Use of combination of chain extended surfactants to enhance solubility

Abstract

The present invention provides a surfactant blend containing (i) a chain extended anionic surfactant and (ii) a chain extended intermediate surfactant. The surfactant blends can be used to prepare cleaning compositions, or compositions for oilfield treatment applications, water-based metal working applications, and polyurethane foaming applications.

Description

[0001] This application is a divisional application of Chinese patent application No. 201780005193.1, filed on March 9, 2017, entitled "Using a combination of chain extender surfactants to enhance solubility".

[0002] Cross-reference of related applications

[0003] This application claims the benefit of U.S. Provisional Patent Application Serial No. 62 / 326,203, filed March 31, 2016, the entire disclosure of which is incorporated herein by reference.

[0004] Statement regarding federally sponsored research or development

[0005] not applicable. Invention Field

[0006] This invention provides a surfactant blend comprising a chain-extended anionic surfactant and a chain-extended intermediate surfactant, and its use in various applications, such as in household and industrial tissue cleaning products, personal care, and metalworking. Background of the Invention

[0007] Chain extender surfactants are surfactants in which an intermediate polar group, such as polypropylene oxide or a copolymer of propylene oxide and ethylene oxide, is inserted between the hydrocarbon tail and the hydrophilic head group. Due to the resulting molecular structure, the surfactant extends further into both the oil and aqueous phases, creating a greater interaction between the two phases and providing a smoother transition between the hydrophilic and hydrophobic regions of the interface. This provides a more suitable environment for dissolving both hydrophilic and lipophilic molecules.

[0008] Existing chain-extending surfactants and their uses in various applications include, for example:

[0009] US Patent 9,034,813 discloses an soaking composition containing a positively charged polyvinylimide (PEI) polymer and a chain-extended anionic surfactant.

[0010] US Patent 8,697,622 discloses a cleaning composition containing a chain-extended nonionic surfactant and a linker surfactant, the linker surfactant comprising mono- and diglycerides, and / or fatty acids and fatty diacids;

[0011] US Patent 8,454,709 discloses a chain-extended anionic surfactant, a linker such as amine oxide or dioctyl sulfosuccinate, or a linker co-surfactant such as monoglycerides, diglycerides, fatty acids or fatty diacids and their use in removing oil and grease stains.

[0012] U.S. Patent 8,172,953 discloses an ethoxylated, propoxylated chain-extending surfactant, and its use in combination with alkyl polydextrose for cleaning compositions; and

[0013] U.S. Patent 7,467,633 discloses a chain-extended anionic surfactant and a high-HLB nonionic surfactant and / or electrolyte, and their use in removing grease and oily substances from hard and soft surfaces.

[0014] Despite the existence of these existing surfactant systems, there is still a need to develop new, universal surfactant systems that provide ultra-low interfacial tension between the oil and aqueous phases, thereby improving the solubility of both hydrophilic and lipophilic molecules. Summary of the Invention

[0015] In one aspect, a surfactant blend is provided, comprising: (i) a chain-extended anionic surfactant; and (ii) a chain-extended intermediate surfactant.

[0016] In a second aspect, a cleaning composition is provided which contains the surfactant blend of the present invention.

[0017] In a third aspect, a single-phase microemulsion is provided, comprising the surfactant blend of the present invention, water, and oil components.

[0018] In the fourth aspect, the cleaning composition or single-phase microemulsion is provided for applications in which it may be used, including but not limited to household cleaners or personal care applications such as shampoos, hand soaps and body washes, lotions, body creams, hard surface cleaners and laundry or dishwashing cleaners.

[0019] The embodiments of the present invention include:

[0020] 1) Surfactant blends, comprising:

[0021] (i) Chain-extended anionic surfactants of formula (I):

[0022] R-(L) x -(O-CH2-CH2) y -O-SO3-A(I)

[0023] and (ii) the chain extension intermediate surfactant of formula (II):

[0024] R-(L) x -(O-CH2-CH2) y -OH(II)

[0025] Where R is a linear or branched, saturated or unsaturated, substituted or unsubstituted aliphatic or aromatic hydrocarbon group having about 6 to about 36 carbon atoms;

[0026] L is a linking group that contains polypropylene oxide blocks or polyethylene oxide blocks or mixtures thereof;

[0027] A is selected from hydrogen, monovalent metal cations, divalent metal cations, ammonium cations, and ammonium cations substituted with organic groups;

[0028] x is the average degree of alkoxylation of the linking group L, which is approximately 2 to approximately 20; and

[0029] y is the average degree of ethoxylation, which ranges from 0 to approximately 5.

[0030] 2) The surfactant blend according to embodiment 1, wherein R is a linear C8-C 20 Alkyl chains or branched C8-C 20 Alkyl chains or mixtures thereof.

[0031] 3) The surfactant blend according to embodiment 1, wherein A is selected from sodium, potassium, magnesium and ammonium.

[0032] 4) The surfactant blend according to embodiment 1, wherein the molar ratio of the chain-extended anionic surfactant of formula (I) to the chain-extended intermediate surfactant of formula (II) is about 9:1 to about 1:9.

[0033] 5) A single-phase microemulsion comprising a surfactant blend, water and oil components as described in embodiment 1.

[0034] 6) The single-phase microemulsion according to embodiment 5, wherein the amount of the surfactant blend is about 1% to about 60% by weight, based on the total weight of the single-phase microemulsion.

[0035] 7) The single-phase microemulsion according to embodiment 5, wherein the oil component is present in an amount of about 0.5% by weight to about 75% by weight, based on the total weight of the single-phase microemulsion.

[0036] 8) The single-phase microemulsion according to embodiment 7, wherein the oil component is selected from ethers, liquid esters, mineral oils, vegetable oils, animal oils and mixtures thereof.

[0037] 9) The single-phase microemulsion according to embodiment 5 further comprises at least one of the following auxiliary components: antioxidants, suspending agents, chelating agents, co-surfactants, free radical scavengers, fragrances, cleaning and surface-modifying polymers, detergents, antibacterial agents, bactericides, water-soluble additives, colorants, stabilizers, bleaching agents, bleaching activators, foam control agents, enzymes, dirt suspending agents, anti-corrosion inhibitors, whitening agents, dust removers, dispersants, pigments, dyes, pearlescent agents, rheology modifiers, and skin care active ingredients.

[0038] 10) The single-phase microemulsion according to embodiment 5, wherein the single-phase microemulsion is substantially free of electrolytes.

[0039] 11) A method for producing a single-phase microemulsion, comprising mixing a surfactant blend according to embodiment 1 with a water and an oil component.

