Disclosed are a variety of amphoteric compounds containing a quaternary nitrogen group, a covalently bound counterion, and an ester or amide group. These amphoteric compounds can be advantageously prepared via a chemoenzymatic green process, and exhibit good surfactant properties.

A surfactant composition for a formed sand including 80 to 99.8 mass % of a compound (A) represented by formula (1); 0.1 to 10 mass % of a compound (B) represented by formula (2); and 0.1 to 10 mass % of an amphoteric surfactant (C):

R.sup.1O-(EO).sub.n—SO.sub.3M.sup.1  (1)

wherein R.sup.1 represents a hydrocarbon group having 6 to 22 carbons, EO represents oxyethylene group, n is 1 to 10, and M.sup.1 represents an alkali metal, an alkaline earth metal, ammonium or an organic ammonium;

R.sup.2O—SO.sub.3M.sup.2  (2)

wherein R.sup.2 represents a hydrocarbon group having 6 to 22 carbons, and M.sup.2 represents an alkali metal, an alkaline earth metal, ammonium or an organic ammonium.

A surfactant composition for a formed sand including 80 to 99.8 mass % of a compound (A) represented by formula (1); 0.1 to 10 mass % of a compound (B) represented by formula (2); and 0.1 to 10 mass % of an amphoteric surfactant (C):

R.sup.1O-(EO).sub.n—SO.sub.3M.sup.1  (1)

wherein R.sup.1 represents a hydrocarbon group having 6 to 22 carbons, EO represents oxyethylene group, n is 1 to 10, and M.sup.1 represents an alkali metal, an alkaline earth metal, ammonium or an organic ammonium;

R.sup.2O—SO.sub.3M.sup.2  (2)

wherein R.sup.2 represents a hydrocarbon group having 6 to 22 carbons, and M.sup.2 represents an alkali metal, an alkaline earth metal, ammonium or an organic ammonium.

Embodiments of the present disclosure generally relate to methods and formulations for enhanced oil recovery. In an embodiment, a method for treating oil-containing porous media for oil recovery includes introducing oil-containing porous media with a surfactant formulation described herein. Methods can be utilized for, e.g., wettability reversal or oil recovery. Surfactant formulations are also described.

This invention relates to stabilizer concentrates which improve the stability of mono- and/or diesters of mono- and/or diethylene glycol wax dispersions in personal care compositions, wherein the stabilizer concentrates comprising hydrogenated castor oil and betaines and are free of anionic surfactants.

Stabilized foams are provided, adapted in particular for subterranean applications in hydrocarbon recovery operations. The foams are stabilized with surfactant-decorated nanoparticles, and the decoration of the nanoparticles with surfactant may be titrated to tune the stabilization of the foam.

The present invention provides a solubilizing agent for hardly water-soluble substances, which contains a compound represented by the formula (1):

##STR00001##

wherein the symbols in the above formula are as defined in the specification.

The present invention provides a solubilizing agent for hardly water-soluble substances, which contains a compound represented by the formula (1):

##STR00001##

wherein the symbols in the above formula are as defined in the specification.

A process for coating a product by ion exchange including: a) providing a product that contains a surface segregating species (SSS) having a low surface energy component and an ionic component wherein the SSS has segregated to an outer surface of the product to form an activated surface; and b) treating the activated surface of the product with a liquid containing a surface modifying agent comprising one or more polyionic species, wherein the polyionic species is attracted to and deposits on the activated surface through a process of ion exchange.

Various embodiments disclosed relate to asphalt emulsifiers. An emulsifier has the structure R.sup.1—C(O)-A-(CH.sub.2).sub.n—N(R.sup.2) (R.sup.3), or a salt thereof wherein the —N(R.sup.2)(R.sup.3) nitrogen is quaternized as —N.sup.+(R.sup.2)(R.sup.3)(R.sup.4), or an N-oxide thereof wherein the —N(R.sup.2) (R.sup.3) nitrogen is oxidized as —N.sup.+(R.sup.2)(R.sup.3)(O.sup.−). The variable A is —NH— or —O—. The variable R.sup.1 is chosen from (C.sub.4-C.sub.22)alkyl, substituted (C.sub.4-C.sub.22)alkyl, (C.sub.4-C.sub.22)alkenyl, and substituted (C.sub.4-C.sub.22)alkenyl. The variables R.sup.2 and R.sup.3 are each independently chosen from (C.sub.1-C.sub.10)alkyl and substituted (C.sub.1-C.sub.10)alkyl. The variable R.sup.4 is chosen from —H, (C.sub.1-C.sub.20)hydrocarbyl, and substituted (C.sub.1-C.sub.20)hydrocarbyl. The variable n is 1 to 10. Various embodiments include methods of making the emulsifier such as from a fatty acid source and an amine starting material, emulsions including the emulsifier and methods of making the same, and methods of using the emulsion including contacting asphalt or bitumen with the emulsion.