Abstract: A process is disclosed for the production of an alkyl glycoside stable in hue and odor, which comprises the steps of (1) reacting a sugar with alcohol to obtain an alkyl glycoside reaction product containing a higher alcohol, (2) decoloring the alkyl glycoside reaction product with hydrogen peroxide, (3) contacting the decolored alkyl glycoside with a metal/hydrogen complex represented by formula (I)M(BH.sub.4).sub.z (I)wherein M is an alkali metal, Ca, Zn or (CH.sub.3).sub.4 N; andz is 1 when M is an alkali metal or (CH.sub.3).sub.4 N and z is 2 when M is Ca or Zn; to substantially eliminate residual hydrogen peroxide, and then (4) decomposing the remaining metal/hydrogen complex with an acid.

Abstract: A method for producing an alkylglycoside by a reaction of a saccharide and a monohydric alcohol, the method comprising the steps of carrying out the reaction of the saccharide and the monohydric alcohol; adjusting a reaction mixture containing an unreacted monohydric alcohol and an alkylglycoside produced to a pH of 2 to 6.5; and removing the unreacted monohydric alcohol from the reaction mixture by distillation to obtain the alkylglycoside, wherein decoloration treatment may be carried out before removing the unreacted monohydric alcohol.

Abstract: Alkyl glycoside aqueous solutions, which satisfy the following conditions (a) and/or (b):(a) the solution is maintained at a pH value exceeding 7, and(b) the solution contains a water-soluble alcohol, are highly stable with respect to microbial activities, such as putrefaction and fungal growth, and are useful as surface active agents.

Abstract: To provide a sulfonate represented by the following general formula (1A) which is useful as an organic peracid precursor in bleach compositions for domestic use, a process for producing it, and a bleach composition having no irritative smell, high bleaching power and excellent persistence of the bleaching power during the use: ##STR1## wherein R.sup.1 represents a hydrogen atom, an alkyl group having 1 to 10 carbon atoms, etc., R.sup.2 represents an alkylene group having 1 to 8 carbon atoms, a phenylene group, etc., R.sup.3 represents an alkylene group having 1 to 8 carbon atoms, R.sup.4 represents an alkylene group having 1 to 5 carbon atoms, p is 0 or 1, A represents an alkylene group having 2 to 4 carbon atoms, n is 1 to 100, and Ma represents an alkali metal atom. etc.

Abstract: A surfactant composition containing a fatty acid polyoxyalkylene lower alkyl ether represented by formula (1):R(OR.sup.1).sub.n OR.sup.2 (1)wherein R represents an alkanoyl or alkenoyl group having from 10 to 18 carbon atoms;R.sup.1 represents an alkylene having from 2 to 4 carbon atoms;R.sup.2 represents a lower alkyl group; andn is from 5 to 100 on the average; and a fatty acid monoglyceride represented by formula (2):R.sup.3 OCH.sub.2 CH(OH)CH.sub.2 OH (2)wherein R.sup.3 represents an alkanoyl group having from 8 to 16 carbon atoms or an alkenoyl group having from 12 to 22 carbon atoms;are disclosed.The foaming properties of a fatty acid polyoxyalkylene lower alkyl ether of formula (1) are improved by adding a fatty acid monoglyceride represented by formula (2) to the fatty acid polyoxyalkylene lower alkyl ether of formula (1).

Abstract: A process is described for the production of an alkyl glycoside which comprises distilling a higher alcohol in the presence of an alkaline substance, or washing a higher alcohol with an aqueous solution of an alkaline substance, and then reacting the higher alcohol with a sugar or a reaction product of a sugar and a lower alcohol. According to this process, an alkyl glycoside showing an excellent hue can be produced by repeatedly using unreacted alcohol recovered from the reaction mixture in the production of an alkyl glycoside.