a polyoxyalkylene chain can be completely random and or there can be blocks of ethyleneoxy and or monosubstituted ethyleneoxy groups and r 5 designates hydrogen or a monovalent organic radical selected from the group consisting of c 1 to c 4 aliphatic hydrocarbon groups the alkoxylated tertiary and amine surfactants produced by the process of the invention can be used as phase transfer catalysts and metal ion chelation agents to carry the metal ions from an aqueous phase into a water immiscible organic solvent phase this utility is important in the refining of metals from metal ores they can also be used in from 0 1 to 20 by weight based on solids content as a surfactant and protective colloid in hydrophilic emulsion polymer latexes e g vinyl acrylic latexes to produce a stable latex the addition they can be used as a surfactant component of cleaning and laundry and dishwasher detergent compositions where good water solubility high mobility and low foaming properties in aqueous solutions are desired for the surfactant component thereof for this use from 1 to 50 by weight based on solids content can be present in the compositions they can also be used to control foaming in otherwise high foaming cleaning compositions aqueous cleaning compositions exhibit a tendency toward foaming because they contain surface active agents such as soaps and synthetic detergents in many instances such cleaning compositions produce excessive foam and the user must use substances known as anti foaming agents or defoamers some defoamers such as silicones tend to interfere with the function of the cleaning compositions in that unwanted residues are left after the cleaners are wiped off while others are environmentally unacceptable because they are.