Polyoxyethylene fatty acid ester surfactants and use thereof

摘要

The present invention provides a polyethylene glycol (PEG) ester surfactant comprising at least one polyethylene glycol moiety and at least one fatty acyl moiety characterised in that said moieties are linked by a linkage incorporating a biodegradable methylene diester unit of formula (I) -CO.O.C(R<1>)(R<2>).O.CO- where R<1> and R<2> may, for example, each be a hydrogen atom or a monovalent organic group attached through a carbon atom or R<1> and R<2> together may, for example, form a divalent organic group attached through carbon atoms.