A E Staley Manufacturing Company

Leonard F VanderBurgh

Robert S McDaniel, Jr

Allen D Urfer

Stephen J Sommer

Medium and long-chain alkyl glycosides are prepared by reacting a saccharide and a monohydric alcohol in the presence of at least 1 mole N-methyl-2-pyrrolidone per mole saccharide unit. The saccharide is selected from the group consisting of unsubstituted saccharides, short-chain alkyl glycosides, and mixtures thereof. The monohydric alcohol is selected from the group consisting of medium-chain alcohols, long-chain alcohols, and mixtures thereof. The reaction is conducted at a temperature of about 80.degree. to 140.degree. C.

Preparation of alkyl glycosides

Lower alkyl glycosides are added to aqueous liquid detergents to reduce their viscosity and to prevent phase separation. The glycosides are represented by the formula R--O--(G).sub.n where 'R' is a lower alkyl group having 2 to 6 carbon atoms, 'O' is an oxygen atom, 'G' is a saccharide unit, and 'n' is a number from 1 to 10. The glycosides comprise about 1 to 10 weight percent of the detergents.

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Bethany, IL, United States of America

Leonard F VanderBurgh