Abstract: A process for making polyol alkyl ether involving: (a) providing a polyol; (b) deprotonating the polyol with a base to form a first reaction product; (c) continuously removing water from the first reaction product to form a second reaction product; (d) providing an alk(en)yl (ether) sulfate; (e) reacting the alk(en)yl (ether) sulfate with the second reaction product to form a third reaction product containing a sulfate salt; (f) precipitating the sulfate salt from the third reaction product by adding from about 10 to 20 mol of water per mol of alk(en)yl (ether) sulfate to the third reaction product, at a temperature of from about 50 to 100° C.; (g) forming an aqueous and/or solid phase containing the polyol alkyl ether; and (h) separating the polyol alkyl ether from the aqueous and/or solid phase.

Abstract: Acylamino acids are made by a process which comprises the steps of: (1) introducing a mixture comprised of at least one amino acid or amino acid salt and an alkali source into a reaction zone; (2) adding a mixture comprised of a fatty acid halide of the formula (I): R1COX  (I) wherein R1 is an alkyl or alkenyl group having from 6 to 22 carbon atoms and X is chlorine, bromine or iodine to form a reaction mixture while continuously circulating the reaction mixture from the reaction zone through a mixing zone until all of the second mixture has been added to the reaction zone. The process guarantees uniform mixing of the reaction components without the foaming observed without the use of a mixing zone.

Abstract: Surfactant mixtures comprising (a) a nonionic surfactant mixture present in an amount greater than 60% by weight, based on the weight of the surfactant mixture, the nonionic surfactant mixture comprising: (i) at least one alk(en)yl oligoglycoside of the general formula (I), R1O—[G]p  (I) wherein R1 represents an alk(en)yl radical having from 4 to 22 carbon atoms, G represents a sugar radical having 5 or 6 carbon atoms and p represents a number from 1 to 10; and (ii) at least one nonionic surfactant of the general formula (II) R2O(CH2CHRO)xH  (II) wherein x represents a number of from 1 to 30, each R independently represents a substituent selected from the group consisting of a hydrogen, a methyl group and an ethyl group, and R2 represents a linear alkyl radical having from 16 to 22 carbon atoms; and (b) up to 6% by weight, based on the weight of the surfactant mixture, of one or more anionic surfactants; are described.

Abstract: In a scale with a weighing cell, which can generate weight signals representing the weight of a load each time something is weighed, and with a signal processing system which receives the weight signals and generates: weight data on the basis of the weight signals, information determined on the basis of the weight data such as purchase prices, and/or weighing data containing identification data designating the weighing operation or group of associated weighing operations in question, an elaboration is proposed, according to which the signal processing system has an encryption unit, which can generate encryption data on the basis of at least some of the weighing data, where the signal processing system can transmit a data record containing at least the portion of the weighing data used to generate the encryption data together with the encryption data.

Abstract: A wet etching system for selectively patterning substrates having regions covered with self-assembled monolayers (SAM) thereby controlling the etch profile. The system contains a) a liquid etching solution; and b) at least one additive to the liquid etching solution having a higher affinity to the regions of the substrate covered with the SAMs than to the other regions of the substrate. Also provided is a method of selectively patterning substrates having regions covered with self-assembled monolayers (SAMs), thereby controlling the etch profile, the method consisting of the steps of a) providing a liquid etching solution; b) adding at least one additive to said etching solution having a higher affinity to the regions of the substrate covered with the SAMs than to the other regions of the substrate; and c) etching said substrate with said liquid etching solution containing at least one additive.

Abstract: A cleaning composition containing: (a) a mild surfactant selected from the group consisting of an N-acylamino acid, a salt of an N-acylamino acid, and mixtures thereof; (b) a stabilizing additive selected from the group consisting of a polyol, a polyol fatty acid ester, and mixtures thereof; (c) optionally, a lower aliphatic alcohol; and (e) water.

Abstract: A composition containing an emulsifier component having: (a) a hydroxycarboxylic acid alkyl and/or alkenyl oligoglycoside ester; and (b) a fatty alcohol.

Abstract: A liquid crystal display device includes a substantially transparent substrate layer between a grating layer and a pixel electrode that comprises a solid conductor and an electrically conductive mesh. The device also includes a liquid crystal layer between said pixel electrode and a substantially transparent counter electrode that is arranged at a transparent cover plate. It further includes an active circuit element layer with a field effect transistor for controlling the pixel electrode. A method for manufacturing the liquid crystal display device is further disclosed wherein the pixel electrode is formed by printing a patterned substance onto the substrate layer and selectively plating a conductor onto said substance. The device may also comprise a conductor mesh comprising rows of conductor lines crossing with columns of conductor lines, wherein at least part of the conductor lines are randomly spaced from each other.

Abstract: The invention relates to a method for the production of surface active agent mixtures containing alkyl/and/or alkenyl oligoglycoside/ether carboxylic acids. The invention is characterized in that an aqueous solution from at least one alkyl and/or alkenyl oligoglycoside is reacted in the presence of alkali with an &ohgr;-halogen carboxylic acid, its salts or ester.

