Abstract: A process arrangement for carrying out a fully automatic setting process, in which a setting device drives a clip element into a component pilot hole. The process arrangement has a transfer unit, in particular a robot, to which the setting device is attached, and the transfer unit is adjustable between a pickup position, in which the setting device grabs the clip element, and a setting position, in which the setting device drives the clip element into the component pilot hole.

Abstract: A water treatment unit having: (a) a cooling tower; (b) a source of cooling water; (c) a main flow pipe for receiving the cooling water; (d) a source of fresh water connected to the source of cooling water; (e) a heat exchanger for heating the cooling water to form heated water; (f) a branched flow pipe for separating the heated water into a main stream of heated water and a partial stream of heated water; (g) a non-backwashable filter capable of separating waste contained in the partial stream of heated water into a compact waste residue and a first filtrate, in the absence of backwashing; and (h) a return pipe for transporting the main filtrate back to the cooling tower, wherein the cooling water is introduced through the main flow pipe into the heat exchanger where it is heated, after which it is split into a main stream of heated water and a partial stream of heated water, the main stream of heated water being transported back to the cooling tower, with the partial stream being transported, by way of the

Abstract: A process for producing solid detergent granular materials is presented involving (a) forming an aqueous surfactant paste of an anionic surfactant, an amphoteric surfactant or mixtures thereof, and (b) drying and granulating the aqueous paste in a horizontal thin-layer evaporator or dryer having rotating fittings, wherein the drying is carried out at a temperature of 120° C. to 130° C. The process produces granules having a bulk density greater than 600 grams/liter and a uniform particle size distribution.

Abstract: In the production of light-colored pastes of .alpha.-sulfofatty acid alkyl ester alkali metal salts by reaction of fatty acid alkyl esters with gaseous SO.sub.3, subsequent after-reaction in liquid phase, neutralization with aqueous alkali metal hydroxide solutions and bleaching, effective bleaching can be obtained without any reduction in the washing-active substance content by addition of the hydrogen peroxide during neutralization of the .alpha.-sulfofatty acid alkyl ester and subjecting the neutralization product obtained to a temperature-controlled after-reaction.

Abstract: In the production of highly concentrated pastes of .alpha.-sulfofatty acid alkyl ester alkali metal salts by reaction of fatty acid alkyl esters with gaseous SO.sub.3, subsequent after-reaction in liquid phase and neutralization with aqueous alkali hydroxide solutions, the sulfonation product and aqueous alkali metal hydroxide solution are introduced during neutralization into an aqueous phase initially containing 0 to 55% by weight washing-active substance at a pH value in the range from 2 to 8 and washing-active substance contents of 60 to 70% by weight are established.

Abstract: In the production of .alpha.-sulfofatty acid alkyl ester alkali metal salt pastes by reaction of fatty acid alkyl esters with gaseous SO.sub.3, subsequent after-reaction in liquid phase and neutralization with aqueous alkali metal hydroxide solutions, the crude sulfonation product is fed to an at least two-stage cascade of stirred tanks equipped with heating and cooling systems in which it is subjected with mechanical agitation to a temperature-controlled after-reaction until a degree of sulfonation of at least 90% is reached, after which the aged sulfonation product is further processed in known manner to .alpha.-sulfofatty acid alkyl ester alkali metal salt pastes.

Abstract: In the production of highly concentrated pastes of .alpha.-sulfofatty acid alkyl ester alkali metal salts by reaction of fatty acid alkyl esters with gaseous SO.sub.3, subsequent after-reaction in liquid phase and neutralization with aqueous alkali hydroxide solutions, the sulfonation product and aqueous alkali metal hydroxide solution are introduced during neutralization into an aqueous phase initially containing at least 55% by weight washing-active substance at a pH value in the range from 2 to 8 and washing-active substance contents of 60 to 70% by weight are established.