Process for the production of color- and odor-stable quaternized fatty acid triethanolamine ester salts

A process for the production of at least one color- and odor-stable quaternized fatty acid triethanolamine ester salt corresponding to formula (I):

• ##STR2## wherein R.sup.1 CO is an acyl radical containing 6 to 22 carbon atoms,
• R.sup.2 and R.sup.3 independently of one another represent hydrogen or have the same meaning as R.sup.1 CO,
• R.sup.4 is an alkyl radical containing 1 to 4 carbon atoms or a (CH.sub.2 CH.sub.2 O).sub.q H group, in which q is a number from 1 to 12,
• m, n and p together=0 or a number of 1 to 10 and
• X is a halide, alkyl sulfate or alkyl phosphate, comprising the steps of
• A) partially or fully esterifying triethanolamine with at least one fatty acid of the formula R.sup.1 COOH wherein R.sup.1 CO is as defined above in the presence of hypophosphorous acid;
• B) adding a peroxide compound and an alkali metal boranate to the esterification product from step A);
• and
• C) quaternizing the esterification product with an alkyl halide, a (di)alkyl sulfate or an alkylene oxide in the presence of a phenol derivative and a hydroxycarboxylic acid, wherein where an alkylene oxide is used as the quaternizing agent, a (di)alkyl phosphate is also present.