Abstract: Sequestrant compositions comprising combinations of an alkali metal or ammonium borate with an adduct formed by reaction of an .alpha., .beta. unsaturated polycarboxylic acid with a mono- or dicarboxylated sugar, in which the adduct has at least two hydroxy groups in a vicinal configuration. The sequestrants can be used to complex alkaline earth and transition metal ions and are especially useful for complexing calcium and magnesium in aqueous laundry solutions. They also are effective for soil dispersion and for inhibiting the deposition of soil on fabric.

Abstract: Sequestrant compositions comprising combinations of an alkali metal or ammonium borate with an adduct formed by reaction of an .alpha., .beta. unsaturated polycarboxylic acid with a mono- or dicarboxylated sugar, in which the adduct has at least two hydroxy groups in a vicinal configuration. The sequestrants can be used to complex alkaline earth and transition metal ions and are especially useful for complexing calcium and magnesium in aqueous laundry solutions. They also are effective for soil dispersion and for inhibiting the deposition of soil on fabric.

Abstract: A process for the preparation of mixed salts of oxydissuccinate/carboxymethyloxysuccinate is disclosed, which process comprises adding glycolic acid to an aqueous mixture obtained from a 2,2'-oxydisuccinate forming reaction. The mixed oxydisuccinate carboxymethyloxysuccinate salts are obtained in high yields and can be used as detergent builder in cleaning compositions.

Abstract: Liquid light duty cleaning compositions comprise an organic base (such as amines), a zinc salt (such as zinc halides or zinc citrate), and a complexing agent (such as EDTA). The compositions are useful in cleaning both at full strength and when diluted and do not cause staining of treated aluminum utensils.

Abstract: The p-menth-6-ene-7-methylol-2-sulfonic and p-menthane-7-methylol-2-sulfonic acids and their alkali metal, alkaline earth metal, ammonium and alkylolammonium salts are disclosed. A process is provided for preparing the ammonium salts thereof. A method is presented for increasing the solubility of an only partially water-soluble material using these sulfonic salts as a hydrotrope.

Abstract: p-Menthane-7-sulfonic acid and p-menthane-2-sulfonic acid and their alkali metal, alkaline earth metal, ammonium and alkylolammonium salts are disclosed. A method for increasing the solubility of an only partially water-soluble material is presented comprising combining the material in water with the salts of p-menth-6-ene-2-sulfonic acid, p-menth-1-ene-7-sulfonic acid and their saturated derivatives as hydrotropes. p-Menth-6-ene-2-sulfonate salts are prepared from .alpha.-pinene and sulfite or bisulfite salt in the presence of a phase transfer catalyst under free radical conditions.

Abstract: The p-menth-6-ene-7-methylol-2-sulfonic and p-menthane-7-methylol-2-sulfonic acids and their alkali metal, alkaline earth metal, ammonium and alkylolammonium salts are disclosed. A process is provided for preparing the ammonium salts thereof. A method is presented for increasing the solubility of an only partially water-soluble material using these sulfonic salts as a hydrotrope.

Abstract: p-Menthane-7-sulfonic acid and p-menthane-2-sulfonic acid and their alkali metal, alkaline earth metal, ammonium and alkylolammonium salts are disclosed. A method for increasing the solubility of an only partially water-soluble material is presented comprising combining the material in water with the salts of p-menth-6-ene-2-sulfonic acid, p-menth-1-ene-7-sulfonic acid and their saturated derivatives as hydrotropes. p-Menth-6-ene-2-sulfonate salts are prepared from .alpha.-pinene and sulfite or bisulfite salt in the presence of a phase transfer catalyst under free radical conditions.

Abstract: The bleeding out during product storage of nonionic surfactants from powdered detergent compositions containing such surfactants is effectively arrested and retarded with the use of sodium acetate trihydrate as a uniformly distributed ingredient of such detergent compositions. The ratio of nonionic surfactant to sodium acetate trihydrate in a representative formulation is about 1.0:0.9.

Abstract: An aqueous composition, particularly a liquid detergent composition comprising urea as a hydrotrope, of improved storage stability which further comprises certain esters, e.g., methyl and ethyl lactates which hydrolyze at a rate comparable to that of the hydrolysis of urea to ultimately form ammonium salts whereby said detergent composition is maintained at a stable overall pH level. In an alternative, competing, but nonetheless beneficial mode of operation the ammonia generated by the hydrolysis of urea may react directly with the esters of the invention by ammonolysis. The acid from which said ester is derived has a pK.sub.a in the range of about 2 to about 4.

Abstract: The bleeding out during product storage of nonionic surfactants from powdered detergent compositions containing such surfactants is effectively arrested and retarded with the use of magnesium sulfate heptahydrate as a uniformly distributed and intimately mixed ingredient of such detergent compositions. Advantageously, the magnesium sulfate is mixed with the nonionic surfactant in anhydrous form and hydrated to its heptahydrate form thereafter. A mixture of magnesium sulfate heptahydrate together with polyvinyl alcohol when uniformly distributed within a detergent composition is also effective in arresting and retarding nonionic surfactant bleeding.

