio within the range of from about 2:1 to about 4:1.

Claim 6

The process of claim 1 wherein the temperature of the reaction mass is maintained within the range of from about 60° to about 95° C.

Claim 7

The process of claim 1 wherein the reaction of the linear alkyl alcohol and glycidol is carried out in an inert atmosphere.

Claim 8

The process of claim 1 wherein the hexyl acetate solution of glycidol is a 2-30 weight % solution.

Claim 9

A process for preparing a mixture of linear alkyl glyceryl ether sulfate salts containing 1 to 3 glyceryl units which comprises the steps of bringing together and reacting, a C 10 -C 20 linear alkyl alcohol and glycidol wich is predissolved in hexyl acetate, in the presence of an acid catalyst in a reaction zone, said alcohol and glycidol being brought together and reacted in a molecular ratio within the range of from about 1.5:1 to about 8:1; maintaining the resulting reaction mass in an agitated condition; maintaining the temperature of the reaction mass within the range of from about 25° to about 125° C. during the reaction period, recovering a mixture of linear alkyl glyceryl ether alcohols containing 1 to 3 glyceryl units from the reaction mass, contacting and reacting said mixture of ether alcohols with a sulfating agent, said ether alcohols and sulfating agent being contacted and reacted in a molecular ratio within the range of from about 1:1 to about 1:1.15; maintaining the resulting sulfation reaction mass in an agitated condition; maintaining the temperature of the sulfation reaction mass within the range of from about -15° to about 75° C. during the reaction period; recovering a mixture of linear alkyl glyceryl ether sulfates, neutralizing said mixture of sulfates with base and recovering a mixture of linear alkyl glyceryl ether sulfate salts containing 1 to 3 glyceryl units.

Claim 10

A process for preparing a mixture of linear alkyl glyceryl ether sulfate salts containing 1 to 3 glyceryl units which comprises the steps of bringing together and reacting, a C 10 -C 20 linear alkyl alcohol and glycidol wich is predissolved in hexyl acetate, in the presence of an acid catalyst in a reaction zone, said alcohol and glycidol being brought together and reacted in a molecular ratio within the range of from about 1.5:1 to about 8:1; maintaining the resulting reaction mass in an agitated condition; maintaining the temperature of the reaction mass within the range of from about 25° to about 125° C. during the reaction period, recovering a mixture of linear alkyl glyceryl ether alcohols containing 1 to 3 glyceryl units from the reaction mass, contacting and reacting said mixture of ether alcohols with a sulfating agent, said ether alcohols and sulfating agent being contacted and reacted in a molecular ratio within the range of from about 1:1 to about 1:1.15; maintaining the resulting sulfation reaction mass in an agitated condition; maintaining the temperature of the sulfation reaction mass within the range of from about -15° to about 75° C. during the reaction period; recovering a mixture of linear alkyl glyceryl ether sulfates, neutralizing said mixture of sulfates with base and recovering a mixture of linear alkyl glyceryl ether sulfate salts containing 1 to 3 glyceryl units.

Claim 11

The process of claim 8 wherein the linear alkyl alcohol reactant is a C 12 -C 16 linear alkyl alcohol.

Claim 12

The process of claim 8 wherein the linear alkyl alcohol reactant is lauryl alcohol.

Claim 13

The process of claim 8 wherein the linear alkyl alcohol and glycidol are brought together and reacted in a molecular ratio within the range of from about 2:1 to about 4:1.

Claim 14

The process of claim 8 wherein the linear alkyl alcohol and glycidol reaction mass is maintained at a temperature of from about 60° to about 95° C. during the reaction period.

Claim 15

The process of claim 8 wherein the reaction between the linear alkyl alcohol and glycidol is carried out under an inert atmosphere.

Claim 16

The process of claim 8 wherein the hexyl acetate solution of glycidol is a 2-30 weight % solution.

Claim 17

The process of claim 8 wherein the sulfating agent is chlorosulfonic acid.

Claim 18

The process of claim 15 wherein the ether alcohols and sulfating agent are contacted and reacted in a molecular ratio within the range of from about 1:1.01 to about 1:1.05.

Claim 19

The process of claim 15 wherein the sulfation reaction mass is maintained at a temperature within the range of from about 30° to about 40° C.

Claim 20

The process of claim 8 wherein the sulfating agent is sulfur trioxide.

Claim 21

The process of claim 18 wherein the sulfur trioxide is admixed with a diluent selected from the group consisting of nitrogen, air and sulfur dioxide, prior to being contacted with the ether alcohol reactant.

Claim 22

The process of claim 18 wherein the ether alcohols and sulfating agent are contacted and reacted in a molecular ratio within the range of from about 1:1.01 to about 1:1.05.

Claim 23

The process of claim 18 wherein the sulfation reaction mass is maintained at a temperature within the range of from about -10° to about 20° C.

Claim 24

The process of claim 8 wherein the ether alcohol is predissolved in a diluent prior to being contacted and reacted with the sulfating agent.

Claim 25

The process of claim 22 wherein the diluent is methylene chloride.