Ozone oxidation of polyethoxylated alcohols

The ozonation of a polyethoxylated alcohol (typical of one type of detergent) mixture was performed in aqueous solution under different conditions of pH, reaction time and hydrogen peroxide addition. Surfactant degradation was monitored by TOC measurements. The optimal degradation conditions were found to be at pH ffi 7.5 with hydrogen peroxide addition. Inspection of the reaction products was carried out by GC-MS and GC-FTIR analysis of the silylated mixtures. The main oxidation products of ethoxylated alcohols are dicarboxylic acids.