Patent ID: 7148375

Claim:
A process to produce a branched alkyl ether sulfate composition comprising: a) contacting an olefin composition having an average carbon number in the range of 3 to 18 having the formula where R 1 represents hydrogen or a hydrocarbyl group having from 1 to 3 carbon atoms, R 2′ represents a hydrocarbyl group having from 1 to 7 carbon atoms where the linkage with the CH group is by double bond, and x is a number ranging from 0 to 16, with 1,3-propane diol in the presence of a catalyst effective to react the olefin with the diol under conditions effective to produce the branched alcohol composition; and b) contacting the branched alcohol composition with a sulfating agent under conditions effective to produce a branched alkyl ether sulfate composition.