Research & Technology Director Croda Inc New Castle, DE, United States
Abstract: 100% biobased non-ionic surfactants are synthesized through a one-step reaction of sucrose and a vegetable oil with bio-based ethylene oxide. Confirmed analytically, the products are blends of ethoxylated sucrose fatty esters and ethoxylated glycerol fatty esters. It is believed that both ethoxylation and transesterification occur simultaneously. This direct ethoxylation process for non-ionic surfactants is advantageous over conventional processes for ethoxylated non-ionic surfactants, such as polysorbates, on energy and cost savings.
Being predominantly ethoxylated sucrose fatty esters, these novel non-ionic surfactants are excellent demulsifies in separating oil from oil / water mixtures, such as a stillage generated in a corn ethanol production plant.
