Melissa S Mund

US Patent:

62011448, Mar 13, 2001

Filed:

May 29, 1996

Appl. No.:

8/654654

Inventors:

Terry A. Isbell - Elmwood IL
Melissa S. Mund - Washington IL

Assignee:

The United States of America as represented by the Secretary of Agriculture - Washington DC

International Classification:

C07C 5900

US Classification:

554213

Abstract:

Fatty ether compounds and a process for their production is disclosed. The compounds possess low viscosity and low temperature melting point properties and may be used as viscosity modifiers in the creation of cosmetics and complete vegetable oil based biodegradable fluids such as hydraulic fluids and dielectric fluids. Formation of these fatty ether compounds is by reaction of the appropriate hydroxy fatty acid or lactone with a nucleophilic alcohol in the presence of an acid catalyst to produce fatty ether esters. Following their formation, the fatty ether esters may be recovered for subsequent use, or in the alternative, they may either be hydrolyzed to produce fatty ether acids or transesterified with a different nucleophilic alcohol in the presence of an acid catalyst to produce alternate ester variants.