The present disclosure is directed to compositions including a microemulsion comprising a blend of lecithin, a co-surfactant and a salt of an acidifier, an ester of an acidifier, or combinations thereof. Uses of the compositions are also disclosed.

The invention discloses synergistic combinations of surfactant blends and cleaning compositions employing the same. In certain embodiments a surfactant system is disclosed which includes an extended anionic surfactant with novel linker surfactants including one or more of an alkyl glycerol ether, an ethoxylated alkyl glycerol ether, an alcohol ethoxylate and/or a Gemini surfactant. This system forms emulsions with, and can remove greasy and oily stains, even those comprised of non-trans fats. The compositions may be used alone, as a pre-spotter or other pre-treatment or as a part of a soft surface or hard surface cleaning composition.

Surfactants capable of releasing and/or dissolving polymers to form water-soluble or water-dispersible polymer solutions are disclosed. In addition, polymer compositions containing a water-in-oil emulsion comprising the surfactant are provided and can be used, for example, in methods of dissolving a polymer. Also disclosed are detergent compositions and methods of cleaning articles and/or membranes using the surfactants herein. These surfactants and polymer compositions can be used in various industries including for water clarification, papermaking, sewage and industrial water treatment, drilling mud stabilizers, and enhanced oil recovery.

The invention relates to an aqueous washing liquor in a device for cleaning soiled textile substrates, containing a plurality of water-insoluble solid particles and a liquid phase which contains a microemulsion, and to a textile washing method using said type of washing liquor.

The present invention relates to a modified terpene-based formulation for removing petroleum oils from contaminated soils, which contains between 90 and 98% by weight d-limonene, between 0.1 and 2% by weight isomeric forms of carveol, between 0.01 and 1% by weight carvone, between 0.01 and 1% by weight limonene oxide and between 0.01 and 2% by weight alpha-terpineol. A modified terpene-based oil-in-water emulsion containing the abovementioned formulation and at least one non-ionic surfactant and a carrier is described, as well as use of said modified terpene formulation for cleaning contaminated soils.

A cleaning composition is particularly suited for cleaning dirty intake valves. The cleaning composition includes a high solvency surfactant/solvent which has a Kb greater than 100 or polar Hansen solubility parameter greater than 6. The surfactant/solvent is combined with a carrier such as water or an organic carrier and a surfactant. A wetting agent may also be employed. The cleaning composition is added to the intake air as a mist as the engine is running. Aqueous and non-aqueous versions are disclosed.

The invention discloses synergistic combinations of surfactant blends and cleaning compositions employing the same. In certain embodiments a surfactant system is disclosed which includes an extended anionic surfactant with novel linker surfactants including one or more of an alkyl glycerol ether, an ethoxylated alkyl glycerol ether, an alcohol ethoxylate and/or a Gemini surfactant. This system forms emulsions with, and can remove greasy and oily stains, even those comprised of non-trans fats. The compositions may be used alone, as a pre-spotter or other pre-treatment or as a part of a soft surface or hard surface cleaning composition.

Disclosed herein are detergent compositions containing extended chain surfactants that form microemulsions with and can remove greasy and oily stains. In certain embodiments the extended nonionic surfactant includes Guerbet C.sub.10 or C.sub.12(PO).sub.8(EO).sub.n. The detergent compositions and methods of employing the same beneficially clean soils from textiles including difficult to remove cosmetic soils and food oils, even those comprised of non-trans fats.

The present application is directed to water and surfactant-containing liquid washing or cleaning agents containing a hydrophobic precursor compound in microemulsified form, from which a peroxycarboxylic acid or the salt thereof can be released by UV radiation. Methods for washing textiles and cleaning hard surfaces using such precursor compounds are also included.

A concentrated silicone-in-water antifoam emulsion and a preparation process and a process for inhibiting foam are described herein.