Pumpable water-containing surfactant concentrates

Pumpable water-containing surfactant concentrates with a solids content of 30 to 60% by weight containing (a) alkyl and/or alkenyl oligoglycosides and (b) amphoteric or zwitterionic surfactants in a ratio by weight of 10:90 to 90:10, based on the solids content; processes for their preparation and their use in the production of surface-active formulations.

We claim:

1. A process for the production of a pumpable aqueous surfactant concentrate consisting of water, at least one alkyl or alkenyl oligoglycoside and at least one amphoteric or zwitterionic surfactant comprising reacting at least one secondary or tertiary amine with an alkylating agent in the presence of water and at least one alkyl or alkenyl oligoglycoside to form at least one amaphoteric or zwitterionic surfactant, wherein the concentrate has a solids content of from about 30 to about 60% by weight.

2. The process of claim 1 wherein the at least one secondary or tertiary amine is selected from the group consisting of

(i) a secondary or tertiary amine corresponding to formula (I): ##STR4## in which R.sup.1 represents an alkyl or alkenyl radical containing from 6 to 22 carbon atoms, R.sup.2 represents hydrogen or an alkyl radical containing 1 to 4 carbon atoms, and R.sup.3 represents an alkyl radical containing 1 to 4 carbon atoms;

(ii) an amidoamine corresponding to formula (II): ##STR5## in which R.sup.4 CO is an aliphatic acyl radical containing 6 to 22 carbon atoms and 0 or 1 to 3 double bonds, n is 0 or a number of 1 to 3 and R.sup.2 and R.sup.3 are as defined above; and

(iii) an imidazoline corresponding to formula (III): ##STR6## in which R.sup.5 is an alkyl radical containing 5 to 21 carbon atoms, R.sup.6 is a hydroxyl group, an OCOR.sup.5 or NHCOR.sup.5 group, and m=2 or 3.

3. The process of claim 2 wherein the at least one alkyl or alkenyl oligoglycoside has the formula (IV):

R.sup.7 O--(G).sub.p (IV)

in which R.sup.7 is an alkyl or alkenyl radical containing 10 to 22 carbon atoms, G is a sugar unit containing 5 or 6 carbon atoms, and p is a number of 1 to 10.

4. The process of claim 3 wherein the alkylating agent is a halocarboxylic acid or an alkali metal salt or ester thereof.

5. The process of claim 4 wherein said amine and said oligoglycoside are present in a ratio by weight of from about 20:80 to about 80:20.

6. The process of claim 5 wherein the reaction is carried out at a temperature in the range of from about 70 to about 98.degree. C.

7. The process of claim 6 wherein the reaction is carried out over a period of from about 1 to about 10 hours at a pH of from about 6 to about 10.

8. The process of claim 5 wherein the reaction is followed by a pressure aftertreatment carried out at a temperature of from about 80 to about 140.degree. C. and a pressure of from about 1 to about 10 bar and at a pH of from about 8 to about 13.