Abstract: Cationic surface active agents in which nitrogen atoms are attached to both ends of a long-chain alkylene group or polyoxyalkylene group having at least 6-24 carbon atoms in the molecule, at least one of said nitrogen atoms constituting a quaternary ammonium structure, have also at least one hydroxyphenethyl group bonded to at least one of the two nitrogen atoms. These cationic surface active agents can serve as an accelerator which catalytically promotes changes in a chemical and/or physical change process involving a hydrolyzing, deacidizing or extracting operation using an aqueous solution of an alkaline metal hydroxide or an alkaline earth metal hydroxide.