BigPatents India

1. A process for the preparation of a quaternary ammonium salt which comprises reacting, at a temperature of from about 170°C to 210°C: 3) a C12 -C22 substituted or unsubstituted fatty acid or mixture of fatty acids having and having less than about 20% trans double bonds, with 4) an alkanolamine of the formula: Wherein R, R1 and R2 are independently selected from C2 -C4 hydroxyalkyl groups, wherein the molar ratio of said fatty acid to alkanol amine is from about 1.6 -1.8, and wherein said reaction temperature is increased from about 70°C to a range of from about 170° to 210°C, wherein the rate of temperature increase is maintained within a range of from about 0.8°C to 3°C per minute in order to obtain an ester composition with greater than about 55 wt% diester component and less than about 25 wt% triester component, and quaternizing same in order to obtain the quaternary ammonium salt.