[0040] 12) An aqueous cleaning composition comprising a surfactant blend, wherein the surfactant blend comprises: (i) a chain-extended anionic surfactant of formula (I)

[0041] R-(L) x -(O-CH2-CH2) y -O-SO3-A(I)

[0042] and (ii) the chain extension intermediate surfactant of formula (II):

[0043] R-(L) x -(O-CH2-CH2) y -OH(II)

[0044] Where R is a linear or branched, saturated or unsaturated, substituted or unsubstituted aliphatic or aromatic hydrocarbon group having about 6 to about 36 carbon atoms;

[0045] L is a linking group that contains polypropylene oxide blocks or polyethylene oxide blocks or mixtures thereof;

[0046] A is selected from hydrogen, monovalent metal cations, divalent metal cations, ammonium cations, and ammonium cations substituted with organic groups;

[0047] x is the average degree of alkoxylation of the linking group L, which is approximately 2 to approximately 20; and

[0048] y is the average degree of ethoxylation, which ranges from 0 to approximately 5.

[0049] 13) The aqueous cleaning composition according to embodiment 12 further comprises an auxiliary component including at least one of the following: antioxidants, suspending agents, chelating agents, co-surfactants, free radical scavengers, fragrances, cleaning and surface-modifying polymers, detergents, antibacterial agents, bactericides, water-soluble additives, colorants, stabilizers, bleaching agents, bleaching activators, foam control agents, enzymes, dirt suspending agents, anti-corrosion inhibitors, whitening agents, dust removers, dispersants, pigments, dyes, pearlescent agents, rheology modifiers, and skin care active ingredients.

[0050] 14) A method for removing dirt or stains from a hard or soft surface, comprising contacting the hard or soft surface with the aqueous cleaning composition according to embodiment 12. Detailed Implementation

[0051] If it appears herein, the term “comprising” and its derivatives are not intended to exclude the presence of any additional components, steps, or procedures, whether or not they are disclosed. For the avoidance of any doubt, the entire composition claimed herein by using the term “comprising” may include any additional additives, auxiliaries, or compounds unless otherwise indicated. Conversely, if it appears herein, the term “consistent with…” excludes any other components, steps, or procedures from any subsequent definition, except those not essential for operability, and if used, the term “consisting with…” excludes any components, steps, or procedures not expressly described or enumerated. Unless otherwise specified, the term “or” refers to the individual and any combination of the listed members.

[0052] The articles “a” and “an” are used herein to indicate one or more (i.e., at least one) grammatical object of the article. For example, “a chain extender” indicates one or more chain extenders. Phrases such as “in one embodiment,” “according to one embodiment,” etc., generally indicate that the specific feature, structure, or property following the phrase is included in at least one embodiment of the invention and may be included in more than one embodiment. Importantly, such phrases do not necessarily refer to the same embodiment. If the specification claims that a component or feature “will,” “can,” “is able to,” or “may” be included or have that property, then that specific component or feature does not need to be included or have that property.

[0053] The term "surfactant" refers to a compound containing both lipophilic and hydrophilic segments that, when added to water and oil or solvent, reduce the surface tension of the system.

[0054] The term "chain extender surfactant" refers to a surfactant having an intermediate polar linking chain inserted between the conventional lipophilic and hydrophilic segments of the surfactant, such as a polypropylene oxide block or a polyethylene oxide block or a mixture thereof.

[0055] The term "electrolyte" refers to a substance that provides ionic conductivity when dissolved in or in contact with water; such compounds can be solid or liquid.

[0056] The term "hard surface" refers to a solid, essentially non-flexible surface, such as countertops, tiles, floors, walls, panels, windows, pipe clamps, kitchen and bathroom furniture, appliances, engines, circuit boards, and tableware.

[0057] The term "soft surface" refers to softer, more flexible materials such as fabrics, blankets, hair, and skin.

[0058] "Dirty" or "stain" refers to non-polar oily substances that may or may not contain particulate matter, such as mineral clay, sand, natural minerals, carbon black, graphite, kaolin, environmental dust, etc.

[0059] The term "microemulsion" refers to a transparent colloidal dispersion that forms spontaneously or substantially spontaneously when its components come into contact with an aqueous medium. Microemulsions are thermodynamically stable and contain dispersed particles with an average diameter of less than about 300 nm, for example less than about 250 nm, less than 150 nm, less than 100 nm, and may be larger than about 2-4 nm, as measured by standard light scattering techniques.

[0060] When used to mean that the material is substantially absent, the term "substantially absent" means that such material is present as an incidental impurity or byproduct, if any. For example, in some embodiments, the material may be present in the composition in an amount not exceeding 100 ppm, in some cases less than 20 ppm, and in others less than 1 ppm.

[0061] According to one aspect, the present invention provides a surfactant blend comprising: (i) a chain-extended anionic surfactant; and (ii) a chain-extended intermediate surfactant. As known to those skilled in the art, chain-extended surfactants allow for ultra-low interfacial tension between the oil and aqueous phases at optimal salinity. The salt is used to reduce water solubility and drive some of the surfactant into the oil phase. As the salt concentration increases, the chain-extended surfactant becomes less soluble in water and separates between the oil and aqueous phases. When the interactions on both sides of the interface become equal, interfacial tension is minimized. It has been surprisingly found that the surfactant blend of the present invention can provide ultra-low interfacial tension between the oil and aqueous phases, thus allowing the dissolution of large quantities of water-insoluble oils (including but not limited to mineral oils, vegetable oils, animal oils, silicone oils, aromatic oils, ethers, esters, etc.) without the use of electrolytes (and / or alcohols).

[0062] According to one aspect, the surfactant blend comprises: (i) a chain-extended anionic surfactant of formula (I).

[0063] R-(L) x -(O-CH2-CH2) y -O-SO3-A(I)

[0064] and (ii) chain extension intermediate surfactant of formula (II)

[0065] R-(L) x -(O-CH2-CH2) y -OH(II)

[0066] Where R is a linear or branched, saturated or unsaturated, substituted or unsubstituted aromatic or aromatic hydrocarbon group having about 6 to about 36 carbon atoms; L is a linking group, such as a polypropylene oxide block or a polyethylene oxide block or a mixture thereof; A is any class of cations present for electroneutrality, such as hydrogen or a monovalent or divalent metal cation, such as an alkali metal cation or an alkaline earth metal cation, an ammonium cation or an ammonium cation substituted with an organic group; x is the average degree of alkoxylation of the linking group L, which is about 2 to about 20; and y is the average degree of ethoxylation, which is 0 to about 5.

