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: 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 process is provided for the safe storage of sodium percarbonate in a bulk container that is substantially closed to the ambient atmosphere. A temperature is measured at at least one position inside the sodium percarbonate stored in bulk and, with an increase in temperature within the range of 0.5 to 10° C. per day, in particular 1 to 5° C. per day, dry air is passed periodically or continuously through the bulk material until the increase in temperature has fallen to a value of less than 1° C. per day in particular less than 0.5° C. per day.