Manufacture of fatty acid esters of sorbitan as surfactants

摘要

A method of making fatty acid esters of sorbitan comprising reacting the fatty acid directly with sorbitol in the presence of a catalyst system that comprises a phosphorus oxyacid, including a reducing phosphorus oxyacid, and an alkali or alkali earth metal strong base in a molar ratio of acid to base of from 0.9:1 to 1.7:1 and at a catalyst system concentration of from about 1.5 to about 30% by weight of the sorbitol. The esters and polyalkyleneoxy derivatives are useful surfactants in various applications. Products of low colour made without using activated carbon or bleaching are attractive for personal care applications