[0067] In one implementation, R is a linear C8-C 20 Alkyl chains or branched C8-C 20 Alkyl chain. In another embodiment, R is a linear and branched C8-C group. 20 A mixture of alkyl chains. In another embodiment, the number of alkyl branches of R can be 0-7, in other embodiments 0-4, and in still other embodiments 0-3. Branching can occur at any carbon atom from the second carbon atom to (B-1) carbon atoms, where B is the number of carbon atoms in the alkyl chain. In one specific embodiment, branching occurs at the second carbon atom. If present, the branching length can be 1-8 carbon atoms.

[0068] According to another embodiment, A is selected from sodium, potassium, magnesium, and ammonium. In another embodiment, A is a substituted ammonium, such as N₂. + (CH3)4 or N + (C2H5)4 or N + (C2H4OH)4 or N + H3CH3 or N + H2(CH3)2 or NH + (CH3)3 or N + H(C2H4OH)3 or N + H2(C2H4OH)2 or N + H3(C2H4OH) or N + H(CH3)(C2H4OH)2. In another embodiment, A is sodium.

[0069] In yet another embodiment, the average degree of alkoxylation x can be about 2 to about 18, or about 3 to about 18, or about 4 to about 18, or about 5 to about 18, or about 6 to about 18, or about 7 to about 18, or about 8 to about 18, or about 9 to about 18, or even about 10 to about 18.

[0070] In yet another embodiment, the average degree of ethoxylation y can be about 1 to about 5, or about 2 to about 5, or about 3 to about 5.

[0071] In yet another embodiment, the average degree of alkoxylation x + average degree of ethoxylation y can be about 6 to about 24, or about 8 to 22, or even about 10 to 20.

[0072] The chain-extended anionic surfactant of formula (I) can be derived, for example, from the propoxylation, ethoxylation, and sulfation of suitable alcohols such as Ziegler, Oxo, Guerbet, or natural alcohols having varying chain lengths and alkyl chain distributions of about 6 to about 36 carbon atoms, and in some embodiments about 8 to about 20 carbon atoms. Examples of suitable alcohols include, but are not limited to, commercially available alcohols such as (Vista Chem.Co.) (Sasol Ltd.) (Shell) and (BASF) alcohol.

[0073] Suitable chemical methods for preparing chain-extended anionic surfactants of formula (I) involve reacting appropriate alcohols with propylene oxide and ethylene oxide in the presence of a base catalyst, such as sodium hydroxide, potassium hydroxide, sodium methoxide, potassium methoxide, or G2 catalyst, to produce alkoxylated alcohols. The alkoxylated alcohols are then reacted with aminosulfonic acids, chlorosulfonic acids, air / SO3, fuming sulfuric acid, sulfuric acid, etc., to produce sour esters, which can be neutralized with various bases, including sodium hydroxide, potassium hydroxide, monoethanolamine, diethanolamine, or triethanolamine, to produce chain-extended anionic surfactants.

[0074] Similarly, the chain-extending intermediate surfactant of formula (II) can be derived from suitable alcohols such as Ziegler, Oxo, or natural alcohols, for example, propoxylation and ethoxylation, having a chain length of about 6 to about 36 carbon atoms and an alkyl chain distribution, and in some embodiments about 8 to about 20 carbon atoms. Likewise, examples of suitable alcohols include, but are not limited to, commercially available alcohols such as… (Vista Chem.Co.) (Sasol Ltd.) (Shell) and (BASF) alcohol.

[0075] Chemical methods for preparing chain-extended intermediate surfactants of formula (II) include the reaction of a suitable alcohol with propylene oxide and ethylene oxide in the presence of an alkaline catalyst such as sodium hydroxide, potassium hydroxide or sodium methoxide.

[0076] In one specific embodiment, a suitable alcohol can first react with propylene oxide and / or ethylene oxide in the presence of a base catalyst to generate a chain-extending intermediate surfactant of formula (II), which is then separated into first and second portions. The first portion is used as the chain-extending surfactant of formula (II), while the second portion reacts with chlorosulfonic acid or HSO3Cl and is then neutralized to generate a chain-extending anionic surfactant of formula (I). Therefore, the chain-extending anionic surfactant of formula (I) and the chain-extending intermediate surfactant of formula (II) will have the same molecular structure, except that the hydrogen on the terminal hydroxyl group is replaced by a -SO3-A group.

[0077] According to another embodiment, the chain-extended anionic surfactant of formula (I) and the chain-extended intermediate surfactant of formula (II) are combined in a certain molar ratio to form a surfactant blend, which is sufficient to provide a single-phase microemulsion when combined with water and water-insoluble oils or solvents. In some embodiments, the molar ratio of the chain-extended anionic surfactant of formula (I) to the chain-extended intermediate surfactant of formula (II) is about 15:1 to about 1:15, or about 12:1 to 1:12, or about 9:1 to about 1:9, or even about 7:1 to about 1:7.

[0078] In another embodiment, the surfactant blend comprises a chain-extended anionic surfactant of formula (I) and a chain-extended intermediate surfactant of formula (II). In one embodiment, the surfactant blend comprises a chain-extended anionic surfactant of formula (I) to a chain-extended intermediate surfactant of formula (II) in a weight percentage ratio greater than 1:1 or greater than 1.1:1. In yet another embodiment, the surfactant blend comprises a chain-extended intermediate surfactant of formula (II) to a chain-extended anionic surfactant of formula (I) in a weight percentage ratio greater than 1:1 or greater than 1.1:1.

[0079] In another embodiment, the surfactant blend is provided as an aqueous cleaning composition that can be applied directly to soft or hard surfaces with dirt or stains. Upon contact, a single-phase microemulsion forms on the surface, which dissolves and removes oily or greasy substances from the surface. The cleaning composition may contain about 1% to about 60% by weight of the surfactant blend and about 5% to about 99.5% by weight of water, based on the total weight of the cleaning composition. In other embodiments, the cleaning composition may contain about 20% to about 55% by weight, or about 30% to about 50% by weight of the surfactant blend, based on the total weight of the cleaning composition. In other embodiments, the cleaning composition contains at least about 5% by weight, or at least about 10% by weight, or even at least about 15% by weight, or even still at least about 20% by weight of water, based on the total weight of the cleaning composition.

[0080] In another embodiment, the surfactant blend is provided, for example, in the form of a concentrated cleaning composition, which can then be diluted by the user with water to form a ready-to-use cleaning composition. The concentrated cleaning composition typically contains about 5% to about 90% by weight of the surfactant blend and less than about 50% by weight, or less than about 40% by weight, or even less than about 30% by weight of water. Therefore, the cleaning composition can also be provided to the user as a ready-to-use cleaning composition, wherein the concentrated cleaning composition has been diluted with up to about 95-99% by weight of water, based on the total weight of the ready-to-use cleaning composition.

