Extraction method

• US 4,208,280 A
• Filed: 02/13/1978
• Issued: 06/17/1980
• Est. Priority Date: 02/13/1978
• Status: Expired due to Term

• Current Assignee: Huntsman Petrochemical LLC (Huntsman Corporation)
• Original Assignee: Texaco Development Corporation (Chevron Corp.)
• Inventors: Naylor, Carter G.
• Primary Examiner(s): Spear, Jr., Frank A.
• Application Number:
  US05/876,971
• Time in Patent Office: 855 Days
• Field of Search: 252/552, 252/555, 252/553, 210/21, 210/22, 568/756, 568/759, 260/513 R, 260/612 D, 260/613, 260/512 R
• US Class Current: 562/42
• CPC Class Codes: C02F 1/26 by extraction

Abstract

Covers a method of separating a nonionic surfactant from an anionic surfactant by use of cyclohexanone.

Claims

1. The method of resolving a mixture of a nonionic surfactant and an anionic surfactant existing in an aqueous media, said nonionic surfactant having a structural formula as follows:

##STR7## where R is a C₁ -C₂₂ alkyl group, n is an integer of 1-3, R is H or CH₃, and z is an integer of 1-40, said anionic surfactant having a structural formula as follows;

##STR8## where R, R₁, n and z have a significance as above, R₃ is ethylene or propylene and A is a cation;

which comprises the step of treating said aqueous mixture with at least an effective amount of cyclohexanone sufficient to dissolve said nonionic surfactant in said cyclohexanone and separating out said solution of nonionic surfactant in cyclohexanone from a remaining solution of anionic surfactant in water.

2. The method of claim 1 wherein said treatment is carried out at room temperature.

3. The method of claim 1 wherein said solution of cyclohexanone and nonionic surfactant are separate one from the other by distilling out cyclohexanone.

4. The method of claim 1 wherein R₃ is ethylene.

5. The method of claim 1 wherein A is an alkali metal cation.