Abstract: The final mixture in the manufacture of alkyl polyglycosides comprises an acidic, non-aqueous solution of alkyl polyglycosides in long chain alcohols. The invention relates to a novel method of neutralizing these solutions. First, a small part of the solution is withdrawn and a mixture comprised of an alcohol or alcohol mixture having 1-6 C atoms and water is added thereto, the withdrawn part is neutralized with an aqueous-, alcoholic-, or aqueous-alcoholic alkali. The amount of alkali necessary to neutralize the alkyl polyglycoside solution is calculated and added to the alkyl polyglycoside solution.

Abstract: Fatty alcohols are separated from a solution containing alkyl polyglycosides (APGs) and alcohols, wherein the alcohols and the alkyl groups of the APGs contain 10-18 C atoms and wherein the mean degree of polymerization of the (APGs) is 1.05-1.4 by distilling said solution at 160.degree.-200.degree. C. under a pressure of 0.1-20 hPa in a thin layer evaporator having a Reynolds number of 30-18,000.

Abstract: A process for the preparation of alkyl polyglycosides containing an alkyl group of about 8 to 24 carbon atoms, which comprises glycosylating and transglycosylating one or more saccharides, wherein the glycosylation is carried out in an evaporator at an acid number of about 1 to 10 mg of KOH/g.

Abstract: An alkyl glycoside having alkyl groups of 8 to 24 carbon atoms and an average polymerization degree of 1 to 10 is prepared in one stage by reacting a saccharide and at least one alcohol of 8 to 24 carbon atoms in a reaction medium containing a non-polar solvent in the presence of an emulsifier.

Abstract: Demulsifiers which contain compounds of formula IR--O--Z.sub.n --O--(AO).sub.x H (I)wherein R is a linear or branched, saturated or unsaturated C.sub.1-18 alkyl radical, Z.sub.n is an oligoglycosyl radical with n=1 to 5 hexose or pentose units or mixtures thereof, AO is an ethylene oxide, propylene oxide or butylene oxide radical or mixtures thereof and x is 1 to 100, are useful for breaking water-in-oil petroleum emulsions. Such demulsifiers have a low specificity and are biodegradable.

Abstract: An alkyloligoglycoside having an alkyl group content of 8 to 22 carbon atoms and having an average degree of oligomerization of 1 to 5 is sulfated with a sulfating agent in an organic solvent having a boiling point of 30.degree. to 100.degree. C.