Abstract: Alkoxylation products are prepared by reacting compounds having active hydrogen atoms with C.sub.2 -C.sub.4 -alkylene oxides in the presence of a mixed hydroxide built up of polycations and modified with additives and having the general formula I or II?M(II).sub.1-x M(III).sub.x (OH).sub.2 !A.sub.x/n .multidot.m L(I)?LiAl.sub.2 (OH).sub.6 !A.sub.1/n .multidot.m L (II)whereM(II) is at least one divalent metal ion,M(III) is at least one trivalent metal ion,A is at least one inorganic anion andL is an organic solvent or water,n is the valence of the inorganic anion A or in the case of a plurality of anions A is their mean valence andx can assume a value of from 0.1 to 0.5 andm can assume a value of from 0 to 10,as alkoxylation catalyst, wherein the mixed hydroxide contains additives.

Abstract: A mixture suitable for use as a foam-suppressing surfactant additament in cleaning compositions for mechanized cleaning processes comprises at least two mixtures of alkoxylated alcohols IR--O--(C.sub.2 H.sub.4 O).sub.x --(C.sub.3 H.sub.6 O).sub.y --H (I)where x is an average degree of ethoxylation between 1 and 12, y is an average degree of propoxylation between 1 and 15, one alkoxylated alcohol mixture carries straight-chain or branched C.sub.8 -C.sub.18 -alkyl groups as the radical R and one other alkoxylated alcohol mixture carries straight-chain or branched C.sub.10 -C.sub.20 -alkyl groups as the radical R, subject to the proviso that the two radicals R differ by at least 0.5 in the average number of carbon atoms, and the two alkoxylated alcohol mixtures present in a ratio of from 10:90 to 90:10.

Abstract: Oxyalkylated, carboxyl-containing polymers are prepared by reacting(A) a polymer which contains one or more monoethylenically unsaturated C.sub.3 -C.sub.6 -carboxylic acids as copolymerized units with(B) an alkylene oxidein an aqueous medium at not more than 120.degree. C. by a process in which the reaction is started at a pH of from 5.0 to 5.9 and is ended after a pH of from 5.5 to 8.5 has been reached. As a result of monitoring of the pH, the selectivity of the addition reaction of alkylene oxides with the polymers (A) is substantially improved compared with known processes.

Abstract: A process for purifying C.sub.8 -C.sub.16 -alkylglycosides which have been obtained by reacting lower alkylglycosides or hydroxyalkylglycosides with C.sub.8 -C.sub.16 -alcohols in the presence of an acid catalyst, by distillative removal of unconverted C.sub.8 -C.sub.16 -alcohols, wherein the distillative removal, at least of the last amounts of unconverted alcohols, is carried out in the presence of glycols whose boiling points are at most 10.degree. above, and at most 30.degree. below, those of the alcohols to be removed.

Abstract: Biodegradable and low-foaming cleaning agents and dishwashing agents containing non-ionic surfactants which have been obtained by reacting one or more adducts of a C.sub.8 -C.sub.20 -alkanol and from 4 to 14 moles of ethylene oxide with 1,2-butylene oxide in a molar ratio of from 1:1.6 to 1:2.4.

Abstract: A detergent and cleanser which contains an oxyalkylated alcohol of the formula ##STR1## where R is C.sub.8 -C.sub.18 -alkyl, x is from 2 to 4.5 and y is from 2 to 5, as a low-foam, biodegradable surfactant additive.

Abstract: A photopolymerizable composition for the production of water-developable printing plates and relief plates, based on a water-soluble or water-dispersible mixture, containing a photoinitiator, of(a) one or more water-soluble or water-dispersible polymers containing copolymerized N-vinylpyrrolidone units and/or one or more polymers containing vinyl alcohol units and(b) one or more olefinically unsaturated photopolymerizable monomers,which comprises, as an additive or as the sole polymer, a water-soluble modified vinyl alcohol polymer which contains from 5 to 75, especially from 10 to 60, % by weight of chemically bonded oxyethylene units. These modified vinyl alcohol polymers are in particular oxyethylated polyvinyl alcohol or hydrolyzed graft polymers of vinyl esters onto polyethylene glycols. The compositions are easier to process into printing plates and relief plates, and exhibit a long shelf life.