Toxic contaminants in polyoxyethylene alkylamines

Model and technical-grade alkylamines were oxyethylated in the presence of NaOH and water and the amounts of oxirane, 1,4-dioxane and ethylene glycol were determined. Significantly higher levels of toxic contaminants are form ed in the presence of water. The two-step synthesis permits the levels of t oxic contaminants to be decreased. The lowest amounts of these toxic compon ents are observed in N-alky-N,N-di(hydroxyethyl)amine obtained without any catalyst. The two-step synthesis also makes it possible to narrow the polyo xyethylene chain distribution. The toxic contaminants can be effectively st ripped from the reaction mixture by nitrogen purging at elevated temperatur e.