Henkel Kommanditgesellschaft Auf Aktien

Henkel Kgaa

Karl-Heinz Linde

Dietrich Kloetzer

Hermann Anzinger

Guenther Panthal

Klaus Ojust

Solid detergents

Alkali metal alkane sulfonates containing on averge 11 to 21 carbon atoms are used as viscosity regulators for aqueous, highly concentrated commercial anionic surfactant concentrates, more especially for .alpha.-sulfofatty acid ester salt concentrates containing at least 30% by weight of .alpha.-sulfofatty acid ester salt. The viscosity regulators are used in quantities of from 0.5 to 10% by weight, based on the surfactant content, so that the concentrates have a viscosity at 40.degree. C. of at most 10,000 mPas.

Alkane sulfonates as viscosity regulators

This invention is directed to a process for the preparation of color-stable, light-colored aqueous salt pastes of wash-active esters of .alpha.-sulfofatty acids with monohydric C.sub.1 -C.sub.8 -alcohols by a combined bleaching treatment of dark-colored .alpha.-sulfofatty acid ester salt paste with hydrogen peroxide and alkali metal hypochlorite. According to the process, dark-colored .alpha.-sulfofatty acid ester salt paste is first subjected in a preliminary bleaching step to bleaching with alkali metal hypochlorite in a neutral to mildly alkaline aqueous medium, any excess metal hypochlorite is removed, and the paste is subjected in a final bleaching step to bleaching in a mildly acidic medium with hydrogen peroxide or with one or more compounds which yield hydrogen peroxide.

Preparation of color-stable, light-colored, aqueous salt pastes of

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Langenfeld, Germany

Karl-Heinz Linde