PRODUCTION OF FATTY ACID POLYOXYALKYLENEALKYL ETHER, AND COMPOSITE METAL OXIDE CATALYST USED FOR THE PRODUCTION

摘要

PROBLEM TO BE SOLVED: To obtain the subject compound useful as an emulsifier used in various kinds of industrial fields by subjecting a fatty acid alkyl ester to direct addition polymerization reactions with ethylene oxide and subsequently with an alkylene oxide in the presence of a specific catalyst. SOLUTION: This compound of the formula: R<1> C(O)(AO)m(EO)nOR<2> [AO is a 3-8C alkylene oxide; EO is ethylene oxide; (m), (n) are each an integer of 1 or larger; (n)+(m)=2 to 50] is obtained e.g. by a method comprising charging a fatty acid alkyl ester of the formula: R<1> COOR<2> (R<1> is a 1-40C alkyl or the like; R<2> is a 1-20C alkyl or the like) and a composite metal oxide catalyst, preferably a composite metal oxide catalyst whose surface is modified with a metal hydroxide and/or a metal alkoxide, into an autoclave, charging and reacting ethylene oxide in the autoclave preferably at 120-180 deg.C under 2-6 atm and further charging and reacting an alkylene oxide. The catalyst is preferably used in an amount of 0.1-5 wt.% based on the fatty acid alkyl ester.