abstract |
A process for the alkoxylation of a polyetheramine to form an etheramine alkoxylate. In the process, a polyetheramine is reacted with an alkylene oxide in the presence of an alcohol to form the etheramine alkoxylate. The alcohol serves as a catalyst to allow the reaction proceed at a heightened temperature as compared to the reaction in the absence of alcohol, while at the same time limiting the amount of glycol by-product production which would otherwise typically form when higher polyetheramines are to be alkoxylated. The alcohol may be, for instance, ethanol or methanol. |