Methods of enhanced oil recovery are disclosed that use compositions including an alkyl polyether anionic surfactant having the general structure R.sup.1JA, wherein R.sup.1 is a C.sub.8-C.sub.18 primary or secondary radical group, J is a random, block, alternating, or alternating block polyether segment having the structure [(PO).sub.x(EO).sub.y(BO).sub.z], wherein x is 4 to 18, y is 0 to 20, and z is 0 to 5, and A is an anionic group; a co-surfactant having the general structure (R.sup.2).sub.q(B)Ph-L-Ph(D)(R.sup.3).sub.r, wherein R.sup.2 and R.sup.3 are each, independently in each instance, a C.sub.8-C.sub.24 linear or branched, primary or secondary alkyl group, B and D are anionic groups, q is 1 to 3, r is 1 to 3, and L is O or CH.sub.2; and an alkoxy alcohol.

The invention relates to compounds of formula (I),

##STR00001##

in which R.sub.1, R.sub.2, A and n are as defined. The invention also relates to mineral or organic salts thereof; the use of the compounds of formula (I) and/or of one of the salts thereof as a surfactant, a wetting agent, a detergent, an emulsifying agent, a dispersant, a corrosion inhibitor, and the like; and to compositions comprising at least one compound of formula (I) and/or of one of the salts thereof.

The invention relates to compounds of formula (I),

##STR00001##

in which R.sub.1, R.sub.2, A and n are as defined. The invention also relates to mineral or organic salts thereof; the use of the compounds of formula (I) and/or of one of the salts thereof as a surfactant, a wetting agent, a detergent, an emulsifying agent, a dispersant, a corrosion inhibitor, and the like; and to compositions comprising at least one compound of formula (I) and/or of one of the salts thereof.

The invention provides a novel hydrocarbon-containing carboxylic acid, hydrocarbon-containing sulfonic acid, hydrocarbon-containing sulfuric acid ester, or a salt thereof, and a surfactant. Each of them is a compound represented by the following formula (1):
CR.sup.1R.sup.2R.sup.4—CR.sup.3R.sup.5—X-A
wherein R.sup.1 to R.sup.5 are each H or a monovalent substituent; at least one of R.sup.1 or R.sup.3 is a group represented by the formula: —Y—R.sup.6; at least one of R.sup.2 or R.sup.5 is a group represented by the formula: —X-A or a group represented by the formula: —Y—R.sup.6; and As at the respective appearances are the same as or different from each other, and are each —COOM, —SO.sub.3M, or —OSO.sub.3M.

The invention provides a novel hydrocarbon-containing carboxylic acid, hydrocarbon-containing sulfonic acid, hydrocarbon-containing sulfuric acid ester, or a salt thereof, and a surfactant. Each of them is a compound represented by the following formula (1):
CR.sup.1R.sup.2R.sup.4—CR.sup.3R.sup.5—X-A
wherein R.sup.1 to R.sup.5 are each H or a monovalent substituent; at least one of R.sup.1 or R.sup.3 is a group represented by the formula: —Y—R.sup.6; at least one of R.sup.2 or R.sup.5 is a group represented by the formula: —X-A or a group represented by the formula: —Y—R.sup.6; and As at the respective appearances are the same as or different from each other, and are each —COOM, —SO.sub.3M, or —OSO.sub.3M.

The invention relates to the compounds of formula (I), ##STR00001##
in which R.sub.1 and R.sub.2 represent a linear, branched or cyclic, saturated or unsaturated hydrocarbon group, comprising 1 to 6 carbon atoms, wherein the sum of the carbon atoms of the groups R.sub.1 and R.sub.2 is from 2 to 7; A represents a chain of one or a plurality of units of ethylene oxide, propylene oxide, butylene oxide and mixtures thereof; and n is an integer between 1 and 100 inclusive. The invention also relates to mineral or organic salts thereof; the use of the compounds of formula (I) and/or of one of the salts thereof as a surfactant, a wetting agent, a detergent, an emulsifying agent, a dispersant, a corrosion inhibitor, and the like; and to compositions comprising at least one compound of formula (I) and/or of one of the salts thereof.

The invention relates to the compounds of formula (I), ##STR00001##
in which R.sub.1 and R.sub.2 represent a linear, branched or cyclic, saturated or unsaturated hydrocarbon group, comprising 1 to 6 carbon atoms, wherein the sum of the carbon atoms of the groups R.sub.1 and R.sub.2 is from 2 to 7; A represents a chain of one or a plurality of units of ethylene oxide, propylene oxide, butylene oxide and mixtures thereof; and n is an integer between 1 and 100 inclusive. The invention also relates to mineral or organic salts thereof; the use of the compounds of formula (I) and/or of one of the salts thereof as a surfactant, a wetting agent, a detergent, an emulsifying agent, a dispersant, a corrosion inhibitor, and the like; and to compositions comprising at least one compound of formula (I) and/or of one of the salts thereof.

The invention relates to compounds of formula (I), ##STR00001##
in which R.sub.1, R.sub.2, A and n are as defined. The invention also relates to mineral or organic salts thereof; the use of the compounds of formula (I) and/or of one of the salts thereof as a surfactant, a wetting agent, a detergent, an emulsifying agent, a dispersant, a corrosion inhibitor, and the like; and to compositions comprising at least one compound of formula (I) and/or of one of the salts thereof.

The invention relates to compounds of formula (I), ##STR00001##
in which R.sub.1, R.sub.2, A and n are as defined. The invention also relates to mineral or organic salts thereof; the use of the compounds of formula (I) and/or of one of the salts thereof as a surfactant, a wetting agent, a detergent, an emulsifying agent, a dispersant, a corrosion inhibitor, and the like; and to compositions comprising at least one compound of formula (I) and/or of one of the salts thereof.

A sulfuric acid ester containing a plurality of carbonyl groups or a salt thereof, and a surfactant. The sulfuric acid ester is a compound represented by the following formula:

R.sup.1—C(═O)—R.sup.2—C(═O)—R.sup.3—OSO.sub.3X

wherein R.sup.1, R.sup.2 and R.sup.3 are defined herein; X is H, a metal atom, NR.sup.4.sub.4, imidazolium optionally containing a substituent, pyridinium optionally containing a substituent, or phosphonium optionally containing a substituent, where R.sup.4s are each H or an organic group and are the same as or different from each other; and any two of R.sup.1, R.sup.2, and R.sup.3 optionally bind to each other to form a ring. Also disclosed is a surfactant containing the sulfuric acid ester and an aqueous dispersant containing the sulfuric acid ester.