Process for making alkyl polyglycosides

Abstract

A process has been discovered for making alkyl polyglycoside which comprises reacting a fatty alcohol having from about 8 to about 22 carbon atoms with a sugar, in the presence of an acid catalyst, to form a product of alkyl polyglycoside and excess fatty alcohol. The molar ratio of fatty alcohol to sugar, respectively, is at least 2:1. The excess fatty alcohol is then separated from the alkyl polyglycoside product. Once separated, the excess fatty alcohol is then reacted with a source of boric acid to form a mixture comprised of one or more borate esters of the fatty alcohol and inert compounds. The non-hydroxylic compounds are then separated from the borate esters. The substantially pure fatty alcohol is then returned to the beginning of the process for use in the formation of alkyl polyglycoside.

Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.