| abstract |
A process for preparing a surfactant composition comprising a secondary (C8 to C22) alkyl sulphate, which process comprises: a) sulphating a (C8 to C22) olefin and/or a (C8 to C22) secondary alcohol, optionally containing a primary alcohol, with a sulphating agent, b) neutralising the sulphation product comprising alkyl sulphuric acid and dialkyl sulphate produced in step a) with a base in aqueous solution, c) heating the product of step b) to saponify the dialkyl sulphate and to remove substantially all of the water from the mixture, d) cooling the product of step c) in the presence of a nonionic organic liquid diluent to ambient temperature whereby a crystallised solid composition separates, and e) recovering and drying the crystallised solid composition of step d), wherein the nonionic organic liquid diluent is added at some point prior to step d), characterized in that a zeolite is added in step c) and/or step d), and the surfactant composition so prepared. |