Compositions, such as surfactant and/or detergent compositions, that include branched sulfonated surfactants. Related methods.

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.

A surfactant composition including a C.sub.10 AOS and/or C.sub.12 AOS, and an effective amount of at least one solubilizing component so as to increase brine tolerance of the composition is disclosed. The solubilizing component comprises a mixture of ##STR00001## where X is H, an alkali metal, alkaline earth metal or ammonium, and R is a linear C.sub.6-C.sub.16 alkyl group. A method of recovering hydrocarbons from a reservoir during gas injection into said reservoir is also disclosed which involves at least periodically injecting the gas and a foam-forming surfactant composition into the reservoir so as to assist in the recovery of hydrocarbons from the reservoir.

A surfactant composition including a C.sub.10 AOS and/or C.sub.12 AOS, and an effective amount of at least one solubilizing component so as to increase brine tolerance of the composition is disclosed. The solubilizing component comprises a mixture of ##STR00001## where X is H, an alkali metal, alkaline earth metal or ammonium, and R is a linear C.sub.6-C.sub.16 alkyl group. A method of recovering hydrocarbons from a reservoir during gas injection into said reservoir is also disclosed which involves at least periodically injecting the gas and a foam-forming surfactant composition into the reservoir so as to assist in the recovery of hydrocarbons from the reservoir.

Provided are surfactant compositions that are useful as alternatives to alkylphenol ethoxylates (APEs) type surfactants in emulsion polymerization. The surfactant compositions comprise: an alkyl alkoxylate sulfate of formula (I): R.sup.1O(CH.sub.2CH(R.sup.2)O).sub.x(CH.sub.2CH.sub.2O).sub.ySO.sub.3M wherein R.sup.1, R.sup.2, x, y, and M are as defined herein.

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 subject-matter of the invention are betaines with a special fatty acid chain distribution, for example based on palm kernel oil, the palm kernel oil comprising an enhanced content of unsaturated C.sub.18 fatty acids.

The objective of the present invention is to provide a method for remarkably reducing a critical micelle concentration of an anionic surfactant, which is used in a large amount currently, to reduce the amount to be used. Also, the objective of the present invention is to provide a surfactant composition of which whole critical micelle concentration is remarkably reduced and in which an amount of an anionic surfactant is reduced in comparison with the case of using an anionic surfactant only as a surfactant. The method for reducing a critical micelle concentration of an anionic surfactant according to the present invention is characterized in using a cyclic lipopeptide biosurfactant in combination with the anionic surfactant.

The invention provides a composition comprising a mixture of pentadecanols wherein at least about 60 wt % of the mixture is linear pentadecanol and at least about 10 wt % of the mixture is branched pentadecanols wherein the branched pentadecanols have branching on the second carbon atom. The mixture of pentadecanols may be converted to one or more derivatives, and these derivatives may be used in laundry detergents, cleaning products or as an agricultural adjuvant, an emulsifying agent, a lubricant additive, a pour point depressant, or a personal care ingredient.

The invention provides a composition comprising a mixture of tridecanols wherein at least about 60 wt % of the mixture is linear tridecanol and at least about 10 wt % of the mixture is branched tridecanols wherein the branched tridecanols have branching on the second carbon atom. The mixture of tridecanols may be converted to one or more derivatives, and these derivatives may be used in laundry detergents, cleaning products or as an agricultural adjuvant, an emulsifying agent, a lubricant additive, a pour point depressant, or a personal care ingredient.