Abstract: A composition suitable for use as dyeing or textile auxiliary and which comprises a mixture of acid esters of adducts of ethylene oxide and propylene oxide with fatty alcohols having not less than 6 carbon atoms, at least one component of which composition is an acid ester of the formula ##STR1## wherein s is 3 to 10, p is 5 to 15, R is an aliphatic radical of not less than 6 carbon atoms; one of Z.sub.1 and Z.sub.2 is methyl and the other is hydrogen, and X is the acid radical of a low molecular aliphatic dicarboxylic acid, in particular maleic acid. This composition is used in particular as low foaming wetting agent and padding auxliary for pretreating or dyeing cellulosic fibre materials.

Abstract: A surface active agent comprising a specific type of secondary amidoamino acid or ammonium ion or triethanolammonium salt thereof, ##STR1## as a major component, and not more than 0.2 mole of an inorganic salt per 100 gm of said secondary amidoamino acid or 100 gm of a salt thereof as converted to the acid type secondary amidoamino acid. The surface active agent can be prepared by subjecting the alkali metal salt of secondary amidoamino acid, usually containing a great amount of impurities such as sodium chloride, to electrodialysis. It has excellent compatibility with various additives such as water-soluble polymer due to its low ionic strength and yet exhibits a good low-temperature stability when made into an aqueous solution owing to its low Krafft point.