Readily biodegradable alkoxylate mixtures
A mixture of octanols, nonanols and decanols is useful for the preparation of alkoxylates, which alkoxylates may be used as surfactants, which surfactants have surprisingly good biodegradability.
1. An alkoxylate mixture comprising compounds of the following formula:
wherein R1 is either methyl or ethyl or a combination thereof, R2 is either hydrogen, methyl or ethyl or any combination thereof, wherein x is 3 or 4, y is 1 or 2, m has an average value of from 1 to 15, and n has an average value of 0 to 40, with the proviso that the mixture includes a compound wherein x+y is 4, a compound wherein x+y is 5 and a compound wherein x+y is 6, wherein the alkoxylate mixture comprises 10 to 40 mole percent of compounds with x+y=4, 20 to 80 mole percent of compounds with x+y=5, and 10 to 40 mole percent of compounds with x+y=6, wherein a total mole percent is 100.
2. An alkoxylate mixture of claim 1 wherein R2 is hydrogen or methyl, x is 3 or 4, y is 1 or 2, and m has an average value of from 1 to 15.
3. An alkoxylate mixtures of claim 1 wherein R1 is methyl, x is 3 or 4, y is 1 or 2, and m has an average value of from 3 to 5.
4. An alkoxylate mixture of claim 1 wherein R1 is methyl, R2 is hydrogen, x is 3 or 4, y is 1 or 2, m has an average value of from 3 to 5, and n has an average value of 3 to 15.
5. An alkoxylate mixture of claim 1 wherein m is from 3 to 5 and n is from 3 to 40.
6. An alkoxylate mixture of claim 1 wherein m is 3 to 10, and n is from 1 to 40.
7. An alkoxylate mixture of claim 1 comprising 20 to 30 mole percent of compounds with x+y=4, 40 to 60 mole percent of compounds with x+y=5, and 20 to 30 mole percent of compounds with x+y=6, wherein the total mole percent is 100.
8. A cleaning composition comprising a mixture of claim 1 .
9. An alkoxylate mixture of claim 1 prepared by a process comprising the following steps, (1) conducting a cross aldol condensation of a mixture of butyraldehyde and valeraldehyde under reaction conditions sufficient to produce a corresponding mixture of enals; (2) hydrogenating the mixture of enals under reaction conditions sufficient to produce a mixture of alcohols; and (3) alkoxylating the mixture of alcohols in one or more stages under reaction conditions sufficient to produce the alkoxylate mixture.