Abstract: The invention provides a process for the preparation of long-chain alkyl glycosides, comprising reacting a glucose-containing reactant and a C.sub.8 -C.sub.18 fatty alcohol in the presence of a glucosidase and a reaction promoter effective to promote the formation of the alkyl glycoside when the promoter is present in an amount of less than about 50 wt % of the total reaction mixture.

Abstract: Disclosed is a metathetic process of the type M'X+M"=M'Y+M"X, where M' dirs from M" and the reagents and the products are water-soluble salts, comprising the steps of (a) transferring a solution of M"Y through at least one column containing cation exchanger beads loaded with M' cations, obtained in step (b) hereinafter, whereby cation exchange takes place to form a solution of M'Y and cation exchanger beads loaded with M", and (b) transferring a solution of M'X through said column containing cation exchanger beads loaded with M" obtained in step (a) above.

Abstract: The invention provides a process for the recovery of erythorbic acid from an aqueous feed solution containing values of erythorbic acid at a concentration of less than 0.7 mol/kg, comprising adsorbing a major portion of said erythorbic acid with a solid phase adsorbent resin selected from resins carrying a pyridine function and resins of similar or weaker basicity; separating said erythorbic acid-containing resin from residual aqueous solution, and subjecting said erythorbic acid-containing resin to a desorbing operation with a neutral solvent at a temperature of at least 20.degree. C. higher than the temperature at which said adsorption is carried out, whereby there is obtained a solution of erythorbic acid in solvent in which the concentration of erythorbic acid is at least equal to its concentration in said aqueous feed solution.

Abstract: The invention provides a process for the recovery of a water-soluble carblic or mineral acid having a pKa higher than 2 from an aqueous feed solution containing the acid or a salt thereof, comprising extracting the acid with a water-immiscible extractant composition, the composition comprising: (a) at least one secondary or tertiary aklyl amine, in which the aggregate number of carbon atoms is at least 20, as a primary extractant; and (b) a sterically hindered, polar, organic compound having at least 5 carbon atoms, a basicity weaker than that of the primary extractant, and temperature-sensitive, extraction-modifying properties; separating the acid containing the extractant and subjecting it to a stripping operation at a temperature of at least 20.degree. C.