PROCESS FOR PREPARING ALKALI METAL SALTS OF POLYETHOXYCARBOXYLIC ACIDS

摘要

A process for preparing an alkaline metal salt of a polyethoxycarboxylic acid defined by the formula R'(OR)m(OCH2CH2)n-1(OCH2)COOM by oxidation in the presence of a platinum or palladium catalyst, of a polyethoxy alcohol of the formula R'(OR)m(OCH2CH2)nOH, followed by reactivating the catalyst in the reaction mixture and recovering in active form the insoluble and soluble catalyst fractions. The alkaline metal salts of polyethoxycarboxylic acids thus produced are useful as surfactants, which can be employed in the recovery of oil from wells of medium and high salinity.