Abstract: The invention discloses a process for the preparation of alkali metal isethionates from ethanol-derived ethionic acid and the use of these isethionates to prepare surface active fatty acyl isethionates. A mixture of calcium hydroxide and alkali metal hydroxide is used to separate the isethionate and the presence of an alkali or an alkali metal soap is required to obtain a light-colored fatty acyl isethionate having a yellowness index less than 10.

Abstract: Novel methods for preparing polycarboxylic compounds which are useful as metal sequestrants and food acidulants are disclosed. These compounds are aconitic acid and a mixture of aconitic acid, and the lactones of isocitric acid and alloisocitric acid. The compounds can be neutralized to the corresponding salts which, in turn, are metal sequestering agents. The novel methods include chlorination of propane-1,1,2,3-tetracarboxylic tetraesters.

Abstract: This invention discloses a method of producing directly esterified fatty acyl isethionate having a yellowness index less than about 6.0, which consists essentially of reacting a fatty acid with an alkali metal isethionate in the presence of a catalyst comprising a mixture of ZnO and an organic sulfonic acid wherein the molar ratio of ZnO to organic solfonic acid is about 1:1.7 or less and heating at about 200.degree. C. to about 255.degree. C. for sufficient time to produce the desired directly esterified fatty acyl isethionate.

Abstract: Disclosed herein are detergent compositions containing a water soluble organic surfactant and as a builder therefor a compound of the general formula: ##STR1## wherein X and X' are selected from the group consisting of hydrogen, alkyls having from 1 to 4 carbon atoms, alkoxys having from 1 to 4 carbon atoms, alkoxyalkyls having from 1 to 4 carbon atoms, hydroxyalkyls having from 1 to 4 carbon atoms, carboxyl in salt form (i.e., --COOM), and carboxymethyloxy in salt form (i.e., --OCH.sub.2 COOM), with the provision that only one of X and X' can be hydrogen, alkoxy, alkoxyalkyl, hydroxyalkyl, carboxyl in salt form or carboxymethyloxy in salt form; Y and Y' are selected from the group consisting of hydrogen, alkyls having from 1 to 2 carbon atoms, and hydroxyalkyls having from 1 to 4 carbon atoms; in the cases where both X and Y' or X' and Y are hydrogen or alkyls, X' and Y or X and Y' taken together can constitute a single bond which connects the .alpha. and .alpha.

Abstract: The invention discloses a process for the preparation of alkali metal isethionates from ethanol-derived ethionic acid and the use of these isethionates to prepare surface active fatty acyl isethionates. A mixture of calcium hydroxide and alkali metal hydroxide is used to separate the isethionate and the presence of an alkali or an alkali metal soap is required to obtain a light-colored fatty acyl isethionate having a yellowness index less than 10.

Abstract: A process is disclosed for converting a compound of the formula ##STR1## wherein R and R" are independently methyl, ethyl or propyl;R' is H, Na, Li, K, Mg.sub.1/2, Ca.sub.1/2, Sr.sub.1/2, Ba.sub.1/2, methyl, ethyl or propyl; andQ is chlorine or bromide;directly to a citrate salt by heating in an aqueous medium, with an alkaline earth metal hydroxide, at a temperature greater than 160.degree. C.

Abstract: Novel polyfunctional compounds and a novel process for their preparation are disclosed. These compounds may be converted into the acid or salt forms of cis and trans aconitic acids as well as into a racemic mixture of isocitric acid, alloisocitric acid and the lactones of isocitric acid and alloisocitric acid and their salts. All of the acid and salt forms produced are useful as metal sequestrants and/or detergent builders. The novel polyfunctional compounds can also be saponified to their corresponding alkali metal salts which, in turn, are also metal ion sequestering agents and detergent builders. The polyfunctional compounds are the reaction products obtained from the reaction of selected salts of monoalkyl esters of maleic acid with selected active hydrogen containing compounds.

Abstract: Novel polyfunctional compounds and a novel process for their preparation are disclosed. These compounds may be converted into the acid or salt forms of cis and trans aconitic acids as well as into a racemic mixture of isocitric acid, alloisocitric acid and the lactones of isocitric acid and alloisocitric acid and their salts. All of the acid and salt forms produced are useful as metal sequestrants and/or detergent builders. The novel polyfunctional compounds can also be saponified to their corresponding alkali metal salts which, in turn, are also metal ion sequestering agents and detergent builders. The polyfunctional compounds are the reaction products obtained from the reaction of selected salts of monoalkyl esters of maleic acid with selected active hydrogen containing compounds.

Abstract: An improved method for the conversion of an alkaline earth metal carboxymethyloxysuccinate to a trialkali metal carboxymethyloxysuccinate is disclosed wherein a mixture of alkali metal carbonates and bicarbonates are utilized to precipitate the alkaline earth metal as an insoluble carbonate. The amount of alkali metal carbonate/bicarbonate mixture utilized corresponds to a 1-6% molar excess over the number of moles of alkaline earth metal ion present. The pH of the reaction medium during precipitation is maintained in the range of about 10 to 11.5, preferably 10.6 to 11.0, and the temperature, between 80.degree. and 100.degree. C., preferably 90.degree.-100.degree. C. After separation of the insoluble alkaline earth carbonate, there is obtained a solution of the trialkali metal carboxymethyloxysuccinate containing a low calcium level, namely less than about 0.2% basis the percent of trialkali metal carboxymethyloxysuccinate present.