Abstract:
Aqueous hard surface cleaner compositions useful for removing permanent ink are disclosed. The compositions comprise 75 to 99 wt. % of water; 0.1 to 5 wt. % of a monoterpene; 0.1 to 5 wt. % of a C10-C17 fatty acid derivative; and 0.1 to 5 wt. % of one or more surfactants. The fatty acid derivative is selected from N,N-dialkyl amides, N,N-dialkyl esteramines, and N,N-dialkyl amidoamines. Preferably, a base such as sodium carbonate or monoethanolamine is also included. The invention includes concentrates comprising the non-aqueous components recited above, as well as other applications for the cleaners and concentrates such as graffiti removers and permanent ink erasers. The combination of a monoterpene and certain fatty acid derivatives, especially fatty N,N-dialkyl amides, unexpectedly enables even dilute aqueous compositions to rapidly decolorize black permanent marker from hard, non-porous surfaces.
Abstract:
Methods for making efficient use of steam in a steam-assisted gravity drainage (SAGD) process for recovering heavy oils from tar sands and similar petroleum deposits are disclosed. The methods utilize a surfactant to generate steam foam in ways that maximize efficient use of steam. In some aspects, steam foam is used in water layers or gas caps that reside above steam chambers to prevent loss of steam from the steam chamber. The predominant use of relatively dry steam in SAGD processes makes it challenging to find ways to introduce surfactants and generate steam foam. However, decreasing the mobility of the steam by converting at least some of it to foam allows the wellbore and steam chambers above the injection site to be more fully developed, provides for more effective heat transfer to the heavy oil and rock, improves production, and allows recovery of the heavy oil with a minimum amount of steam usage.
Abstract:
Unsaturated fatty alcohol alkoxylates, processes for making them, and methods of using them are disclosed. In one aspect, a monounsaturated fatty alcohol alkoxylate is made by reducing a metathesis-derived monounsaturated alkyl ester, followed by alkoxylation of the resulting monounsaturated alcohol. Microscopy reveals that the monounsaturated alkoxylates have isotropic and lamellar phases over a wider range of actives levels compared with their saturated analogs. This attribute expands formulating latitude for many end-use applications. The unsaturated fatty alcohol alkoxylates are valuable in, for example, agricultural solvents, nonionic emulsifiers for agricultural compositions, hard surface cleaners, laundry detergents, specialty foams, additives or surfactants for paints or coatings, and surfactant compositions for enhanced oil recovery.
Abstract:
Synergistic surfactant blends are disclosed. In one aspect, the blend comprises an anionic surfactant and a metathesis-based cationic surfactant comprising a quaternized derivative. The quaternized derivative is a quaternized fatty amine, quaternized fatty amidoamine, imidazoline quat, or esteramine quat made from a metathesis-derived C10-C17 monounsaturated acid or its ester derivative. Also disclosed are synergistic surfactant blends comprising a cationic surfactant and a metathesisbased anionic surfactant comprising a sulfonated derivative. The sulfonated derivative is a fatty ester sulfonate, fatty acid sulfonate, sulfoestolide, fatty amide sulfonate, sulfonated fatty ester alkoxylate, imidazoline quat sulfonate, sulfonated amidoamine oxide, or sulfonated amidoamine betaine. The synergistic blends have a negative value or a reduced interfacial tension (IFT) when compared with an expected IFT value calculated from the individual surfactant components. Blends of the invention also exhibit surprisingly favorable solubility profiles.
Abstract:
A structured surfactant system with a very high degree of clarity. The system comprises water and a mixture of at least one surfactant having a HLB (Hydrophilic Lipophilic Balance) value of less than 10, and at least one surfactant having an HLB value of 10 or greater. The structured surfactant system forms multilamellar vesicles and has suspending properties without added electrolytes, carbohydrates, or polymeric thickeners. This makes the structured surfactant system particularly useful in personal care compositions.