[0081] In addition to surfactant blends and water, the cleaning composition may also contain one or more water-insoluble solvents or oils or mixtures thereof (referred to herein as oil components), thereby forming a single-phase microemulsion. The oil components help form the single-phase microemulsion and can simultaneously act as a solvent or softener to remove dirt or stains from surfaces. The oil components may be provided in an amount of about 0.5% to about 75% by weight, based on the total weight of the single-phase microemulsion, or in other embodiments in an amount of about 1% to about 50% by weight, based on the total weight of the single-phase microemulsion; in yet another embodiment in an amount of about 2% to about 35% by weight; and in yet another embodiment in an amount of about 3% to about 25% by weight, based on the total weight of the single-phase microemulsion.

[0082] In one embodiment, the oil component may include: ethers, such as glycol ethers or PPG butyl ethers; hydrocarbons or solvents, such as squalane, limonene, liquid alkanes, liquid isoalkanes, α-olefin oligomers, hexadecane, hexane, dipentene, octylbenzene, mineral oil, etc.; liquid esters, such as isopropyl myristate, octyl dodecyl myristate, oleyl oleate, decyl oleate, 2-hexyl decyl isostearate, hexyl decyl octanoate dimethyl ester, isopropyl palmitate, ethylhexyl palmitate, octyl methoxycinnamate (OMC), hexyl laurate, butyl stearate, diisopropyl adipate, etc.; automotive engine oil; vegetable oils, such as avocado oil, rapeseed oil, almond oil, simonium oil, olive oil, sesame oil, camellia oil, safflower oil, soybean oil, castor oil, tea oil, corn oil, rapeseed oil, rice bran oil, etc. Chic oil, palm kernel oil, palm oil, tea tree oil, sunflower seed oil, grape seed oil, cottonseed oil, hemp seed oil, lavender oil, etc.; animal oils, such as scallop oil, mink oil, egg yolk fat oil, algae oil, etc.; and silicone oils, such as dimethyl polysiloxane, methylphenyl polysiloxane, methylhydropolysiloxane, octamethylcyclotetrasiloxane, etc.; and mixtures thereof.

[0083] In one specific embodiment, the monophase microemulsion is substantially alcohol-free. In another embodiment, the monophase microemulsion is substantially electrolyte-free. In yet another embodiment, the monophase microemulsion is substantially free of both alcohol and electrolytes.

[0084] In yet another embodiment, the cleaning composition herein is a neutral composition, and therefore the pH measured at 25°C is about 6-8, or about 6.5-7.5, or even about 7. In other embodiments, the cleaning composition herein has a pH higher than 4, and optionally a pH lower than 10.

[0085] Therefore, the cleaning composition described herein may contain suitable bases and acids to adjust its pH. Bases that can be used include organic and / or inorganic bases. Examples of such bases are caustic bases such as sodium hydroxide, potassium hydroxide, and / or lithium hydroxide, and / or alkali metal oxides such as sodium and / or potassium oxides or mixtures thereof, ammonia, ammonium carbonate, all available carbonates such as K₂CO₃, Na₂CO₃, CaCO₃, MgCO₃, etc., alkanolamines (e.g., monoethanolamine), urea and urea derivatives, and polyamines. When present, such bases are typically present at levels of about 0.01% to about 5.0% by weight, or about 0.05% to about 3.0% by weight, or even about 0.1% to about 0.6% by weight, based on the total weight of the cleaning composition.

[0086] The cleaning compositions described herein may also contain acids to adjust their pH to the desired level; although acids are present, the cleaning compositions herein will maintain their pH as described above. The acids used include organic and / or inorganic acids. Organic acids may have a pKa of less than 6 and may be selected from citric acid, lactic acid, glycolic acid, succinic acid, glutaric acid, adipic acid, and mixtures thereof. Inorganic acids may be selected from hydrochloric acid, sulfuric acid, phosphoric acid, and mixtures thereof. When present, typical levels of such acids are about 0.01% to about 5.0% by weight, or about 0.04% to about 3.0% by weight, or even about 0.05% to about 1.5% by weight, based on the total weight of the cleaning composition.

[0087] The cleaning composition according to the invention may also contain a variety of auxiliary components, depending on the technical benefits of the target and the surface to be treated.

[0088] Examples of auxiliary components include antioxidants, suspending agents, chelating agents, co-surfactants, free radical scavengers, fragrances, cleaning and surface-modifying polymers, builders, antibacterial agents, bactericides, water-soluble additives, colorants, stabilizers, bleaching agents, bleaching activators, foam control agents that promote and inhibit foaming such as fatty acids, enzymes, dirt suspending agents, corrosion inhibitors, whitening agents, dust removers, dispersants, pigments, dyes, pearlescent agents, rheology modifiers, and skin-care active ingredients such as emollients, humectants, and / or conditioning polymers. The levels of these auxiliary components can range from about 0.00001% by weight to about 90% by weight, based on the total weight of the cleaning composition.

[0089] Optionally, antioxidants or preservatives may be added to the cleaning composition, including compounds such as formalin, 5-chloro-2-methyl-4-isothiazolinone, and 2,6-di-tert-butyl-p-cresol. Other conventional antioxidants for the cleaning composition may also be included, such as 2,6-di-tert-butyl-4-cresol (BHT), carbamates / esters, ascorbic acid salts / esters, thiosulfate / esters, monoethanolamine (MEA), diethanolamine, and triethanolamine. When present, these components may be included in amounts from about 0.001% to about 5% by weight, based on the total weight of the cleaning composition.

[0090] When present, corrosion inhibitors and / or rust inhibitors are also introduced at low levels, for example, about 0.01% to about 5% by weight, based on the weight of the cleaning composition, and include sodium metasilicate, alkali metal silicates such as sodium silicate or magnesium silicate, bismuth salts, manganese salts, benzotriazole, pyrazole, thiohydroxyl, thiols, aluminum salts of fatty acids and mixtures thereof.

[0091] Any fluorescent whitening agent, brightener, or bleach can be used in the cleaning compositions of the present invention. Typically, when introduced into the cleaning composition, the level of the brightener is about 0.01% to about 1.2% by weight, based on the total weight of the cleaning composition. The brightener may include derivatives of the following: stilbene, pyrazoline, coumarin, carboxylic acid, methylene anthocyanin, dibenzothiophene-5,5-dioxide, azoles, 5- and 6-membered heterocyclic compounds, and other various types of reagents. In addition, peroxy acids, perborates, percarbonates, and chlorine bleach can generally be used at levels of about 1% to about 30% by weight, based on the total weight of the cleaning composition. The bleach can also be used with bleaching activators, such as amides, imides, esters, and anhydrides, and / or bleaching stabilizers.