Abstract: The invention relates to quaternary surfactants of formula (I) wherein R1CO represents a linear or branched, saturated or unsaturated acyl radical, optionally having a hydroxy function, and having between 6 and 22 carbon atoms and 0, 1, 2 or 3 double bonds; R2 represents a CH2COOH radical or an alkyl radical having between 1 and 4 carbon atoms, or a CH2CH2OH or CH2CH2OCH2CH2OH2 group; and X represents a halide, alkylsulfate, alkylcarbonate or alkylphosphate.

Abstract: A rinse aid composition containing: (a) a hydroxy mixed ether corresponding to formula I: R1O[CH2CHR2O]x[CH2CHR3O]yCH2CH(OH)R4  (I) wherein R1 is an alkyl and/or alkenyl group containing from about 4 to 22 carbon atoms, R2 is hydrogen or a methyl or an ethyl group, R3 is hydrogen or a methyl or an ethyl group, R4 is an alkyl group containing from about 2 to 22 carbon atoms, x is a number up to 30, y is a number up to 30, and x+y is greater than or equal to 1; (b) an alkyl and/or alkenyl oligoglycoside corresponding to formula II: R5O—[G]p  (II) wherein R5 is an alkyl and/or alkenyl group containing from about 4 to 22 carbon atoms, G is a sugar unit containing 5 or 6 carbon atoms, and p is a number from 1 to 10; and (c) a nonionic co-surfactant, and wherein (a) and (b) are present in the composition in a ratio by weight of from about 10:0.1 to 1:10.

Abstract: Pearlescent surfactant compositions are prepared at a temperature of from about 10° C. to about 45° C. by providing an aqueous surfactant solution and then contacting the aqueous surfactant solution with a composition comprised of a pearlizing wax and a polyol ester.

Abstract: Preparations comprising at least one acylated amino acid in an amount of from 40 to 80% by weight and at least one protein condensate in an amount of from 20 to 60% by weight, based on the total weight of the combined at least one acylated amino acid and the at least one protein condensate, are described. Cosmetic and/or pharmaceutical compositions containing said preparations are also described along with methods of preparing emulsions, producing foam and stabilizing foam produced by surfactant compositions.

Abstract: The invention relates to highly ethoxylated hydroxy mixed ethers combined with washing, rinsing and cleaning agents, and the use of such hydroxy mixed ethers as anti-foaming agents in washing, rinsing and cleaning agents.

Abstract: Acylamino acids are made by a process which comprises the steps of: (1) introducing a mixture comprised of at least one amino acid or amino acid salt and an alkali source into a reaction zone; (2) adding a mixture comprised of a fatty acid halide of the formula (I):

Abstract: Preparations comprising at least one acylated amino acid in an amount of from 2 to 50% by weight and an alk(en)yl oligoglycoside in an amount of from 50 to 98% by weight, based on the total weight of the combined acylated amino acid and alk(en)yl oligoglycoside, are described. Cosmetic and/or pharmaceutical compositions containing said preparations are also described along with methods of producing foam and stabilizing foam produced by surfactant compositions.

Abstract: A process for making a surfactant composition involving: (a) providing a starting mixture containing: (i) an aqueous alkali solution; (ii) at least one amino acid and/or a salt thereof; (iii) a fatty acid chloride; (iv) an acylatable surfactant precursor selected from the group consisting of a protein hydrolyzate, a polyamino acid, an aminosulfonic acid, an amino sugar, a nonionic surfactant, and mixtures thereof; and (v) up to about 15% by weight, based on the weight of the starting mixture, of a polyol component; (b) providing a stirring mechanism; and (c) reacting (ii) and (iii), with stirring, to form the surfactant composition.

Abstract: A detergent composition having improved solubility in water comprising: (a) a surfactant selected from the group consisting of an anionic surfactant, a nonionic surfactant, a cationic surfactant, an amphoteric surfactant, and mixtures thereof; (b) a disintegrator component; and (c) defoamer granules containing silicones and support materials, wherein the detergent composition is in solid-form.

Abstract: A speech platform architecture is described that provides standardized methods of interaction for users across multiple speech-enabled applications. Listener objects corresponding to speech-enabled applications are used to provide speech functionality to the speech-enabled applications. A common “What Can I Say?” user interface allows users to easily understand what voice commands are available for a particular speech-enabled application. A common configuration user interface is provided that allows users to configure each listener object. Utilization of particular interfaces provides for the common functionality described. As a result of providing common interfaces, users can more easily learn and use multiple speech-enabled applications utilized with a speech system.

Abstract: Multipurpose cleaners are comprised of an alkoxylated carboxylic acid ester corresponding to the formula (I): wherein R1CO is an aliphatic acyl group, AlkO is CH2CH2O, CHCH3CH2O, CH2CHCH3O, or a combination thereof, n is a number from 1 to 20 and R2 is an aliphatic alkyl group, and a betaine, an amine oxide or a combination thereof.