Abstract: Quaternary ammonium dihydrogen phosphate or bisulfate salts are made by a process comprising the steps of: (1) forming a first mixture by contacting a quaternary ammonium halide with: (a) a water-insoluble organic solvent capable of forming a ternary azeotrope with water and hydrogen halide and (b) an amount of water and sulfuric add or phosphoric acid sufficient to maintain the temperature of the first mixture in the range of from about 98° C. to about 105° C. when heated; (2) heating the first mixture to a temperature sufficient to separate a ternary azeotrope comprised of hydrogen halide, water and the water-insoluble organic solvent from the first mixture to form a second mixture comprised of water, sulfuric acid or phosphoric acid, the water-insoluble organic solvent and a quaternary ammonium dihydrogen phosphate or bisulfate salt.

Abstract: Processes for purifying compounds are disclosed which include reacting (i) a mixture of at least one tocopherol compound or sterol compound, and an alcohol having from about 10 to 30 carbons with (ii) one or more boron-containing compounds to form a second mixture of orthoborate esters, wherein the mole ratio of tocopherol, sterol and alcohol to boron is at least about 2.5:1; heating the second mixture to form a residue containing the orthoborate esters; contacting the residue with a compound capable of solvolyzing the orthoborate esters to form a third mixture including the boron-containing compound(s), the alcohol and the tocopherol and/or sterol compound(s); and recovering the tocopherol and/or sterol compound(s).

Abstract: A composition and process for enhancing the aesthetic and tactile properties of an alkyl polyglycoside involving combining an alkyl polyglycoside having the general formula I:RO(Z).sub.a (I)wherein R is a monovalent organic radical having from about 8 to about 18 carbon atoms; Z is a saccharide residue having 5 or 6 carbon atoms; and a is a number having a value from about 1 to about 6, with an aliphatic alcohol having from 1 to about 20 carbon atoms.

Abstract: A process for preparing glycosides from a source of saccharide moiety and an alcohol in the presence of a hydrophobic acid catalyst is provided. An example of such a catalyst is dinonylnaphthalenemonosulfonic acid. The use of such catalysts provides a number of process advantages, which includes the reduced production of polar by-products. Preferred glycosides produced by the process are higher alkyl glycosides useful as surfactants.

Abstract: Undesired hydrophilic materials are readily removed from long chain hydrophobic alcohols, from long chain hydrophobic alcohol/glycoside surfactant mixtures and from solutions of glycoside surfactants in water immiscible solvents resulting from dissolving the glycoside surfactants in said solvents or mixing aqueous mixtures of glycoside surfactants with said solvents, by contacting the hydrophilic material containing hydrophobic composition with water in an amount, and for a time period sufficient, to extract at least a portion of the hydrophilic material from the hydrophobic composition and to form a separate aqueous phase and by separating the resulting aqueous phase from the hydrophobic composition.

Abstract: Glycoside products having a propensity to discolor (i.e., darken) under aqueous alkaline conditions are stabilized against discoloration under such conditions by treatment with from about 0.01 to about 2 weight percent (glycoside product dry weight basis) of a borohydride material such as sodium borohydride, potassium borohydride, lithium borohydride, etc.

Abstract: The catalytic hydrogenation of a glycoside composition to reduce the color of the composition is disclosed.

Abstract: The catalytic hydrogenation of a glycoside composition to reduce the color of the composition is disclosed.