Akzo Nobel N.v.

Akzo N.v.

Hans J Weissen

Burkhard Weuste

Norba Porta

Andrea G Fischer

Manfred Schattschneider

The invention relates to specific aqueous compositions comprising alkoxylated sugar esters and their use as a softener. The alkoxylated sugar esters are characterised by a molar ratio of alkoxy units to hydroxy groups of the unmodified sugar from 1:4 to 3:1, a molar ratio of ester groups to hydroxy groups of the unmodified sugar from 0.25 to 0.70, and an HLB value below 8, preferably from 1-3. Preferably the alkoxylated sugar esters are combined with performance boosters selected from cationic and non-ionic compounds to increase their softening performance.

Use of alkoxylated sugar esters in liquid aqueous softening compositions

The present invention relates to a process for the preparation of quaternary diesters of the formula: ##STR1## wherein X.sup.- represents a halogen atom, R.sub.1 and R.sub.2 are the same or different and are selected from an alkyl group having 1 to 3 carbon atoms or a hydroxyethyl group, or may be linked together to form an alkylene group having 4 to 6 carbon atoms which may be interrupted by an N atom or O atom, and R.sub.3 and R.sub.4 are the same or different and are selected from an alkyl group or alkenyl group having 8 to 22 carbon atoms, or may be linked together to form an alk(en)ylene group having 8 to 22 carbon atoms. In the process

Process for the preparation of quaternary diesters

Glycosiduronic acids, such as alkyl glycosiduronic acids or alkenyl glycosiduronic acids, which may be used in the preparation of surfactant compositions, such as detergents and cleansers, are prepared by reacting an oxidized mono-, oligo-, or polysaccharide with up to 10 monomer units with one or more fatty alcohols having 8-22 carbon atoms in the presence of a catalyst, preferably in bulk, and after acetalization removing the excess alcohol. Preferably the oxidized mono-saccharide used is glucuronic acid and/or glucuronic acid-3,6-lactone.

Growing community of inventors

Kreuzau, Germany

Hans J Weissen