Abstract:
Agricultural compositions having reduced aquatic toxicity are disclosed. The compositions comprise an agricultural active, a monounsaturated C10-C12 fatty amine ethoxylate, and optionally water. The compositions may further comprise an auxiliary surfactant, a solvent, or both. In certain preferred aspects, the agricultural active is a glyphosate salt. Agricultural compositions comprising a monounsaturated C10-C12 fatty amine ethoxylate have good herbicidal efficacy. Unexpectedly, the monounsaturated C10-C12 fatty amine ethoxylates have reduced aquatic toxicity when compared with their saturated analogs.
Abstract:
Improved methods for preparing sulfonated block polymers with acyl sulfates in non-halogenated aliphatic solvents are provided. The methods include the sulfonation of a precursor block polymer with an acyl sulfate in a reaction mixture further comprising at least one non-halogenated aliphatic solvent to form a sulfonated block polymer, wherein the initial concentration of the precursor block polymer is in the range of from about 0.1 wt % to a concentration that is below the limiting concentration of the precursor block polymer based on the total weight of the reaction mixture. A sulfonation degree of greater than about 1.0 milliequivalent sulfonic acid per gram sulfonated block polymer can be achieved substantially free of polymer precipitation and free of disabling gelation.
Abstract:
Alkoxylated fatty ester compositions are disclosed. In one aspect, the compositions comprise a reaction product of a metathesis-derived C10-C17 monounsaturated acid, octadecene-1,18-dioic acid, or their ester derivatives with one or more alkylene oxides in the presence of an insertion catalyst to give an alkoxylated fatty ester. In another aspect, the metathesis-derived C10-C17 monounsaturated acid, octadecene-1,18-dioic acid, or its ester derivative is reacted with a glycol ether or a glycol ether alkoxylate, to give an alkoxylated fatty ester. In yet another aspect, the metathesis-derived C10-C17 monounsaturated acid or octadecene-1,18-dioic acid is reacted with one or more alkylene oxides to give a fatty acid alkoxylate, followed by etherification of the fatty acid alkoxylate.
Abstract:
Quaternary ammonium, betaine, or sulfobetaine compositions derived from fatty amines, wherein the fatty amine is made by reducing the amide reaction product of a metathesis-derived C10-C17 monounsaturated acid, octadecene-1,18-dioic acid, or their ester derivatives and a secondary amine, are disclosed. Quaternary ammonium, betaine, or sulfobetaine compositions derived from fatty amidoamines, wherein the amidoamine is made by reacting of a metathesis-derived C10-C17 monounsaturated acid, octadecene-1,18-dioic acid, or their ester derivatives and an aminoalkyl-substituted tertiary amine, are also disclosed. The quaternized compositions are advantageously sulfonated or sulfitated. In one aspect, the ester derivative of the C10-C17 monounsaturated acid or octadecene-1,18-dioic acid is a lower alkyl ester. In other aspects, the ester derivative is a modified triglyceride made by self-metathesis of a natural oil or an unsaturated triglyceride made by cross-metathesis of a natural oil with an olefin. The quaternary ammonium, betaine, and sulfobetaine compositions and their sulfonated or sulfitated derivatives are valuable for a wide variety of end uses, including cleaners, fabric treatment, hair conditioning, personal care (liquid cleansing products, conditioning bars, oral care products), antimicrobial compositions, agricultural uses, and oil field applications.
Abstract:
Alkoxylated fatty ester compositions are disclosed. In one aspect, the compositions comprise a reaction product of a metathesis-derived C10-C17 monounsaturated acid, octadecene-1,18-dioic acid, or their ester derivatives with one or more alkylene oxides in the presence of an insertion catalyst to give an alkoxylated fatty ester. In another aspect, the metathesis-derived C10-C17 monounsaturated acid, octadecene-1,18-dioic acid, or its ester derivative is reacted with a glycol ether or a glycol ether alkoxylate, to give an alkoxylated fatty ester. In yet another aspect, the metathesis-derived C10-C17 monounsaturated acid or octadecene-1,18-dioic acid is reacted with one or more alkylene oxides to give a fatty acid alkoxylate, followed by etherification of the fatty acid alkoxylate.