GB475075A - Improvements relating to the preparation of detergents and wetting agents - Google Patents

Abstract

Wetting-agents and detergents comprising salts of acid esters derived from oxygen containing mineral acids and alcohols or olefines having 8 to 25 carbon atoms in the molecule are purified by adding to the aqueous solution of the salt a water soluble volatile organic liquid capable of forming a constant boiling mixture with water, removing a substantial part of the organic liquid whereby part of the water is also removed, and the inorganic salts present precipitated, and recovering the alkyl ester salt after removal of the inorganic salts. In an example, the products obtained by limited oxidation of paraffin wax with air are saponified to separate the fatty acids and the unsaponified fraction, after extraction, hydrogenated to convert the aldehydes and ketones. The resulting secondary and tertiary alcohols are sulphonated with chlorsulphonic acid in ether, neutralized and extracted with petroleum naphtha to remove unsulphated material. The aqueous product is converted into a paste by evaporation, propyl alcohol is added and evaporation continued until the inorganic salts are precipitated. In order to facilitate the separation of the latter, an anhydrous organic solvent, e.g. propylalcohol may be added. The salts of esters derived from phosphoric acid and alcohols or olefines are referred to. The olefines may be obtained by cracking paraffin wax or petrolatum.