Abstract: Liquid cleaning preparations for hard surfaces containing(a) 0.5 to 40% by weight, preferably 5 to 20% by weight, of a surfactant or a surfactant mixture;(b) 0.01 to 1% by weight, preferably 0.05 to 0.5% by weight, of cleaning enhancer;(c) 0 to 6% by weight, preferably 1.0 to 6% by weight, of at least one organic and/or inorganic builder;and up to a total of 100% by wiehgt, based on the total weight, of water, and optionally, one or more of solubilizers (solvents, hydrotropes), preservatives, antimicrobial agents, viscosity regulators, pH regulators, perfumes, and dyes. Component (b) is a mixture of (i) at least one polyacrylamide and (ii) at least one highly polyethoxylated monofunctional or polyfunctional alkanol.

Abstract: Liquid phosphate-free single phase degreasing compositions for aluminum surfaces containing one or more builders, sequestrants and surfactants in aqueous alkaline solution, particularly containing alkali metal and/or ammonium carbonate, alkali metal and/or ammonium hydrogen carbonate, one or more acrylic polymers, optionally one or more other complexing agents which complement or partly replace the acrylic polymers, one or more anionic or nonionic surfactants, optionally other active substances and/or auxiliaries of the type normally used in degreasing compositions and water.

Abstract: In the production of washing-active .alpha.-sulfofatty acid esters by sulfonation of fatty acid alkyl esters with SO.sub.3 in molar ratios of up to 1:2 and more especially of from 1:1.2 to 1:1.8 and subsequent working-up of the crude sulfonic acid in aqueous medium with salt formation, aqueous pastes which are mobile, more especially pumpable, at moderately elevated temperatures are obtained by subjecting the crude sulfonate before the treatment with the aqueous medium to a post-reaction with at least about 0.5 mole equivalent, based on the SO.sub.3 which is not used for the .alpha.-sulfonation, of monohydric alcohols and/or alkoxylation products thereof at temperatures above 70.degree. C. and adjusting the solids contents of the .alpha.-sulfofatty acid ester salts to more than 35% by weight in the subsequent aqueous working-up step.

Abstract: Detergents on the basis of anionic and nonionic surfactants contain as laundering power-enhancing additives an aliphatic amine compound which is selected such that its pK.sub.b value is at least equal to 14, minus the initial pH value of a 1% aqueous solution of the detergent containing the amine compound. Laundering power-enhancing amine compounds selected according to the rule mentioned are certain ether amines, amidoamines, glucamine derivatives or morpholine derivatives.

Abstract: Aqueous concentrates of alkali metal salts of .alpha.-sulfonated fatty acid alkyl esters (ester sulfonate salts) which are pumpable at temperatures of at least 60.degree. C. are obtained without the addition of viscosity regulators by preparing pastes containing at least about 60% by weight of ester sulfonate salts derived from C.sub.16 and/or C.sub.18 fatty acids. More particularly, the concentrates contain less than 10 mole % of ester sulfonate salts with fatty acids containing fewer than 16 carbon atoms. The concentrates are obtained by neutralizing the crude ester sulfonates with concentrated alkali hydroxide solution with intensive cooling at temperatures of at most 90.degree. C.