Process for the preparation of secondary alkyl sulfate-containing surfactant compositions

A process for preparing secondary alkyl sulfate-containing surface active compositions which comprises:

• a) preparing a detergent range alkyl sulfuric acid-containing solution, b) contacting said detergent range alkyl sulfuric acid-containing solution with a base in aqueous solution, c) heating the product of step b) to saponify dialkyl sulfate and to remove substantially all of the water from the reaction- mixture, d) cooling the product of step c) in the presence of a nonionic organic liquid diluent to crystallize a solid secondary alkyl sulfate-containing surface active composition from the reaction mixture and recovering therefrom a crystallized solid secondary alkyl sulfate-containing surface active composition, e) contacting and mixing the uncrystallized portion of the product of step d) with a glycol, and f) phase separating the mixture of step e) into an upper phase product and a lower phase product which contains a non-solid secondary alkyl sulfate-containing surface active composition.