[0092] Antimicrobial agents that may be present in cleaning compositions include disinfectants such as benzoyl ammonium chloride, polyhexamethylene biguanide, phenolic disinfectants, amphoteric disinfectants, anionic disinfectants, and metal disinfectants (e.g., silver). Other antimicrobial agents include hydrogen peroxide, peracids, ozone, hypochlorite, and chlorine dioxide. The amount of antimicrobial agent that may be introduced into a cleaning composition is about 0.1% to about 10% by weight, based on the total weight of the cleaning composition.

[0093] The disinfectant that may be included is a compound such as copper sulfate. If present, the disinfectant may be from about 0.01% to about 5% by weight, based on the total weight of the cleaning composition.

[0094] This document may use any suitable organic and inorganic suspending agents, typically used as gelling agents, thickeners, or suspending agents in cleaning compositions. Organic suspending agents include polysaccharide polymers, polycarboxylate polymer thickeners, layered silicate flakes such as lithium montmorillonite, bentonite, or montmorillonite, hydroxyl-containing crystallizing agents such as hydroxy fatty acids, fatty acid esters, or fatty soap-like materials such as 12-hydroxystearic acid, 9,10-dihydroxystearic acid, tri-9,10-dihydroxystearic acid glyceryl ester and tri-12-hydroxystearic acid glyceryl ester, castor wax, or hydrogenated castor oil. Specific polysaccharide polymers used herein include substituted cellulose materials such as carboxymethyl cellulose, ethyl cellulose, hydroxyethyl cellulose, hydroxypropyl cellulose, and hydroxymethyl cellulose; microfibrillated cellulose (MFC), succinosaccharides, and naturally occurring polysaccharide polymers such as xanthan gum, gellan gum, guar gum and their derivatives, sophora bean gum, tragacanth gum, succinosaccharide gum, or their derivatives. When present, the amount of suspending agent may be from about 0.01% by weight to about 10% by weight, based on the total weight of the cleaning composition.

[0095] If present, the chelating agent may be introduced into the compositions herein in an amount ranging from about 0.01% by weight to about 10.0% by weight, based on the total weight of the clean composition. Examples of chelating agents used herein may include alkali metal ethane 1-hydroxy bisphosphonate (HEDP), alkylene poly(alkylene phosphonates), and aminophosphonate compounds including aminoaminotris(methylenephosphonic acid) (ATMP), triazinetrimethylenephosphonate (NTP), ethylenediaminetetramethylenephosphonate and diethylenetriaminepentamethylenephosphonate (DTPMP), dihydroxydisulfonylbenzene such as 1,2-dihydroxy-3,5-disulfonylbenzene, ethylenediamine N,N'-disuccinic acid or its alkali metal or alkaline earth metal, ammonium or its substitution. Ammonium salts or mixtures thereof, ethylenediaminetetraacetic acid ester, diethylenetriaminepentaacetic acid ester, diethylenetriaminepentaacetic acid ester (DTPA), N-hydroxyethylethylenediaminetriacetic acid ester, hypoazinetriacetic acid ester, ethylenediaminetetrapropionate ester, triethylenetetraaminehexaacetic acid ester, ethanol-diglycine, propylenediaminetetraacetic acid (PDTA) and methylglycine diacetic acid (MGDA), all in their acid form, or in their alkali metal, ammonium and substituted ammonium salt forms, salicylic acid, aspartic acid, glutamic acid, glycine, malonic acid or mixtures thereof.

[0096] Co-surfactants that can be used include nonionic, anionic, amphoteric, amphoteric, cationic surfactants, or mixtures thereof. Examples of suitable surfactants are described in McCutcheon, Volume 1: Emulsifiers and Detergents, North American Ed., McCutcheon Division, MC Publishing Co., 2002. The compositions described herein may contain about 0.01% to about 50% by weight, or about 0.5% to about 40% by weight, or even about 1% to about 36% by weight of a co-surfactant or mixture thereof, based on the total weight of the cleaning composition.

[0097] Non-limiting examples of nonionic surfactants include alkyl polysaccharides, amine oxides, fatty acid amides, block copolymers of ethylene oxide and propylene oxide, fluorosurfactants, and silicone surfactants or mixtures thereof.

[0098] Non-limiting examples of anionic surfactants used in this document include alkyl sulfonates, alkyl aryl sulfonates, alkyl sulfates, alkyl alkoxylated sulfate surfactants, and C6-C... 20 Alkylalkoxylated linear or branched diphenyl disulfonate or mixtures thereof.

[0099] Non-limiting examples of amphoteric and zwitterionic surfactants include alkyl betaines, amine oxides, polycarboxylic acid esters, alkylaminopropionic acid, alkyliminopropionic acid, imidazoline carboxylic acid esters, sulfonated betaines, and sulfobetaine.

[0100] Non-limiting examples of cationic surfactants include primary amine salts, diamine salts, quaternary ammonium salts, ethoxylated amines, and mixtures thereof.

[0101] If present, water-soluble additives include, but are not limited to, sodium xylenesulfonate, sodium cumenesulfonate, sodium toluenesulfonate, propylene glycol, glycerin, sorbitol propylene glycol, ethanol, and urea. When present, the amount of water-soluble additives is typically from about 0.5% to about 40% by weight, based on the total weight of the cleaning composition.

[0102] Free radical scavengers used herein include known substituted mono- and dihydroxybenzenes and their analogues, alkyl and aryl carboxylic acid esters, and mixtures thereof. Preferred free radical scavengers used herein include di-tert-butylhydroxytoluene (BHT), hydroquinone, di-tert-butylhydroquinone, mono-tert-butylhydroquinone, tert-butylhydroxyanisole (anysole), benzoic acid, benzoic acid, catechol, tert-butylcatechol, benzylamine, 1,1,3-tris(2-methyl-4-hydroxy-5-tert-butylphenyl)butane, n-propyl gallate, or mixtures thereof, with di-tert-butylhydroxytoluene being particularly preferred. When used, the free radical scavenger may be present in the compositions herein in an amount up to about 10% by weight, based on the total weight of the cleaning composition.

