| abstract |
(57) Abstract In a method for preparing ether carboxylic acids by oxalkylation of carbohydrates and their derivatives followed by oxida-tion, the carbohydrates or their derivatives are either ethoxylated directly in the usual way or first alkoxylated in the usual way with a higher alkylene oxide and then ethoxylated, and the aqueous solution so obtained is oxidized without further treatment, with oxygen as the oxidizing agent, in a pH range in which the carbohydrates and their carboxylic acid derivatives are stable, in the presence of a catalyst containing at least a metal of the platinum group. The oxidation products so obtained, which are parti-cularly suitable as additives in washing agents, possess improved properties. |