Surfactants are amphiphilic molecules, consisting of both hydrophilic and hydrophobic regions. These substances are known to play a vital role in many processes of interest in both fundamental and applied sciences. Non-ionic surfactants are widely used in areas such as food, pharmaceuticals, personal care & household or industrial detergents because of their ability to influence the properties of surfaces and interfaces. Positive attributes that include biodegradability and non-toxicity make sugar & sugar alcohol-based surfactants particularly appealing. However, their application has been previously limited due to problems with the preparation of the sugar/sugar alcohol esters. This technology solves this major limitation and makes the expanded large scale commercial application of this useful class of molecules practical. Non-ionic surfactants are used in food, pharmaceuticals, household and industrial detergents. It is useful in markets such as the oil recovery, environmental detoxification and agriculture