The present invention provides a co-surfactant which, when used in combination with a surfactant, can reduce the size of the surfactant micelle and can enhance the functions of the surfactant, such as the expression of microemulsion formation performance. This co-surfactant contains at least one compound represented by chemical formula (1). ##STR00001##
(In the formula, R.sup.1 is a hydrogen atom or a C.sub.1-C.sub.33 aliphatic hydrocarbon group, R.sup.2 is a C.sub.1-C.sub.33 aliphatic hydrocarbon group, the total number of carbons of R.sup.1 and R.sup.2 is 6-34, X is a single bond or a C.sub.1-C.sub.5 aliphatic hydrocarbon group, and one of A.sup.1 and A.sup.2 is —OH and the other is —O—CH.sub.2—CH(OH)—CH.sub.2OH or —O—CH(—CH.sub.2—OH).sub.2.)

The invention provides an aqueous microbial cleaning composition having excellent storage and germination properties, comprising bacterial spores and alkyl polyglucosides or sodium lauryl ether sulfates.

The application relates to a shaped detergent product comprising 10-100 wt. % of a solid amorphous phase and 0-90 wt. % of one or more other solid phases, wherein the solid amorphous phase comprises 25-88 wt. % free acid equivalent of aminopolycarboxylate, 10-60 wt. % free acid equivalent of an acid, wherein the acid is not an aminopolycarboxylate, 2-30 wt. % water, and wherein the shaped detergent product contains at least 0.5 wt. % surfactant.

The application relates to a shaped detergent product comprising 10-100 wt. % of a solid amorphous phase and 0-90 wt. % of one or more other solid phases, wherein the solid amorphous phase comprises 25-88 wt. % free acid equivalent of aminopolycarboxylate, 10-60 wt. % free acid equivalent of an acid, wherein the acid is not an aminopolycarboxylate, 2-30 wt. % water, and wherein the shaped detergent product contains at least 0.5 wt. % surfactant.

Disclosed is a liquid mixture (preferably an oil-in-water emulsion) for cleaning spilled paint, varnish, dye and/or surface coating, and a cleaning method comprising a step of applying said mixture to a fresh stain left by paint, varnish, surface coating and/or dye.

Amines and amine derivatives that improve the buffering range, and/or reduce the chelation and other negative interactions of the buffer and the system to be buffered. The reaction of amines or polyamines with various molecules to form polyamines with differing pKa's will extend the buffering range, derivatives that result in polyamines that have the same pKa yields a greater buffering capacity. Derivatives that result in zwitterionic buffers improve yield by allowing a greater range of stability.

Amines and amine derivatives that improve the buffering range, and/or reduce the chelation and other negative interactions of the buffer and the system to be buffered. The reaction of amines or polyamines with various molecules to form polyamines with differing pKa's will extend the buffering range, derivatives that result in polyamines that have the same pKa yields a greater buffering capacity. Derivatives that result in zwitterionic buffers improve yield by allowing a greater range of stability.

A fluid washing composition with four separate components and laundry washing kit thereof is disclosed. The four components are housed in respective independent tanks of a laundry washing machine equipped with a program for selecting, dosing and differentiated delivering. Component 1 is a detergent formulation with a pH of 4.0-12.0, with high detergent effect in washing programs at temperatures of 40°-60° C., having a specific action on cotton fibers, particularly, whites. Component 2 is a detergent formulation with a pH of 8.0-12.0, with high detergent effect in washing programs at temperatures of 15°-40° C., having a specific action on synthetic, colored and animal-origin fibers. Component 3 is an enzyme-based stain-removing formulation including protease and lipase and possibly amylase with a pH of 5.0-6.0, stabilized with sorbitol and calcium chloride. Component 4 is an after-wash conditioning formulation, with a pH of 2.0-4.0.

A fluid washing composition with four separate components and laundry washing kit thereof is disclosed. The four components are housed in respective independent tanks of a laundry washing machine equipped with a program for selecting, dosing and differentiated delivering. Component 1 is a detergent formulation with a pH of 4.0-12.0, with high detergent effect in washing programs at temperatures of 40°-60° C., having a specific action on cotton fibers, particularly, whites. Component 2 is a detergent formulation with a pH of 8.0-12.0, with high detergent effect in washing programs at temperatures of 15°-40° C., having a specific action on synthetic, colored and animal-origin fibers. Component 3 is an enzyme-based stain-removing formulation including protease and lipase and possibly amylase with a pH of 5.0-6.0, stabilized with sorbitol and calcium chloride. Component 4 is an after-wash conditioning formulation, with a pH of 2.0-4.0.

In a substrate processing method, a rinse process using a rinse solution is performed on a development-processed photoresist pattern on a substrate. A substitution process including a first substitution step using a mixed solution of a non-polar organic solvent and a surfactant and a second substitution step using the non-polar organic solvent is performed on the substrate. The substitution process is performed a plurality of times until the rinse solution remaining on the substrate is less than a predetermined value. A supercritical fluid drying process is performed on the substrate to dry the non-polar organic solvent remaining on the substrate.