PURPOSE: To obtain a compound useful as a surfactant for liquid detergents, shampoos, medicines and cosmetics, by sulfating or phosphorylating a polyoxyethylene alkyl ether by a conventional method, subjecting the resultant product to thin film evaporation and neutralizing the resultant substance.
CONSTITUTION: A polyoxyethylene alkyl ether is sulfated or phosphorylated by a conventional method to provide a reaction product, which is then subjected to thin film evaporation at ≤50°C under reduced pressure, preferably at 20W40°C under ≤100mmHg pressure in an inert gas stream, such as nitrogen or air, to remove 1,4-dioxane. The resultant product is subsequently neutralized with a neutralizing agent, such as caustic soda, to afford the aimed substance. Since water is not required in evaporating and removing the 1,4-dioxane, foaming will not occur at all. Furthermore, since formation of the 1,4-dioxane as a by-product by thermal decomposition is suppressed and evaporation efficiency of the contained 1,4-dioxane is good, the aimed substance is obtained at a low treating cost.
FUJITA TADAAKI
MIYAMOTO SHIGEYUKI
