Abstract: Disclosed herein is full soaps and mono-soaps of a C.sub.22 -cycloaliphatic tricarboxylic acid of the formula ##STR1## wherein x and y are integers from 3 to 9, and x and y together equal 12. The C.sub.22 -cycloaliphatic tricarboxylic acids are made as Diels-Alder adducts of fatty acids, especially tall oil fatty acids and soya fatty acids, containing both non-conjugated and conjugated linoleic acids and fumaric acid reacted at from 170.degree. C. to 270.degree. C. in the presence of from 0.01% to 0.50% by weight of iodine. There is also disclosed herein the use of these C.sub.22 -cycloaliphatic tricarboxylic soaps as hydrotroping agents for normally insoluble nonionic synthetic detergents in alkaline mediums.

Abstract: Disclosed herein are alkaline baths for scouring textiles containing as a cleaning composition at least 0.05% of a mixture of a nonionic surfactant and a polycarboxylic acid or salt thereof of the formula ##STR1## wherein x and y are integers from 3 to 9, x and y together equal 12, R.sub.1 and R.sub.2 are selected from the group consisting of hydrogen and COOM with at least one of R.sub.1 and R.sub.2 being COOM, and wherein M is a member of the group consisting of hydrogen, sodium, potassium, lithium and ammonium, the proportion of nonionic surfactant to polycarboxylic acid or salt thereof being between about 1:0.4 and about 1:3.

Abstract: Disclosed herein is the mercerization of textiles with a composition comprising an aqueous caustic solution of mercerizing strength containing as a wetting agent at least 0.10% of a mixture of a nonionic surfactant and a polycarboxylic acid or salt thereof of the formula ##STR1## wherein x and y are integers from 3 to 9, x and y together equal 12, R.sub.1 and R.sub.2 are selected from the group of hydrogen and COOM with at least one of R.sub.1 and R.sub.2 being COOM, and wherein M is a member of the group consisting of hydrogen, sodium, potassium, lithium and ammonium, the proportion of nonionic surfactant to polycarboxylic acid being between about 1:0.8 to 1:3.