Abstract: Propellant mixtures and medicament aerosols which contain them are described for micronizing medicaments for pulmonary use. The propellant mixture is in a subcritical state and contains at least one component from a first class of propellant gasses and at least one component from a second class of propellant gasses. The first class includes propellant gasses with an evaporation enthalpy of 200 kJ/kg or less at 25° C. and a vapor pressure of 20 bars or more at 25° C., and the second class includes propellant gasses with an evaporation enthalpy of 300 kJ/kg or more at 25° C. and a vapor pressure of 10 bars or less at 25° C. By using this propellant mixture in a medicament aerosol, micronized medicaments are obtained in which approximately 80% by weight of the generated particles have less than 8 &mgr;m diameter.

Abstract: The invention relates to a method for separating alkyl glycoside mixtures or alcohol-containing alkyl glycoside mixtures by extraction, which is characterized in that the extraction is carried out with an extraction agent, which is close to or below the critical point at a reduced temperature ranging from 0.9 to 1.2, and at pressures, which are selected so that the density of the extraction agent is at least 180 kg/m.sup.3.

Abstract: A method for synthesizing alkyl glucosides by the acetalization of sugars, particularly glucose, with alcohols in excess and subsequent separation of the excess alcohol by extraction, the extraction being carried out with an extraction agent, which is close to the critical point at a reduced pressure in the range of 0.8 to 1.3 and preferably of 0.9 to 1.2 at pressures, which are selected so that the density of the extraction agent, which is close to the critical point, is greater than 180 kg/m.sup.3.