Abstract: There is provided a composition and process for preparing self-emulsifying or emollient agents comprising reacting from about 1 mole of azelaic acid with from about 1 to about 1.25 moles of a C12-18 fatty alcohol to form an azelaic acid monoester having the general formula I-IV: ##STR1## wherein R is a C12-18 fatty alcohol, and the product contains from about 40 to about 50 weight percent of (I), from about 50 to about 60 weight percent of (II), from about 1 to about 2 weight percent of (III), and from about 0 to about 1 weight percent of (IV), all weights being based on the weight of said self-emulsifying or emollient agent.

Abstract: Ammonium fatty acid hydroxyalkanesulfonates are made by a process in which (a) ammonium hydroxyalkanesulfonate corresponding to general formula (I):HO--(C.sub.n H.sub.2n)--SO.sub.3 NH.sub.4 (I)wherein n=2 to 4, is subjected to the esterification reaction with a fatty acid corresponding to the formula (II)R--COOH (II)wherein RCO is an aliphatic, linear or branched acyl radical containing 6 to 18 carbon atoms, in the presence of an esterification catalyst, characterized in that (a) before the esterification reaction, the starting compounds corresponding to formulae (I) and (II) are dried at a temperature of 120.degree. C. to 160.degree. C. and under a pressure of 100 to 700 mbar; (b) the esterification reaction is carried out at a temperature above 160.degree. C. to 195.degree. C. and under a pressure of 250 mbar to atmospheric pressure; (c) water of solution and water of reaction formed are directly removed from the reaction mixture; (d) the catalyst is neutralized with a base on completion of the reaction.

Abstract: Incremental alternating additions of sulfonating agent acids and alkylating alcohols give superior results in the synthesis of alkyl naphthalene sulfonate surfactant products from naphthalene starting material.