Abstract: In a method for making a tris-(2-hydroxyethyl)-methylammonium methylsulfate fatty acid ester by quaternizing a tris-(2-hydroxyethyl)-amine fatty acid ester with dimethylsulfate the quaternizing is carried out in the presence of a solid acid scavenger. The method can provide a fabric softener active composition, comprising from 65 to 98% by weight of at least one tris-(2-hydroxyethyl)-methylammonium methylsulfate fatty acid ester, the corresponding non-quaternized tris-(2-hydroxyethyl)-amine fatty acid esters in amounts providing a total amine number of the composition of from 2 to less than 7 mg KOH/g, and from 1 to 1500 ppm methanol.

Abstract: Reacting at least one tris-(2-hydroxyethyl)-amine fatty acid ester with dimethylsulfate at a molar ratio of dimethylsulfate to amine nitrogen of from 0.79 to 0.94 until the reaction mixture has a total amine number of from 7 to 20 mg KOH/g provides novel fabric softener active compositions with a low content of methanol, comprising from 65 to 98% by weight of tris-(2-hydroxyethyl)-methylammonium methylsulfate fatty acid esters and from 1 to 1500 ppm methanol.

Abstract: In a method for making a tris-(2-hydroxyethyl)-methylammonium methylsulfate fatty acid ester by quaternizing a tris-(2-hydroxyethyl)-amine fatty acid ester with dimethylsulfate the quaternizing is carried out in the presence of a solid acid scavenger. The method can provide a fabric softener active composition, comprising from 65 to 98% by weight of at least one tris-(2-hydroxyethyl)-methylammonium methylsulfate fatty acid ester, the corresponding non-quaternized tris-(2-hydroxyethyl)-amine fatty acid esters in amounts providing a total amine number of the composition of from 2 to less than 7 mg KOH/g, and from 1 to 1500 ppm methanol.

Abstract: Reacting at least one tris-(2-hydroxyethyl)-amine fatty acid ester with dimethylsulfate at a molar ratio of dimethylsulfate to amine nitrogen of from 0.79 to 0.94 until the reaction mixture has a total amine number of from 7 to 20 mg KOH/g provides novel fabric softener active compositions with a low content of methanol, comprising from 65 to 98% by weight of tris-(2-hydroxyethyl)-methylammonium methylsulfate fatty acid esters and from 1 to 1500 ppm methanol.

Abstract: A fabric softener active composition, comprising from 65 to 95% by weight of a bis-(2-hydroxyethyl)-dimethylammonium chloride fatty acid ester having a molar ratio of fatty acid moieties to amine moieties of from 1.80 to 1.96, an average chain length of the fatty acid moieties of from 16 to 18 carbon atoms and an iodine value of from 0 to 50, from 2 to 8% by weight of a fatty acid triglyceride having an average chain length of the fatty acid moieties of from 10 to 14 carbon atoms and an iodine value of from 0 to 15, and from 3 to 12% by weight of an alcohol selected from ethanol, 1-propanol and 2-propanol has low melt viscosity, high stability towards dealkylation in the molten state and low flammability.

Abstract: A fabric softener active composition, comprising from 65 to 95% by weight of a bis-(2-hydroxyethyl)-dimethylammonium chloride fatty acid ester having a molar ratio of fatty acid moieties to amine moieties of from 1.80 to 1.96, an average chain length of the fatty acid moieties of from 16 to 18 carbon atoms and an iodine value of from 0 to 50, from 2 to 8% by weight of a fatty acid triglyceride having an average chain length of the fatty acid moieties of from 10 to 14 carbon atoms and an iodine value of from 0 to 15, and from 3 to 12% by weight of an alcohol selected from ethanol, 1-propanol and 2-propanol has low melt viscosity, high stability towards dealkylation in the molten state and low flammability.

Abstract: The invention relates to aqueous laundry fabric softener dispersions based on quaternary triethanolamine fatty acid esters having a defined ratio of triethanolamine to fatty acid, the fatty component having a specific degree of saturation.