PROCESS FOR REDUCING THE LEVELS OF NITRITE CONTAMINANTS IN AMINE OXIDE SURFACTANTS

摘要

Amine oxide surfactants contaminated with nitrite are treated under acidic conditions with materials such as maleic acid and diethylenetriaminepentaacetate (DTPA) to reduce nitrite levels below 1 ppm. Thus, C12-13 dimethyl amine is oxidized with hydrogen peroxide in the presence of maleic acid and DTPA to reduce nitrite levels. The resulting nitrite-free amine oxide is employed in various detergent compositions.