Abstract: Secondary monoalkyl sulfuric acids are obtained in high selectivity and at a fast reaction rate in a process wherein C.sub.8 to C.sub.22 olefins are sulfated with sulfuric acid in the presence of a large amount of added secondary C.sub.8 to C.sub.22 alcohols. Additionally, the resulting sulphation reaction effluent containing secondary monoalkyl sulfuric acids may be neutralized to prepare the salts thereof, in which case the alcohols in the neutralization reaction product are recovered and recycled to the sulfation reaction zone.

Abstract: Non-surface active organic material is recovered from an aqueous-based mixture comprising water, sulphated or sulphonated organic matter and non-surface active organic material by extracting said mixture with a C.sub.6 ketone or a C.sub.1 to C.sub.6 alkyl acetate as the sole extraction solvent thereby forming a ketone or acetate extract phase containing essentially all of the non-surface active organic matter and a raffinate phase containing water, some of the ketone or acetate solvent and essentially all of the sulphated or sulphonated organic matter, said extract phase being subsequently separated into a ketone or acetate solvent fraction and a non-surface active organic material fraction.