Abstract: A process for the production of a surfactant mixture for use in enhanced oil recovery wherein the surfactant mixture comprises an alkyl ether sulfonic acid or salt thereof as a principal constituent and at most a substantially equal quantity of alkoxylated alcohol. The surfactant mixture is prepared by reacting an alkyl ether sulfate with a stoichiometric excess of an alkali metal sulfite solution at about 160.degree. C. to 220.degree. C. under mildly alkaline pH conditions, and then extracting sulfate salt therefrom using a substantially water-insoluble alcohol at a lowered temperature.

Abstract: The description is of a process for the production of light-colored lower alkane sulfonic acids, especially methane sulphonic acid, by reacting the corresponding alkyl halide with alkaline halides and obtaining the free alkane sulphonic acid. In the process of the invention, the reaction is performed as a liquid/liquid reaction at temperature not exceeding 120 degrees C., and at such high pressures that even the lower alkyl halide is in the liquid phase at the reaction temperature, the aqueous reaction mixture is reduced by water content of some 50% wt. at the most, the alkaline sulphonic acid is liberated from its alkaline salt by the addition of HCl, the solid salt phase still remaining in the reaction mixture is separated out and the free alkaline sulphonic acid is obtained from the liquid phase.

Abstract: Surface active alkylglucosides are prepared in a 2-step process from starch or starch degradation products such as polyglucose or glucose syrup, the first step consisting of reaction with a short chained alcohol, particularly butanol, while the second step comprises transacetalization with the longer chained C.sub.8-22, more particularly C.sub.12-18, alcohol, with fatty alcohols of natural origin preferably being used.

Abstract: A process for reacting nitroparaffins with formaldehyde in the presence of potassium hydroxide by aldol condensation which can be carried out continuously or discontinuously and on a large scale. This is achieved by mixing the nitroparaffin, aqueous aldehyde solution and potassium hydroxide in the absence of organic solvents and carrying out the reaction while maintaining the temperature between -5.degree. and +20.degree. C.

Abstract: A process for the preparation of geminate bromo-nitro-alcohols by the bromination of alkali metal or alkaline-earth metal salts of nitroalcohols in aqueous solution, while cooling the reaction mixture so that the maximum reaction temperature does not exceed 30.degree. C. In carrying out the reaction, the aqueous solution of nitroalcohol salt is added to a mixture of bromine and aqueous hydrobromic acid.

Abstract: Unpurified 2-bromo-2-nitro-1,3-propanediol is used as the starting material for a process for the preparation of 5-bromo-5-nitro-1,3-dioxane from 2-nitro-1,3-propanediol without the use of an organic solvent on an industrial scale. This is carried out in such a way that in a first stage a mixture of bromine and aqueous hydrogen bromide solution is cooled and an aqueous solution of an alkali metal or an alkaline-earth metal salt of 2-nitro-1,3-propanediol is added at such a rate that, with cooling, the maximum reaction temperature does not exceed 30.degree. C., and then in a second reaction stage paraformaldehyde and sulfuric acid are added, left to react above room temperature, and the organic phase separated.