Process for the preparation of light-colored alkyl polyglycosides

In a process for the preparation of alkyl polyglycosides containing an alkyl group of about 8 to 24 carbon atoms, which comprises glycosylating one or more saccharides by mixing said one or more saccharides, an alcohol or glycol of about 1 to 5 carbon atoms and an acid catalyst and then heating the same and transglycosylating the product resulting therefrom with long-chain alcohols having 8 to 24 carbon atoms, the improvement wherein the glycosylating is carried out in an evaporator at an acid number of about 1 to 10 mg of KOH/g.