A surfactant composition is disclosed comprising branched alkyl sulfate having 8 to 12 carbon atoms; optionally a linear alkyl sulfate having 8 to 12 carbon atoms; and optionally an alkyl ether sulfate having 8 to 13 carbon atoms. A gypsum slurry or gypsum board core is disclosed comprising gypsum, water, and a surfactant composition as described above. The foam voids in the core have a greater median diameter than foam voids made with corresponding linear alkyl sulfate. A method of controlling the median foam void diameter in a gypsum board is disclosed. A first foam water composition is provided comprising a linear alkyl sulfate surfactant. A second foam water composition is also provided comprising a branched alkyl sulfate surfactant. The proportions of the first and second foam water compositions employed in a gypsum composition are selected, or if desired changed, to provide the desired median foam void diameter.

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

wherein R.sup.1, R.sup.2 and R.sup.3 are as 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.

A composition comprising from 60-80 wt % alcohol alkoxy sulfates, 2-20 wt % of polyalkoxy sulfates and water wherein the alcohol alkoxy sulfates are of the formula RO(C.sub.3H.sub.6O).sub.x(C.sub.2H.sub.4O).sub.ySO.sub.3 where R is an alkyl group having from 9 to 18 carbon atoms, x is from 1 to 40, y is from 0 to 20 and x+y is from 1 to 60.

Disclosed are compounds of formulae: ##STR00001##
and salts, hydrates, or solvates thereof, where R.sub.1, R.sub.2, R.sub.3, R.sub.5, and R.sub.6 are defined herein, compositions containing these compounds, methods of preparing these compounds, and methods of using these compounds in a variety of applications, such as a surfactant or additive in personal care products.

The present invention provides a foaming agent composition for civil engineering-construction materials containing an anionic surfactant (A), a surfactant aid (B) and a water-insoluble or slightly water-soluble nonionic surfactant (C).

A method of preparing a solid surfactant composite may include: coating a liquid water-wetting surfactant on a solid carrier; and drying the solid carrier to produce the solid surfactant composite. A method may include: introducing a spacer fluid into a wellbore, the spacer fluid comprising a solid surfactant composite; and displacing a fluid in the wellbore using the spacer fluid.

A carboxylic acid or sulfonic acid salt containing a plurality of carbonyl groups, and a surfactant represented by the following formula:

R.sup.1C(O)R.sup.2C(O)R.sup.3-A

wherein R.sup.1, R.sup.2 and R.sup.3 are as defined herein, and A is COOX or SO.sub.3X, wherein 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.

Disclosed are ethylenically unsaturated salts of allyl (poly)ether sulfates utilized as reactive surfactants or emulsifiers during emulsion polymerization.

Disclosed are ethylenically unsaturated salts of allyl (poly)ether sulfates utilized as reactive surfactants or emulsifiers during emulsion polymerization.

A method of preparing a solid surfactant composite may include: coating a liquid water-wetting surfactant on a solid carrier; and drying the solid carrier to produce the solid surfactant composite. A method may include: introducing a spacer fluid into a wellbore, the spacer fluid comprising a solid surfactant composite; and displacing a fluid in the wellbore using the spacer fluid.