Abstract: The invention relates to a process for preparing polyether alcohols by reacting one or more alkylene oxides having one or more H-functional starting substances in a continuous reactor that comprises flow channels, at a temperature of 180° C. to 250° C. and a pressure of 60 to 150 bar in the presence of a basic, metal-containing catalyst, wherein the concentration of the catalyst, based on the total amount of reaction mixture of alkylene oxide, H-functional starting substance and catalyst, is no more than 50 ppm by weight, and the residence time of the reaction mixture in the reactor is 15 to 120 minutes.

Abstract: The invention relates to a decorative material which comprises a polyethylene glycol having a number average molecular weight in the range of 1,500 to 35,000 g/mol, in the form of solid, flake-like or powder-like particles with a bulk density of between 0.3 and 1.1 g/cm3 and a particle size of between 1 ?m and 20 mm; and to a method for producing same.

Abstract: The invention relates to a method for producing pure alpha-alkoxy-?-hydroxy-polyalkylene glycols, creating small impurities of the product on high-molecular a-?-di-hydroxy-polyalkylene glycols. The method is based on the use of high-boiling initiator alcohols of the following general structure R2—(OCH2CHR)k—OH wherein R2 represents an alkyl radical comprising between 1 and 4 C atoms, preferably R2?CH3, k represents a number between 1 and 10, preferably between 1 and 4, and R represents H, CH3 or an alkyl radical comprising between 2 and 4 C atoms, preferably R?H, CH3. The use of the cited initiator alcohols enables the mixture of a basic catalyst and an initiator alcohol to be dried in such a way that it has a very low water content, and thus to produce very low concentrations of unwanted a-?-di-hydroxy-polyalkylene glycol impurities.

Abstract: The invention relates to a method for producing pure alpha-alkoxy-?-hydroxy-polyalkylene glycols, creating small impurities of the product on high-molecular a-?-di-hydroxy-polyalkylene glycols. The method is based on the use of high-boiling initiator alcohols of the following general structure R2—(OCH2CHR)k—OH wherein R2 represents an alkyl radical comprising between 1 and 4 C atoms, preferably R2=CH3, k represents a number between 1 and 10, preferably between 1 and 4, and R represents H, CH3 or an alkyl radical comprising between 2 and 4 C atoms, preferably R=H, CH3. The use of the cited initiator alcohols enables the mixture of a basic catalyst and an initiator alcohol to be dried in such a way that it has a very low water content, and thus to produce very low concentrations of unwanted a-?-di-hydroxy-polyalkylene glycol impurities.

Abstract: The present invention provides a process for preparing polyalkylene glycols by reacting a mixture of a mono- or polyhydric alcohol and a polyalkylene glycol prepolymer with a C2- to C4-alkylene oxide or a mixture of such alkylene oxides in the presence of a catalyst which comprises Zn3[Co(CN)6]2, the mono- or polyhydric alcohol having a molecular weight of up to 500 g/mol and containing from 1 to 20 carbon atoms and from 1 to 10 hydroxyl groups, and the polyalkylene glycol prepolymer being the addition product of a C2- to C4-alkylene oxide or of a mixture of such alkylene oxides in an amount of at least 500 g/mol to a mono- or polyhydric alcohol having from 1 to 20 carbon atoms and from 1 to 10 hydroxyl groups.

Abstract: Polyethylene glycols and alcohol ethoxylates having a low ethylene oxide content not exceeding 0.2 ppm and a process for preparing such substances are described.

Abstract: The present invention relates to a synergistic mixture comprising, as asphaltene dispersant, from 5 to 95% by weight of a compound A of the formula I or II defined in the description, and from 5 to 95% by weight of a compound B of the formula (III) defined in the description, the substituents being defined as described in the description. The mixture is an excellent asphaltene dispersant in crude oils and products derived therefrom.

Abstract: Amidopropyl-N-alkyl-polyhydroxyalkylamines of the following formula (1) ##STR1## in which Z is a linear polyhydroxyhydrocarbon radical having at least 2 free or oxyalkylated hydroxyl groups, R.sup.1 is a C.sub.1 to C.sub.7 -alkyl radical or C.sub.2 to C.sub.4 -hydroxyalkyl radical and COR is an aliphatic acyl radical having 6 to 22 carbon atoms, and salts thereof from an inorganic or organic acid are described. They are prepared by a) reaction of a compound of the formula (2) ##STR2## with acrylonitrile to give the compound of the formula (3) ##STR3## b) hydrogenation of the product obtained in step a) to give the compound of the formula (4) ##STR4## and c) monoacylation of the product obtained in step b) in the melt to give the compound of the formula (1) mentioned. The compounds according to the invention are readily soluble in water and water/alcohol mixtures and are advantageous co-surfactants for use in detergents and cleaning compositions and in cosmetic preparations for cleansing the hair and skin.

Abstract: Process for preparing solutions of polyhydroxy-fatty acid amides having good color qualityIn the process described, at least one sulfur compound from the group of dithionous acid is added in an active amount to the crude solutions, which are in general more or less brown in color, after which water-clear polyhydroxy-fatty acid amide products result.

Abstract: The process described relates to the preparation of aqueous betaine solutions by reaction of a tertiary amine with an .omega.-monohalocarboxylic acid, preferably monochloroacetic acid, and an alkali metal hydroxide in the presence of water, which solutions are said to be highly pure particularly in respect of the tertiary starting amine and .omega.-monohalocarboxylic acid. This is achieved by first reacting the three reaction components in a certain molar ratio with the aim of obtaining a betaine solution which comprises only a tolerated amount of starting amine. This aqueous betaine solution is then treated with a sulfonating agent, preferably with an alkali metal sulfite, alkali metal pyrosulfite or alkali metal bisulfite, for conversion of the .omega.-monohalocarboxylic acid present into the corresponding sulfocarboxylic acid, which is not troublesome. The process described is simple to carry out and leads to the highly pure aqueous betaine solutions mentioned.