[0103] Suitable detergents can be selected from phosphate esters and polyphosphate esters, especially sodium salts; carbonates, bicarbonates, sesquicarbonates, and carbonate minerals, except sodium carbonate or sodium sesquicarbonate; organic mono, di, tri, and tetracarboxylic acid esters, especially water-soluble non-surfactant carboxylic acid esters in the form of acid, sodium, potassium, or alkanoic acid ammonium salts, and oligomer or water-soluble low molecular weight polymeric carboxylic acid esters, including aliphatic and aromatic types; and inorganic detergents such as sulfate esters, citrate esters, zeolites, aluminosilicates, and phytic acid. These can be compensated by borates, for example for pH buffering purposes, or by sulfates, especially sodium sulfate and any other fillers or carriers, which are important for the engineering of stable surfactant and / or detergent compositions containing detergents. Detergent mixtures (sometimes referred to as “detergent systems”) can also be used, typically containing two or more conventional detergents, optionally compensated by chelating agents, pH buffers, or fillers, although the amounts of these latter are usually described separately when describing the amounts of materials herein. When present, the detergent comprises approximately 1% to approximately 90% by weight, based on the total weight of the cleaning composition.

[0104] Suitable colorants and fragrances are well known to those skilled in the art. Colorants include Direct Blue 86 (Miles), Fastusol Blue (Mobay Chemical Corp.), Acid Orange 7 (American Cyanamid), Basic Violet 10 (Sandoz), Acid Yellow 23 (GAF), Acid Yellow 17 (Sigma Chemical), Dark Green (Keyston Analine and Chemical), Acidic M-amine Yellow (Keystone Analine and Chemical), Acid Blue 9 (Hilton Davis), Sandolan Blue / Acid Blue 182 (Sandoz), Hisol Fast Red (Capitol Color and Chemical), Fluorescein (Capitol Color and Chemical), and Acid Green 25 (Ciba-Geigy). Examples of fragrances include natural products such as ambergris, benzoin, castoreum, civet, clove oil, galbanum, jasmine, rosemary oil, sandalwood, orange oil, lemon oil, rose extract, lavender, musk, pine oil, cedarwood, etc. Examples of aromatic chemicals include, but are not limited to, isoamyl acetate (banana); isobutyl propionate (rum); methyl aminobenzoate (grape); benzyl acetate (peach); methyl butyrate (apple); ethyl butyrate (pineapple); octyl acetate (orange); n-propyl acetate (pear); and ethylphenyl acetate (honey). The cleaning compositions according to the invention may contain any combination of compounds of the above type necessary to produce an odor masking effect or to reduce unwanted odors to an acceptable level. In some embodiments, the oils and esters listed above may be used as oil components. The amount used can be readily determined by those skilled in the art and may be from about 0.01% by weight to about 5% by weight, based on the total weight of the cleaning composition.

[0105] The polymeric foam stabilizer may be selected from homopolymers and hydrophobically modified cellulose polymers of (N,N-dialkylamino)alkyl esters and (N,N-dialkylamino)alkyl acrylates, including methylcellulose, hydroxypropyl methylcellulose, hydroxyethyl methylcellulose, and mixtures thereof. The amount of the polymeric foam stabilizer may be from about 0.01% by weight to about 15% by weight, based on the total weight of the cleaning composition.

[0106] If desired, the cleaning composition may contain enzymes to provide cleaning performance benefits. When present, the enzymes are about 0.0001% to about 5% by weight of active enzymes, based on the total weight of the cleaning composition, including one or a blend of the following: cellulase, hemicellulase, peroxidase, protease, glucosylamylase, amylase, lipase, keratinase, pectinase, xylanase, reductase, oxidase, phenol oxidase, lipoxygenase, ligninase, amylopectinase, tanninase, pentosanase, malicase, β-glucanase, and arabinosidase.

[0107] When the enzyme is present, the enzyme stabilizer may also be included in the cleaning composition in an amount of about 0.001% to about 10% by weight of the total weight of the cleaning composition. The enzyme stabilizer is an enzyme-compatible compound, including calcium ions, boric acid, propylene glycol, short-chain carboxylic acids, boric acid, and mixtures thereof. For example, borates such as alkali metal borates or borate amines (e.g., alkanolamines) or alkali metal borates such as potassium borate, calcium chloride, calcium hydroxide, calcium formate, calcium malate, calcium maleate, calcium hydroxide, and calcium acetate are enzyme stabilizers that can be used in the cleaning compositions of the present invention.

[0108] To manufacture the compositions of the present invention, the above-mentioned components are combined together using methods known in the art. The relative amounts of the components are selected to produce the desired properties of the composition in cleaning applications on hard or soft surfaces, and on the one hand, attention is paid to ensuring that the components are present at sufficiently effective levels, but on the other hand, excessive costs are avoided by limiting the upper limits of the components.

[0109] Because the compositions described herein are typically prepared as liquid formulations, and because no special mixing is required to form a single-phase microemulsion, the compositions can be readily prepared in any suitable vessel or container. The order in which the components are mixed is not particularly important; typically, different components can be added sequentially or all at once in aqueous solution form.

[0110] Surprisingly, the formation of microemulsions from the aforementioned components occurs spontaneously, due to the favorable free energy generated when the components mix together. While microemulsions are thermodynamically favorable, kinetic barriers can hinder their formation in some cases. Therefore, if such kinetic barriers must be overcome in microemulsion formation, the applied mixing energy or temperature can be moderately increased.

[0111] Once formulated, the compositions of the present invention can be packaged in a variety of containers, such as steel, tin or aluminum cans, plastic or glass bottles and paper or cardboard containers.

[0112] In addition to the cleaning compositions described above, which are produced by mixing the desired components together, the cleaning compositions of the present invention can also be formulated as rods, which are held together in an adhesive, soluble form using a binder. The binder can be natural or synthetic starch, gum, thickener, or any blend thereof. Furthermore, the cleaning compositions can be formulated as pastes or gels by adding thickeners or gelling agents such as fumed silica, organic gums, polymers, alkane waxes, bentonite clay, and cellulose ethers.

[0113] In another embodiment, the cleaning composition of the present invention is provided as a low to moderate bulk density powder. The low to moderate bulk density powder can be prepared by spray drying a liquid slurry containing the cleaning composition of the present invention and optionally dry-mixing additional ingredients. In another embodiment, the low to moderate bulk density powder is concentrated or compacted by mixing and granulating the powder composition using a high-speed mixer / granulator or other non-tower drying method. In yet another embodiment, tablets can be prepared by compacting a concentrated powder containing the cleaning composition of the present invention.

[0114] The cleaning composition of the present invention can be used in a variety of applications, and in one specific embodiment is particularly suitable for cleaning hard or soft surfaces.

