Disclosed are surfactants represented by the following formula (1): ##STR1## wherein R.sup.1 represents a branched aliphatic hydrocarbon group, a secondary aliphatic hydrocarbon group or a branched aliphatic acyl group, AO and AO' each independently represents an oxyalkylene group having 2 to 4 carbon atoms, L represents a group represented by formula (2) to be described below, z stands for a number of from 1 to 10, X represents a hydrogen atom or an ionic hydrophilic group, m stands for a numbe...

A compound represented by formula (I): ##STR1## a compound represented by (II): ##STR2## or a mixture of at least one compound represented by formula (I) with at least one compound represented by formula (II), wherein M is hydrogen, an alkali atom or an ammonium group; R.sup.1 is hydrogen, a --(CH.sub.2).sub.m SO.sub.3 M group or a ##STR3## R.sup.2 is an alkyl-, alkenyl- or alkynyl- group having 6 to 25 carbon atoms; and m is an integer between 1 and 5; the use of at least one compound represent...

Surfactants of the general formula (I): Y.A.sup.1.OC.(HR)C.C(HR.sup.1).CO.A.(C.sub.m H.sub.2m O).sub.n.R.sup.2 or (II): Y.A.sup.1.OC.(HR)C.C(HR.sup.1).CO.A.(C.sub.m H.sub.2m O).sub.n.C.sub.p H.sub.2p.A.CO.(HR.sup.1)C.C(HR)CO.A.sup.1.Y; where R, R.sup.1, R.sup.2, A, A.sup.1, n, m, Y and p have defined meanings are effective in single phase aqueous surfactant compositions with high electrolyte loading, especially of or including alkali, particularly for hard surface cleaning applications. These su...

Compounds having the general formula: ##STR1## wherein X is an alkylene radical containing from 1 to 3 carbon atoms and Y is a residue of L-ascorbic acid or D-isoascorbic acid, or the corresponding salts thereof. The compound may be prepared by esterifying L-ascorbic acid or D-isoascorbic acid with the appropriate acid under acid conditions.

Surfactants having an HLB of from about 12 to about 20, preferably 14 to about 20, are disclosed which correspond to formulas I and II: ##STR1## wherein: R.sub.1 is a nonpolymerizable hydrocarbyl or inertly-substituted hydrocarbyl group of at least 8 carbon atoms; R.sub.2 is hydrogen or alkyl; X is ##STR2## Y is a terminal inorganic or organic group; and n is at least 2.

The present invention provides a polyethylene glycol (PEG) ester surfactant comprising at least one polyethylene glycol moiety and at least one fatty acyl moiety characterized in that said moieties are linked by a linkage incorporating a biodegradable methylene diester unit of formula (I) where R.sup.1 and R.sup.2 may, for example, each be a hydrogen atom or a monovalent organic group attached through a carbon atom or R.sup.1 and R.sup.2 together may, for example, form a divalent organic group a...

A surfactant composition represented by Formulas (I), (II) or (III); or optionally mixtures thereof ##STR1## wherein R.sup.1 is a hydrophobic moiety of alkyl or aryl, and wherein alkyl contains from about 4 to about 60 carbon atoms and aryl contains from about 6 to about 60 carbon atoms; R.sup.2 is selected from the group consisting of alkyl and aryl, wherein alkyl contains from 1 to about 60 carbon atoms and aryl contains from about 6 to about 60; R.sup.3 is hydrogen or alkyl of from 1 to about...

A lubricant composition for metal forming and cutting has at least one compound of the formula (I): R.sup.1--(AO).sub.n--OOC--(CH.sub.2).sub.m--Ph--(R.sup.2).sub.p where R.sup.1 is a C.sub.1 to C.sub.15 alkyl group AO is an alkyleneoxy group which may vary along the (poly) alkylenoxy chain; n is 0 or from 1 to 100; m is 0, 1 or 2; and Ph is a phenly group, which may be substituted with groups (R.sup.2).sub.p; where each R.sup.2 is independently an alkyl, halogen, haloalky or alkoxy group; and p ...

Surfactants of formula (I) ##STR00001## wherein each R is independently hydrogen or a C.sub.1 to C.sub.4 alkyl group; A is independently hydrogen or --C(O)--O--B; R.sub.o is a linear, branched or cyclic aliphatic group, or combination thereof, having from about 2 to about 100 carbon atoms, interrupted or substituted by 1 to about 50 hydrophilic groups, said hydrophilic groups selected from the group consisting of hydroxyl, amino, ether and mixtures thereof; wherein specific ratios of and bonding...

A detergent composition containing a surfactant mixture, the surfactant mixture containing: (a) a nonionic surfactant corresponding to formula (I): wherein R.sup.1 is a hydrocarbon radical having from about 16 to 18 carbon atoms and n is a number from about 5 to 10, and wherein the nonionic surfactant has an iodine value of from about 20 to 50; and (b) a co-surfactant selected from the group consisting of an alkyl oligoglycoside, an alkenyl oligoglycoside, an alkyl ether sulfate, and mixtures th...