Abstract: A phosphate-free granular laundry detergent having a cleaning performance comparable to that of a premium phosphate-containing laundry detergent has a surfactant content of 1-30% and a detergent builder content of at least 50% by weight and contains:(A) as its sole surfactant, a mixture of 20-98% by weight of an ethoxylated fatty alcohol corresponding to the formula Z(OCH.sub.2 CH.sub.2).sub.

Abstract: A tert-amine which contains an acid-activated color body precursor is treated to prevent it or a derivative thereof, e.g., an amine oxide, betaine, or quaternary ammonium compound, from turning pink when exposed to acidic conditions by contacting it with ascorbic acid.

Abstract: Novel perhydrates having utility as surfactants and bleaching agents are obtained by reacting an anhydrous amine oxide or an amine oxide monohydrate with hydrogen peroxide in such proportions as to provide a compound corresponding to the formula RR'R"NO.multidot.xH.sub.2 O.multidot.yH.sub.2 O.sub.2 in which R is a primary alkyl group containing 8-24 carbons; R' is methyl, ethyl, or 2-hydroxyethyl; R" is independently selected from methyl, ethyl, 2-hydroxyethyl, and primary alkyl groups containing 8-24 carbons; x is 0 or 1; y is 1 or 2; and x+y is .ltoreq.2.

Abstract: A pourable amine oxide composition which is suitable for use in detergent compositions is obtained by reacting a tert-amine with aqueous hydrogen peroxide in a nonionic surfactant as the sole organic solvent, at least a portion of the nonionic surfactant being an alkylphenol ethoxylate or other compound corresponding to the formula Z[OC(Z')HCH.sub.2 ].sub.m OH in which Z is an alkylphenyl group wherein the alkyl group contains 4-30 carbons, Z' is hydrogen or an alkyl or hydroxyalkyl group containing 1-3 carbons, and m is an integer of 1-100. When the composition has a low water content, it is suitable for use in water-sensitive formulations, such as bar soaps and detergent concentrates.

Abstract: Surfactant mixtures capable of providing a foamability performance equal to that of any of the components of the mixture at a lower cost comprise (1) an ethoxylated fatty alcohol, (2) a fatty acid alkanolamide, and (3) an alkyl sulfate.

Abstract: A solid amine oxide is prepared by reacting a tert-amine with at least a stoichiometric amount of an aqueous hydrogen peroxide having a concentration of at least 50% by weight in the presence as the reaction medium of a normally gaseous material which (a) has a critical temperature <160.degree. C. and a critical pressure <12 MPa, (b) is in a liquefied, densified, or supercritical state in which it has a density of at least 0.1 g/cc, and (c) is present in an amount sufficient to maintain the reaction mixture stirrable throughout the reaction.

Abstract: The divalent ion sequestration rate of a zeolite is increased by blending it with an amine oxide corresponding to the formula RR'R"NO in which R is a primary alkyl group containing 6-24 carbons and R' and R" are independently selected from methyl, ethyl, and 2-hydroxyethyl to provide about 2.3-7.0 mmols of amine oxide per gram of zeolite. Preferred ingredients are zeolite A and N-tetradecyldimethylamine oxide, and the increased sequestration rate makes the zeolite more suitable for use as detergent builder in anionic surfactant-containing cleaning compositions.

Abstract: Surfactant compositions which provide acceptable foamability at a lower cost than amine oxide/alkyl sulfate mixtures consist of (A) 5-85% by weight of an amine oxide corresponding to the formula RR'R"NO in which R is a primary alkyl group containing 6-24 carbons and R' and R" are independently selected from methyl, ethyl, and 2-hydroxyethyl, (B) 5-85% by weight of an alkyl sulfate surfactant, and (C) 10-50% by weight of a normally liquid polyalkylene glycol.

Abstract: A non-aromatic tert-amine is oxidized with hydrogen peroxide at about 20.degree.-100.degree. C. by a carbon dioxide-accelerated high solids process in which discoloration of the amine oxide product is minimized by diluting the carbon dioxide before allowing it to contact the reaction mixture so that the entire reaction is conducted in an atmosphere composed of carbon dioxide and an amount of inert gas, such as nitrogen or air, which is at least equal in volume to the amount of carbon dioxide.

Abstract: Surfactant compositions which provide acceptable foamability at a lower cost than amine oxides consist of (A) an amine oxide corresponding to the formula RR'R"NO in which R is a primary alkyl group containing 6-24 carbons and R' and R" are independently selected from methyl, ethyl, and 2-hydroxyethyl and (B) a normally liquid polyalkylene glycol.