[0115] Therefore, in another aspect, the present invention provides a method for removing dirt or stains from hard or soft surfaces. A conventional approach is to contact or apply the cleaning composition according to the invention to or onto a hard or soft surface using various application methods, such as spraying (e.g., in aerosol form or using a standard spray nozzle), rubbing, scraping, brushing, immersion, coating, gel application, or pouring the cleaning composition onto or onto the hard or soft surface. The cleaning composition can then be removed from the hard or soft surface by rinsing and / or wiping with water until it is no longer visible to the naked eye. Hard or soft surfaces can also be air-dried to remove the cleaning composition or residual water from the surface.

[0116] While surfactant blends are particularly useful in cleaning compositions, they have also been found to be very versatile and can be included in aqueous compositions or microemulsions for oilfield applications, water-based metal processing applications, polyurethane foaming applications, or cosmetic and dermatological applications.

[0117] Therefore, in another embodiment, a personal care composition comprising the surfactant blend of the present invention and water is provided. "Personal care" refers to compositions applied topically to human hair or skin, but not ingested orally. Preferably, the personal care composition is applied topically to human skin in a rinsing application. Personal care compositions comprising surfactant blends are contemplated to include body washes, shower gels, exfoliating compositions, shampoos, rinse conditioners, shaving foams, facial cleansers, detergents, hand soaps, cleansing creams / milks, astringent washes, skin toners or cooling agents, bubble baths, soluble bath oils, and bar soaps.

[0118] According to some embodiments, the personal care composition comprises 0.05% by weight or more, optionally 0.1% by weight or more, of a surfactant blend, wherein the weight percentage is based on the total weight of the personal care composition. In another embodiment, the personal care composition comprises 10% by weight or less, or 5% by weight or less, of a surfactant blend, wherein the weight percentage is based on the total weight of the personal care composition.

[0119] Other components (and their amounts) that may be included in personal care compositions are well known to those skilled in the art and may include those listed above. Other components that may be included are humectants, preservatives, pH adjusters, moisturizers and / or anti-irritants such as true aloe vera, PEG-7 glyceryl cocoate, chamomile, avocado oil or sweet almond oil, dyes or fragrances.

[0120] In yet another embodiment, a lubricant concentrate for use in metal forming or cutting applications is provided, comprising the surfactant blend of the present invention and a base oil, such as a petroleum-based oil, vegetable oil, animal-derived oil, or synthetic oil. Lubricant formulations and their components / amounts are described in US20150051132, the entire disclosure of which is incorporated herein by reference.

[0121] In one specific embodiment, the lubricating oil concentrate can be dispersed in an aqueous medium and used in a cutting method. The lubricating oil concentrate formulation can be dispersed in an aqueous medium at a concentration of about 5 parts by weight to 20 parts by weight of oil concentrate per 100 parts by weight of aqueous medium (e.g., water), and may contain the following:

[0122] Oil concentrate components wt%, based on total weight of oil concentrate base oil 60-75 The surfactant blends of the present invention 10-18 Diethylene glycolamine 3-6 Inorganic acids 1-4 organic acids 1-2 stabilizer 2-4 tall oil fatty acids 6-10 Deionized water 0.5-3

[0123] In another embodiment, the lubricating oil concentrate can be dispersed in an aqueous medium and used in aluminum cutting or grinding methods. The lubricating oil concentrate formulation for aluminum cutting or grinding methods can be dispersed in an aqueous medium at a ratio of about 5 parts by weight to about 20 parts by weight of oil concentrate per 100 parts of aqueous medium (e.g., water), and may contain the following:

[0124] Oil concentrate components wt%, based on total weight of oil concentrate base oil 5-20 The surfactant blends of the present invention 10-20 Nonionic surfactants 0-15 Tall Oil 6-10 stabilizer 1-3 Diethylene glycolamine 5-10 Inorganic acids 3-5 organic acids 1-3 amine 0.2-0.6 Deionized water Balance up to 100

[0125] Example

[0126] Example 1. Microemulsions were prepared using different oils.

[0127] The table below identifies the components that use different oils combined to form a single-phase microemulsion:

[0128] Table 1 (Examples of Avocado Oil / Moisturizing Formulas for Personal Care)

[0129] Components 1A 1B <![CDATA[Chain extender surfactant 1 > 32g 37g Chain extension intermediate surfactant 14g 16.9g Sodium xylenesulfonate (40%) 10g 17g Avocado oil 20g 21.6g glycerin 10g 12.5g Propylene glycol - 5g water 20g 23g

[0130] 1 PPG-16 / PEG-2 lauryl polyoxyethylene ether sulfate sodium sulfate 2 L24-16PO-2EO intermediate

[0131] Table 2 (Examples of silicone oil / hair conditioning or leather treatment formulations)

[0132]

[0133] 1 PES101 surfactant (PPG-16 / PEG-2 lauryl polyoxyethylene ether sulfate sodium sulfate)

[0134] 2 L24-16PO-2EO intermediate

[0135] Table 3 (Examples of vegetable oil / humectant formulations)

[0136]

[0137] 1 PES101 surfactant (PPG-16 / PEG-2 lauryl polyoxyethylene ether sulfate sodium sulfate)

[0138] 2 L24-16PO-2EO intermediate

[0139] Table 4 (Examples of mink oil / leather treatment formulations)

[0140] Components 4A <![CDATA[Chain extender surfactant 1 > 20g <![CDATA[Chain extender intermediate surfactant 2 > 19g Sodium xylenesulfonate (40%) 15.5g mink oil 15.5g Propylene glycol 8.6g glycerin 8.6g water 10.3g Polysorbate 20 1.7g

[0141] 1 PES101 surfactant (PPG-16 / PEG-2 lauryl polyoxyethylene ether sulfate sodium sulfate)

[0142] 2 L24-16PO-2EO intermediate

[0143] Table 5 (Examples of rice bran oil, castor oil / antioxidant spray)

[0144]

[0145] 1 PES101 surfactant (PPG-16 / PEG-2 lauryl polyoxyethylene ether sulfate sodium sulfate)

[0146] 2 L24-16PO-2EO intermediate

[0147] Table 6 (Examples of sunflower oil / metal processing formulations)

[0148] Components 6A <![CDATA[Chain extender surfactant 1 > 18g <![CDATA[Chain extender intermediate surfactant 2 > 18.9g Sodium xylenesulfonate (40%) 16.2g Sunflower oil 18g Propylene glycol 7.2g glycerin 8g water 13.5g

[0149] 1 PES101 surfactant (PPG-16 / PEG-2 lauryl polyoxyethylene ether sulfate sodium sulfate)

