PREPARATION AND SURFACE-ACTIVE PROPERTIES OF OXYPROPYLATED ALPHA-HYDROXYACIDS, ALPHA-HYDROXYESTERS AND ALPHA-,BETA-ALKANE DIOLS

A series of alpha-hydroxyacids RCH(OH)CO2H, alpha-hydroxyesters RCH(OH)CO2CH3 and alpha, beta-alkane diols was synthetized and condensed with 5-20 moles propylene oxide to obtain nonionic surfactants. Some of the physicochemical properties and the biodegradability of these products were examined. The results showed that the best wetting properties were obtained by the addition of 15 oxypropylene groups to methyl alpha-hydroxymyristate. The alpha-hydroxymyristic acid with 20 moles of propylene oxide gave the highest foam. Biodegradation studies indicated that increasing both the chain length of the hydrophobic alkyl chain or the number of oxypropylene groups in the adduct decreased biodegradation.