Methyl ester ethoxylates

Conventional ethoxylation of fatty methyl esters, or other fatty-fatty esters or diesters, produces poor yields of the desired ethoxylated ester. A proprietary ethoxylation catalyst, currently in use to produce ''peaked'' or ''narrow-range'' alcohol ethoxylates, has been found to successfully insert ethylene oxide into the ester linkage of fatty esters. The mechanism for this insertion likely involves an ethoxylation-transesterification step in the ethoxylation process. Physical, performance, and environmental/human safety properties were evaluated. Results, in general, show that methyl ester ethoxylates behave similarly to alcohol ethoxylates with the exception of having a lower foam profile and being less irritating.