Abstract: Acetal-coupled non-ionic surfactants are easily degraded into relatively environmentally inoccuous fragments having little or no surface activity. The fragments are sufficiently low in molecular weight to be oxidized when exposed to water and atmospheric oxygen. Surface activity can also be destroyed by lowering the alkalinity of the medium in which the non-ionic surfactant is utilized to below pH 7.

Abstract: The subject invention relates to the removal of residual higher alcohols which are present from the preparation of crude higher-alkyl glycosides. The residual higher alcohols are removed via vacuum distillation with a hydroxyl-containing solvent. The purified higher-alkyl glycosides are biodegradable nonionic surfactants which are soluble and stable in highly alkaline cleaning formulations used for bottle washing, metal cleaning, textile treatment and other applications.

Abstract: Biodegradable non-ionic surface-active agents containing carbonate groups or residues of carboxylic esters can be prepared by reacting hydrophilic polyoxyalkylene glycols derived from the same or different alkylene oxide glycols with monofunctional alcohols. The compositions of the invention contain both hydrophilic and hydrophobic groups in the molecule making them suitable for use as surface-active agents. The residues of the monofunctional alcohols provide hydrophobic groups in the molecule of the surface-active agent.

Abstract: Acetal-coupled non-ionic surfactants are easily degraded into relatively environmentally inoccuous fragments having little or no surface activity. The fragments are sufficiently low in molecular weight to be oxidized when exposed to water and atmospheric oxygen. The surface activity can also be destroyed by lowering the alkalinity of the medium in which the non-ionic surfactant is utilized to below pH 7. The non-ionic surfactants of the invention unexpectedly have very low viscosities as compared to surfactants containing a comparable molecular weight and oxyalkylene residue content.

Abstract: Biodegradable non-ionic surface-active agents containing carbonate groups can be prepared by reacting hydrophilic polyoxyalkylene glycols derived from the same or different alkylene oxides with hydrophobic amides or sulfonamides. The compositions of the invention contain both hydrophilic and hydrophobic groups in the molecule making them suitable for use as surface-active agents.

Abstract: A linked compound is a useful lubricant for fibers such as nylon and polyester, providing low volatility at a temperature below about 230.degree. C. and by oxidizing, leaving a low level of residue, at temperatures above about 230.degree. C.

Abstract: A material formed by the reaction of (1) a poly-2-hydroxyalkyl derivative of a polyol having at least five hydroxyl groups, with at least three, and preferably nearly all, of said hydroxyl groups being substituted with one or more 2-hydroxyalkyl groups and (2) a polyglycidyl ether of a polyol, preferably a di- or triglycidyl ether of a polyoxyalkylene diol or triol. These materials have surfactant and defoaming abilities, and are useful in hard surface cleaning, textile and paper applications, and as defoaming agents. The compounds are especially useful as defoaming agent for glycol based antifreeze mixtures, and such antifreeze mixtures are also provided.

Abstract: Polyamines are prepared by first reacting a polyoxyalkylene polyol having one to eight active hydrogen sites with an epihalohydrin. The resulting polyether is, then, reacted with an amine to replace the chlorine atoms with amine functions. The polyamines hereof are useful as intermediates for preparing cationic polyelectrolytes, such as drainage aids and the like.

Abstract: High molecular weight polyglycerol derivatives, useful as thickening agents for water-based lubricants, are prepared by oxyalkylating a polyglycerol with ethylene oxide or a mixture of ethylene oxide and propylene oxide. The polyglycerol derivatives are characterized as having an average of more than five glycerol units, and in having more than 95% and preferably more than 99% alkylene oxide units. These compounds exhibit excellent shear strength and provide an improved hydrolube when incorporated therein.

Abstract: Polyoxyalkylene polyamines are prepared by first reacting a polyoxyalkylene polyol or a polyoxyalkylene glycol monoether with a halogen-containing compound. The resulting halogenated ether is then aminated by the reaction therewith of a mono- or polyamine. The resulting products are substantially monoamine or polyamine derivatives depending upon the amine reactants. The resulting amines hereof are useful as intermediates for preparing cationic surfactants, cationic polymers and as fuel detergent additives.

Abstract: There are disclosed surface lubricants or processing aids for synthetic fibers particularly polyester, polyacrylic, and polyamide (nylon) fibers or mixtures thereof comprising an ethylene oxide capped heteric polymer of tetrahydrofuran (tetramethylene oxide) and ethylene oxide designated as a heteric/block copolymer having the formula:Y--(A).sub.n --(C.sub.2 H.sub.4 0).sub.m --H].sub.

Abstract: Non-gelled polyalkylenepolyamine polyethers are prepared by the reaction of ethylenediamine and polyepichlorohydrin in the presence of an organic solvent. The solvent enables the reactants to be present at less than a 3:1 ratio of polyamine per chlorine atom.

Abstract: Multi-block coupled polyoxyalkylene copolymer surfactants are prepared from individual blocks of polymers and copolymers of alkylene oxides by reacting these with bifunctional compounds to form polycarbonate esters and polyformals.

Abstract: There are disclosed polyoxyalkylene compound demulsifying agents derived from tetrahydrofuran and C.sub.2 -C.sub.4 vicinal alkylene oxides which are heteric/block copolymers; a process for the preparation of said polyoxyalkylene compounds; a demulsified petroleum crude oil; and a batch or continuous process for the demulsification of crude petroleum oil.

Abstract: Highly functional, substantially linear, polyamines are prepared by reacting a primary amine with an epihalohydrin oligomer or a mixture of an epihalohydrin oligomer and a halohydrin-terminated derivative of a polyol. Displacement of the haloalkyl halogen groups of the polyamine with amine groups provides highly functional amine intermediates which are useful in the preparation of drainage aids and the like.

Abstract: Fuels containing detergents have improved water tolerance when combined with acetal or ester terminated polyoxyalkylene ether compounds, acetal or carbonate coupled polyoxyalkylene ether compounds or C.sub.8 -C.sub.18 epoxide adducts of polyoxyalkylene ether compounds.

Abstract: Multi-block coupled polyoxyalkylene copolymer surfactants are prepared from individual blocks of polymers and copolymers of alkylene oxides by reacting these with bifunctional compounds to form polycarbonate esters and polyformals.

Abstract: To obtain nonionic surfactants having solubility and stability in relatively strong aqueous solution of caustic, salt or other electrolytes, corn starch or a similar source of glucose units is reacted with an alcohol containing up to about 4 carbon atoms to obtain a glycoside somewhat more lipophilic than the saccharide, and then the resulting glycoside is reacted with a hydrophobic oxirane-containing material such as a C.sub.6 to C.sub.18 epoxyalkane or a glycidyl ether having about the same number of carbon atoms.

Abstract: By adding to the anolyte of an alkali-brine electrolysis cell of the kind that has a diaphragm of relatively hydrophobic material such as polytetrafluoroethylene, a small quantity of C.sub.8 to C.sub.14 alkyl glycoside, the wetting performance of said anolyte is much improved, and in some instances, good flow of anolyte through the diaphragm is readily re-established, without need for dismantling the cell to re-wet the diaphragm.

Abstract: Alkali stable surfactants are prepared by the sequential reaction of polyoxyalkylene compounds with high molecular weight alkyl vinyl ether followed by low molecular weight alkyl vinyl ether.