The present invention relates to novel mono- and diesters of 2,5-di(hydroxymethyl)tetrahydrofuran, processes for their preparation by esterification in the presence of tertiary amines or in the presence of enzymatic esterification catalysts and the use of these mono- and diesters as interface-active compounds, rheology modifiers and emollients. The invention further relates to cosmetic and pharmaceutical compositions, and to detergents, cleaners and dishwashing compositions which comprise these mono- and diesters of 2,5-di(hydroxymethyl)-tetrahydrofuran.

The present invention further relates to a biosurfactant-containing formulation including A) at least one biosurfactant, and B) at least one additional surfactant selected from the group of betaines, alkoxylated fatty alcohol sulphates and alkylamine oxides, wherein the biosurfactant-containing formulation may be used on hard surfaces.

The present invention relates to a surfactant composition, consisting of 70 wt %-99.9 wt % sophorolactone, 0-1 wt % sophorolipid acid, less than 0.1% residual substrate, and remainder water. The invention further relates to products comprising this composition or hydrolysates thereof. The invention also relates to uses of these products and hydrolysates.

Devices, systems, and methods for forming furan based surfactants by reactive distillation are disclosed herein. Various embodiments can provide a consolidated reaction process that uses reactive distillation to synthesize oleo-furan surfactant molecules and intermediates by combining reaction and separation steps into a single reaction unit or a number of connected reaction units. The single reaction unit or a number of connected reaction units can include a catalyst bed and act to separate reaction side products at opposing ends of the unit or units.

The invention provides a biodegradable aqueous composition based on natural extracts (natural essences and essential oils), quaternary ammonium, propylene glycol, Cellocize, EDTA, Tween 80, boric acid, aromas, colorants and water, for cleansing, disinfecting as an antiseptic and possessing a broad-spectrum bactericidal activity, ie bactericidal at once on gram positive and gram negative bacteria; also as an insecticide or at least as an insect repellent and as a freshener.

Compositions comprising one or more amphiphilic compounds formed from vinylidene olefins may comprise: a reaction product of one or more vinylidene olefins, in which the reaction product comprises a hydrophobic portion and a hydrophilic portion comprising a polar head group bonded to the hydrophobic portion. The one or more vinylidene olefins each comprise a vinylidene group that undergoes a reaction to become saturated and to produce at least part of the hydrophobic portion.

A cleaner composition includes: a saturated aliphatic hydrocarbon (A); an anionic surfactant (B); a nonionic surfactant (C); and water (D). The cleaner composition contains the saturated aliphatic hydrocarbon (A) in a proportion of 60.0% by mass to 85.0% by mass, the anionic surfactant (B) in a proportion of 8.0% by mass to 15.0% by mass, the nonionic surfactant (C) in a proportion of 2.0% by mass to 5.0% by mass, and the water (D) in a proportion of 1.0% by mass to 20.0% by mass, forms a W/O microemulsion or a solubilized W/O emulsion, and has a volume resistivity of 1×10.sup.9 Ω.Math.cm or less.

Surfactant-containing compositions are described which include a protein component that has the effect of improving the surface-active properties of the surfactants contained in the compositions. The surfactant-containing compositions having the protein component demonstrate significantly lower critical micelle concentrations (CMC), reduced surface tensions, and reduced interfacial tensions than do comparable compositions having no protein component. In addition, the surfactant-containing compositions having the protein component has the effect of converting greasy waste contaminants to surface active materials.

Water-soluble refill dose articles for forming a cleanser have a water-soluble film defining a first compartment enclosing a first composition and a second compartment enclosing a second composition, which are individual separate articles or are part of an integral article. The first composition has a rheology modifier, a first surfactant, 10% or less by weight water, 20% or less by weight glycol, and the first surfactant does not activate the rheology modifier. The second compartment has an alkaline substance that when mixed with the first composition and water activates the rheology modifier to increase the viscosity of a resulting cleanser and 10% or less by weight water. When the article is diluted in water at a 1:1 to 1:20 ratio, it produces a cleanser having a viscosity within a range of 2000 cps to 50,000 cps.

The present invention comprises a hard surface cleaning and treatment composition with a synergistic combination of mild surfactants that makes the composition particularly suited for leather, synthetic leather, vinyl and stainless steel. The composition is gentle and non-damaging to leather and synthetic leather, and leaves no sticky residue. The composition can clean food soils such as mustard, ketchup, shortening and grease and requires no personal protective equipment when being used. In addition, a method of preserving a leather surface or article by contacting said surface with said substrate is disclosed as well as specific methods associated with making the composition to form a stable water in oil emulsion.