Abstract: A high concentration aqueous solution of the salt of an alpha-sulfo fatty acid ester is produced by (a) neutralizing the sulfonated product of a fatty acid ester with an aqueous caustic alkali solution having a concentration of 15 through 50% by weight, in the presence of an alcohol having 1 to 4 carbon atoms in an amount of 5 through 20% by weight based on the weight of the sulfonated product, to form an acidic neutralized product having a pH of 2.5 through 4 and; then, (b) adding an aqueous caustic alkali solution having a concentration of 1 through 5% by weight to the acidic neutralized product to adjust the pH of the acidic neutralized product to 6 through 7. The aqueous solution of the salt of the alpha-sulfo fatty acid ester thus obtained includes only small amounts of the undesired alpha-sulfo fatty acid salt.

Abstract: Light colored homogeneous and aqueous alpha olefin sulfonate solutions wherein about 10 to about 30 wt. % of the sulfonate contained in said alpha olefin sulfonate solutions is 4-hydroxyalkane sulfonate.

Abstract: A process for manufacturing a highly concentrated sulfate solution or slurry which comprises neutralizing a sulfuric ester of higher alcohol or its ethoxylate with an aqueous caustic alkali solution, thereby preparing a crude neutralization product containing the sulfate in the range of from 45 wt. % to 55 wt. % and the caustic alkali in the range of from 1.5 wt. % to 3.5 wt. % and having a viscosity less than 50 poise; and commingling the resulting crude neutralization product with the sulfuric ester in the range of from 30 parts by weight to 100 parts by weight per 100 parts by weight of the crude neutralization product and a highly concentrated caustic alkali solution capable of sufficiently neutralizing the sulfuric ester, thereby reducing the quantity of sulfate contained in the resulting mixture in the range of from 60 wt. % to 75 wt. % and the quantity of caustic alkali contained therein less than 0.5 wt. % of the quantity of sulfate.

Abstract: Disclosed is a process for producing a clear aqueous solution of the magnesium salt of an olefin sulfonic acid by (i) sulfonating an olefin with an gaseous sulfur trioxide, (ii) neutralizing the resulting sulfonated olefin with an inorganic alkali consisting of magnesium hydroxide and/or oxide and an organic amine selected from water-soluble alkanol amines in specified amounts and, then, (iii) heating the neutralized mixture at a pH of from 6.0 to 8.0. Thus, a clear aqueous solution of the magnesium salt of an olefin sulfonic acid having no bad odor and no color deterioration can be obtained.

Abstract: A granular detergent composition comprising .alpha.-olefin sulfonate and poly(oxyethylene)-poly(oxypropylene) alkyl ether at the weight ratio in the range of from 4:1 to 1:1 and further comprising an inorganic builder possesses satisfactory powder properties and is sufficiently easy to rinse out after being used for washing.

Abstract: Disclosed is a process for producing a clear aqueous solution of the magnesium salt of an anionic surface active agent by first adding alkylbenzene sulfonic acid to an aqueous slurry containing an anionic surface active agent and an alkaline agent in a specified amount and, then, adding a pH controlling agent to the resultant solution.

Abstract: A process of manufacturing C.sub.10 -C.sub.20 .alpha.-olefin sulfonate solution of high concentration, which comprises subjecting .alpha.-olefin sulfonates having 10-20 carbon atoms to neutralization and hydrolysis in the presence of (a) an alkaline material equivalent to the sum (A+B) of an amount of alkali (A) necessary for performing neutralization and hydrolysis of said sulfonates stoichiometrically and an amount of alkali (B) equivalent to 0.2-1.5 times as much as said amount of alkali (A) by weight, (b) an alkylene oxide derivative and/or a polyvinyl alcohol equivalent to 0.2-2 times as much as said amount of alkali (B) by weight, and (c) water necessary for making the water content of the neutralization-hydrolysis product less than 50%.

Abstract: Granular detergent compositions with improved powder characteristics and good detergency are obtained by adjusting the proportion of an .alpha.-olefinsulfonate in anionic surfactants to 15-50% by weight, selecting the molar ratio of a silicate in terms of M.sub.2 O.xSiO.sub.2 wherein M stands for an alkali metal within the range of 2.5-3.6 and limiting the amount of an alkali metal sulfate to 4% or less in detergents containing builders comprising mainly silicates, carbonates and hydroxypolycarboxylates but being free of a polyphosphate.

Abstract: A method of manufacturing granular detergents containing 15-40% of surface active agent, 5-20% of sodium silicate and 0.5-5% of aluminosilicate on a dry weight basis, which comprises subjecting a detergent slurry and an aluminosilicate slurry to spray-drying separately within the same drying space. The granular detergent thus manufactured possesses improved fluidity as well as reduced degree of hygrocaking property and compression-caking property. Incorporation in the aluminosilicate slurry with a small amount of an inflating agent will provide a granular detergent which is further improved in fluidity, hygrocaking property and compression-caking property.

Abstract: A granular detergent composition contains substantially no phosphate builder component but has excellent powdery characteristics. The granular detergent composition comprises(a) 20 to 35 wt.% of a surfactant comprising an .alpha.-olefinsulfonate and an alkyl ether sulfate at a ratio of the .alpha.-olefinsulfonate to the alkyl ether sulfate of 1 : 1 to 5 : 1 by weight; and(b) 40 to 70 wt.% of a builder comprising a carbonate and a silicate at a ratio of the carbonate to the silicate of 2 : 1 to 5 : 1 by weight.

Abstract: A cylindrical apparatus for continuous sulfonation of an organic liquid is provided with an annular feeding device for permitting the organic liquid to flow in the form of a film down a reaction wall. The annular feeding device is provided with a number of slots in a horizontal and equidistant manner in a row.

Abstract: A method for manufacturing .alpha.-sulfo fatty acid ester salt which comprises the steps of sulfonating a mixture of 100 parts by weight of saturated fatty acid alkyl ester having 9 to 26 carbon atoms and less than 10 parts by weight of inorganic sulfate by sulfonating gas containing 1.0 to 2.0 mols of SO.sub.3 per mol of said fatty acid ester and diluted to a concentration of 3 to 20% by volume by inert gas at a higher reaction temperature than the solidification point of said fatty acid ester, followed by neutralization by caustic alkali. According to this method, an amount of by-product yielded by breakage of an ester linkage is decreased with the resultant lowered coloration of the product. .alpha.-sulfo fatty acid ester salt is used preferably as an active component for a detergent composition.

Abstract: A bleaching method for sulfonic acid, which comprises the process of bleaching sulfonic acid by adding (1) 0.5 - 20 parts by weight of primary or secondary aliphatic alcohol having 1 - 12 carbon atoms, (2) 0.5 - 10 parts by weight of a bleaching agent consisting of peroxide and (3) 0.1 - 10 parts by weight of water relative to 100 parts by weight of sulfonic acid.