[0150] 2 L24-16PO-2EO intermediate

[0151] Table 7 (Examples of ethers, esters / emollients)

[0152]

[0153] 1 PES101 surfactant (PPG-16 / PEG-2 lauryl polyoxyethylene ether sulfate sodium sulfate)

[0154] 2 L24-16PO-2EO intermediate

[0155] Table 8 (Examples of ether, ester / emollient and moisturizer formulations)

[0156]

[0157] 1 PES101 surfactant (PPG-16 / PEG-2 lauryl polyoxyethylene ether sulfate sodium sulfate)

[0158] 2 L24-16PO-2EO intermediate

[0159] Table 9 (Canola Oil, Esters)

[0160]

[0161] 1 PES101 surfactant (PPG-16 / PEG-2 lauryl polyoxyethylene ether sulfate sodium sulfate)

[0162] 2 L24-16PO-2EO intermediate

[0163] Table 10 (Vegetable Oils, Silicone Oils)

[0164]

[0165] 1 PES101 surfactant (PPG-16 / PEG-2 lauryl polyoxyethylene ether sulfate sodium sulfate)

[0166] 2 L24-16PO-2EO intermediate

[0167] Table 11 (Vegetable Oils)

[0168]

[0169] 1 PES101 surfactant (PPG-16 / PEG-2 lauryl polyoxyethylene ether sulfate sodium sulfate)

[0170] 2 L24-16PO-2EO intermediate

[0171] Table 12 (Algae Oil)

[0172]

[0173] 1 PES101 surfactant (PPG-16 / PEG-2 lauryl polyoxyethylene ether sulfate sodium sulfate)

[0174] 2 L24-16PO-2EO intermediate

[0175] Table 13 (Examples of mink oil / leather treatment formulations)

[0176] Components 13A <![CDATA[Chain extender surfactant 1 > 80g <![CDATA[Chain extender intermediate surfactant 2 > 134g Sodium xylenesulfonate (40%) 102g mink oil 34g Albrite leather 4g SLES(ESB70) 4g water 76g

[0177] 1 PES101 surfactant (PPG-16 / PEG-2 lauryl polyoxyethylene ether sulfate sodium sulfate)

[0178] 2 L24-16PO-2EO intermediate

[0179] Table 14 (Examples of Tea Tree Oil / Disinfectant Formulations)

[0180]

[0181] 1 PES101 surfactant (PPG-16 / PEG-2 lauryl polyoxyethylene ether sulfate sodium sulfate)

[0182] 2 L24-16PO-2EO intermediate

[0183] Example 2. Detergent effect

[0184] The detergency of the surfactant blends for polyester and polyester / cotton samples is shown in Tables 15 and 16 below:

[0185] Table 15. Pretreatment

[0186]

[0187] 1 PES101 surfactant (PPG-16 / PEG-2 lauryl polyoxyethylene ether sodium sulfate): L24-16PO-2EO intermediate.

[0188] Table 16. Cleaning

[0189]

[0190] 1 PES101 surfactant (PPG-16 / PEG-2 lauryl polyoxyethylene ether sodium sulfate): L24-16PO-2EO intermediate.

[0191] While embodiments of the invention have been described above, other and additional embodiments of the invention may be devised without departing from its basic scope, which is defined by the appended claims.

Claims

1. A surfactant blend comprising: (i) a chain-extended anionic surfactant PPG-16 / PEG-2 lauryl polyoxyethylene ether sulfate sodium sulfate, and (ii) a chain-extended intermediate surfactant of formula L24-16PO-2EO, wherein PPG refers to a polypropylene glycol derivative, and PEG refers to a polyethylene glycol derivative; L24 is a straight-chain hydrocarbon having about 24 carbon atoms, PO refers to a polypropylene oxide block, and EO refers to a polyethylene oxide block.

2. The surfactant blend according to claim 1, wherein the molar ratio of (i) the chain-extended anionic surfactant to (ii) the chain-extended intermediate surfactant is about 9:1 to about 1:

9.

3. A single-phase microemulsion comprising a surfactant blend according to claim 1 or 2, water, and an oil component.

4. The single-phase microemulsion according to claim 3, wherein the surfactant blend is present in an amount of about 1% to about 60% by weight, based on the total weight of the single-phase microemulsion.

5. The single-phase microemulsion according to claim 3, wherein the oil component is present in an amount of about 0.5% by weight to about 75% by weight, based on the total weight of the single-phase microemulsion.

6. The single-phase microemulsion according to claim 3, wherein the oil component is selected from ethers, liquid esters, mineral oils, vegetable oils, animal oils, and mixtures thereof.

7. The single-phase microemulsion according to claim 3, further comprising at least one of the following auxiliary components: antioxidants, suspending agents, chelating agents, co-surfactants, free radical scavengers, fragrances, cleaning and surface-modifying polymers, detergents, antibacterial agents, bactericides, water-soluble additives, colorants, stabilizers, bleaching agents, bleaching activators, foam control agents, enzymes, dirt suspending agents, anti-corrosion inhibitors, whitening agents, dust removers, dispersants, pigments, dyes, pearlescent agents, rheology modifiers, and skin care active ingredients.

8. The single-phase microemulsion according to claim 3, wherein the single-phase microemulsion is substantially free of electrolytes.

9. A method for producing a single-phase microemulsion, comprising mixing a surfactant blend according to claim 1 or 2 with a water and an oil component.

10. An aqueous cleaning composition comprising a surfactant blend, wherein the surfactant blend comprises: (i) a chain-extended anionic surfactant PPG-16 / PEG-2 lauryl polyoxyethylene ether sulfate sodium, and (ii) a chain-extended intermediate surfactant of formula L24-16PO-2EO, wherein PPG refers to a polypropylene glycol derivative, and PEG refers to a polyethylene glycol derivative; L24 is a straight-chain hydrocarbon having about 24 carbon atoms, PO refers to a polypropylene oxide block, and EO refers to a polyethylene oxide block.

11. The aqueous cleaning composition of claim 10, further comprising an auxiliary component including at least one of the following: antioxidants, suspending agents, chelating agents, co-surfactants, free radical scavengers, fragrances, cleaning and surface-modifying polymers, detergents, antibacterial agents, bactericides, water-soluble additives, colorants, stabilizers, bleaching agents, bleaching activators, foam control agents, enzymes, dirt suspending agents, corrosion inhibitors, whitening agents, dust removers, dispersants, pigments, dyes, pearlescent agents, rheology modifiers, and skin care active ingredients.

12. A method for removing dirt or stains from a hard or soft surface, comprising contacting the hard or soft surface with an aqueous cleaning composition according to claim 10 or 11.

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