The invention describes a process for the preparation of surfactant alcohols
and surfactant alcohol ethers which are, inter alia, highly suitable as surfactants
or for the preparation of surfactants. The process, starting from olefin mixtures
having a defined minimum content of linear hexenes, gives mixtures having a predominant
fraction of branched dodecenes, which are subsequently derivatized to give surfactant
alcohols and then optionally alkoxylated.
The surfactant alcohol mixture obtained in the process has a degree of branching
of from 2.0 to 3.0 and in particular exhibits advantageous properties as regards
ecotoxicity and biodegradability.
A description is also given of the use of the surfactant alcohols and surfactant
alcohol ethers as surfactants by glycosidation or polyglycosidation, sulfation
or phosphation.
