US Patent 7087769 Process for the preparation of cationic surfactants

The invention concerns the preparation of cationic surfactants derived from the condensation of an acid, preferably a fatty acid or a hydroxy acid with a number of carbon atoms of 8–14 with esterified amino acids, preferably basic-type amino acids, more preferably (L)-arginine. The method comprises a first step in which the esterifiction of the amino acid with an alcohol is performed and a second step for the condensation with a chloride of an acid, preferably an acyl chloride of a fatty acid or a hydroxy acid, whereby the second step is performed in an aqueous environment with a pH value between (6 and 7), preferably between (6, 7) and (6, 9).