Abstract: The rewettability of laundered fabrics, such as cotton fabrics, that are softened by the use of a laundry rinse is improved by using as the laundry rinse a rinse comprising an aqueous solution of a mixture of 20-75% by weight of N-octadecyl-N,N-dimethylamine oxide and 80-25% weight of N-dihydrogenatedtallow-N,N-dimethylammonium chloride as the fabric softener.

Abstract: Quaternary ammonium halides are prepared in solid form by reacting an alkyl or aralkyl halide with ammonia or an amine in a liquefied gas as the solvent.

Abstract: Surfactant mixtures which have foamability performance and/or cost advantages over the individual components consist of 50-95% by weight of an alkyldimethylbetaine in which the alkyl group contains 8-18 carbons and 50-5% by weight of a fatty acid alkanolamide. Preferred mixtures are those in which the betaine is tetradecyldimethylbetaine and the alkanolamide is cocodiethanolsuperamide.

Abstract: Surfactant mixtures which provide denser foams than the individual components consist of 50-90% by weight of an amine oxide corresponding to the formula RR'R"NO in which R is a primary alkyl group containing 6-24 carbons and R' and R" are independently selected from methyl, ethyl, and 2-hydroxyethyl and 50-10% by weight of an alkylbenzenesulfonate surfactant. Preferred mixtures are those in which the amine oxide is N-tetradecyldimethylamine oxide and the alkylbenzenesulfonate surfactant is sodium dodecylbenzenesulfonate.

Abstract: Surfactant mixtures which have performance and/or cost advantages over either component alone consist of 5-95% by weight of an amine oxide corresponding to the formula RR'R"NO in which R is a primary alkyl group containing 6-24 carbons and R' and R" are independently selected from methyl, ethyl, and 2-hydroxyethyl and 95-5% by weight of a fatty acid alkanolamide. Preferred mixtures are those in which the amine oxide is N-tetradecyldimetylamine oxide and the alkanolamide is cocodiethanolsuperamide.

Abstract: A pourable amine oxide composition which is suitable for use in detergent compositions is obtained by reacting a tert-amine with aqueous hydrogen peroxide in a normally liquid polyethylene glycol as the sole organic solvent. When the composition has a low water content, it is suitable for use in water-sensitive formulations, such as bar soaps and detergent concentrates.

Abstract: Surfactant mixtures which have performance and/or cost advantages over the individual components consist of 5-90% by weight of an amine oxide corresponding to the formula RR'R"NO in which R is a primary alkyl group containing 6-24 carbons and R' and R" are independently selected from methyl, ethyl, and 2-hydroxyethyl, 5-90% by weight of a fatty acid alkanolamide, and 5-90% by weight of an alkyl sulfate surfactant. Preferred mixtures are those in which the amine oxide is N-tetradecyldimethylamine oxide, the alkanolamide is cocodiethanolsuperamide, and the alkyl sulfate is sodium lauryl sulfate.

Abstract: Surfactant mixtures having improved foamability and/or cost performance consist of 5-90% by weight of an amine oxide corresponding to the formula RR'R"NO in which R is a primary alkyl group containing 6-24 carbons and R' and R" are independently selected from methyl, ethyl, and 2-hydroxyethyl, 5-90% by weight of an alkanolamide, and 5-60% by weight of an alkyl sarcosinate. Preferred mixtures are those in which the amine oxide is N-tetradecyldimethylamine oxide, the alkanolamide is cocodiethanolsuperamide, and the sarcosinate is sodium lauryl sarcosinate.

Abstract: Surfactant mixtures which have foamability performance and/or cost advantages over the individual components consist of 5-85% by weight of an amine oxide corresponding to the formula RR'R"NO in which R is a primary alkyl group containing 6-24 carbons and R' and R" are independently selected from methyl, ethyl, and 2-hydroxyethyl and 95-15% by weight of an alkylamidopropyldimethylbetaine in which the alkyl group contains 8-18 carbons. Preferred mixtures are those in which the amine oxide is N-tetradecyldimethylamine oxide and the betaine is cocoamidopropyldimethylbetaine.

Abstract: Surfactant mixtures which have better formability than the individual components consist of 55-95% by weight of an amine oxide corresponding to the formula RR'R"NO in which R is a primary alkyl group containing 6-24 carbons R' and R" are independently selected from methyl, ethyl, and 2-hydroxyethyl and 45-5% by weight of an alkylphenoxysulfosuccinate in which the alkyl group contains 8-18 carbons. Preferred mixtures are those in which the amine oxide is N-tetradecyldimethylamine oxide and the alkylphenoxysulfosuccinate is nonylphenoxysulfosuccinate.