Wax Ethers and Related Methods

Abstract

Implementations of a method of forming a wax ether composition may include: providing a batch of lipids, drying the batch of lipids, and cooling the batch of lipids. The method may also include dosing, with a catalyst, the batch of lipids at 0.1% to 0.3% by weight of the batch of lipids and dissolving the catalyst in the batch of lipids to form a homogenous solution. The method may include adding at least a molar equivalent of a hydrogen donor to the homogenous solution. The method may include sealing and maintaining the homogenous solution and hydrogen donor under atmospheric pressure under reflux until a chemical reaction between the homogenous solution and the hydrogen donor forms a product comprising an ether.

What is claimed is: 
     
         1 . A method of forming an ether composition, the method comprising:
 providing a batch of lipids;   drying the batch of lipids;   dosing the batch of lipids with a catalyst at 0.1% to 0.3% by weight of the batch of lipids to form a homogenous solution; and   sealing and maintaining the homogenous solution and a hydrogen donor under atmospheric pressure under reflux until a chemical reaction between the homogenous solution and the hydrogen donor forms a product comprising an ether.   
     
     
         2 . The method of  claim 1 , wherein drying the batch of lipids comprises heating the batch of lipids at 100 C under agitation and vacuum. 
     
     
         3 . The method of  claim 1 , further comprising cooling the batch of lipids; dissolving the catalyst to form the homogenous solution; and adding at least a molar equivalent of the hydrogen donor to the homogenous solution. 
     
     
         4 . The method of  claim 1 , further comprising removing a residue of the hydrogen donor through one of vacuum distillation or physical separation. 
     
     
         5 . The method of  claim 1 , further comprising capturing and redistributing the hydrogen donor using a condenser during the chemical reaction. 
     
     
         6 . The method of  claim 1 , wherein a product of the chemical reaction comprises an iodine value of 52 and a melting point of 45 C. 
     
     
         7 . The method of  claim 1 , wherein the hydrogen donor comprises 1,1,3,3-tetramethyldisiloxane (TMDS). 
     
     
         8 . The method of  claim 1 , wherein the catalyst is a metal halide. 
     
     
         9 . A method of forming an ether composition, the method comprising:
 providing a batch of triglycerides;   drying the batch of triglycerides;   dosing the batch of triglycerides with a catalyst at 0.1% to 0.3% by weight of the batch of triglycerides to form a homogenous solution; and   sealing and maintaining the homogenous solution and a hydrogen donor under atmospheric pressure under reflux until a chemical reaction between the homogenous solution and the hydrogen donor forms a product comprising an ether.   
     
     
         10 . The method of  claim 9 , wherein drying the batch of triglycerides comprises heating the batch of triglycerides at 100 C under agitation and vacuum. 
     
     
         11 . The method of  claim 9 , further comprising cooling the batch of triglycerides to 5 C-10 C above a melting point of the batch of triglycerides under agitation and vacuum. 
     
     
         12 . The method of  claim 9 , further comprising removing a residue of the hydrogen donor through one of vacuum distillation or physical separation. 
     
     
         13 . The method of  claim 9 , further comprising capturing and redistributing the hydrogen donor using a condenser during the chemical reaction. 
     
     
         14 . The method of  claim 9 , further comprising adding at least a molar equivalent of a hydrogen donor to the homogenous solution. 
     
     
         15 . A method of forming a wax ether composition, the method comprising:
 providing a batch of wax esters;   drying the batch of wax esters;   dosing with a catalyst, the batch of triglycerides at 0.1% to 0.3% by weight of the batch of wax esters to form a homogenous solution; and   sealing and maintaining the homogenous solution and a hydrogen donor under atmospheric pressure under reflux until a chemical reaction between the homogenous solution and the hydrogen donor forms a product comprising an ether.   
     
     
         16 . The method of  claim 15 , wherein the batch of wax esters comprises wax esters comprising carbon chain lengths ranging from C24 to C52. 
     
     
         17 . The method of  claim 15 , wherein drying the batch of wax esters comprises heating the batch of wax esters at 100 C under agitation and vacuum. 
     
     
         18 . The method of  claim 15 , further comprising cooling the batch of wax esters to 5 C-10 C above a melting point of the batch of wax esters under agitation and vacuum. 
     
     
         19 . The method of  claim 15 , further comprising adding at least a molar equivalent of hydrogen donor to the homogenous solution. 
     
     
         20 . The method of  claim 15 , further comprising capturing and redistributing the hydrogen donor using a condenser during the chemical reaction.