Enhanced solubilization using a combination of extended chain surfactants

1. An aqueous composition consisting of:

(i) an extended chain anionic surfactant of formula (I)

R-(L) x -(O—CH2-CH2) y -O—SO3-A  (I) and

(ii) an extended chain intermediate surfactant of formula (II)

R-(L) x -(O—CH2-CH2) y -OH  (II)

wherein: R in the extended chain anionic surfactant of formula (I) is a linear or branched, saturated or unsaturated, substituted or unsubstituted, aliphatic or aromatic hydrocarbon radical having from about 6 to about 36 carbon atoms and R in the extended chain intermediate surfactant of formula (II) is a linear or branched, saturated or unsaturated, substituted or unsubstituted, aliphatic or aromatic hydrocarbon radical having from about 6 to about 36 carbon atoms;

L is a linking group comprising a block of polypropylene oxide;

A is selected from hydrogen, a monovalent metal cation, a divalent metal cation, ammonium cation and an organic group substituted ammonium cation;

x is the average degree of alkoxylation of the linking group L ranging from about 2 to about 20; and

y is the average degree of ethoxylation ranging from 1 to about 5, and

the sum of x and y is in a range of from 6 to 24,

(iii) water, and optionally

(iv) one or more auxiliary components selected from: an inorganic base; an organic base; an antioxidizing agent selected from formalin, 5-chloro-2-methyl-4-isothaliazolin-one, 2,6-di-tert-butyl-p-cresol, 2,6-di-tert-butyl-4-methylphenol, carbamate, ascorbate, thiosulfate, monoethanolamine, diethanolamine, and triethanolamine; a corrosion inhibitor selected from sodium metasilicate, an alkali metal silicate, a bismuth salt, a manganese salt, benzotriazole, pyrazole and mercaptan; an optical brightener selected from stilbene, pyrazoline, coumarin, a methinecyanine, dibenzothiophene-5,5-dioxide, and an azole; an antimicrobial agent selected from benzalkonium chloride, polyhexamethylene biguanide, hydrogen peroxide, ozone, hypochloride, and chlorine dioxide; copper sulfate; a suspending aid selected from a polysaccharide polymer, a polycarboxylate polymer thickener, a layered silicate platelet, castor wax, carboxymethylcellulose, ethyl cellulose, hydroxyethylcellulose, hydroxypropylcellulose, hydroxymethylcellulose; micro fibril cellulose, succinoglycan, xanthan gum, gellan gum, guar gum, locust bean gum, tragacanth gum and succinoglucan gum; a chelating agent selected from an alkali metal ethane 1-hydroxy diphosphonate, an alkylene poly(alkylene phosphonate), an amino phosphonate compound, a radical scavenger selected from di-tert-butyl hydroxy toluene, hydroquinone, di-tert-butyl hydroquinone, mono-tert-butyl hydroquinone, tert-butyl-hydroxy anysole, catechol, t-butylcatechol, benzylamine, 1,1,3-tris(2-methyl-4-hydroxy-5-t-butylphenyl) butane and n-propyl-gallate; a colorant selected from Direct Blue 86, Fastusol Blue, Acid Orange 7, Basic Violet 10, Acid Yellow 23, Acid Yellow 17, Sap Green, Metanil Yellow, Acid Blue 9, Sandolan Blue/Acid Blue 182, Hisol Fast Red, Fluorescein, and Acid Green 25; a fragrance selected from ambergris, benzoin, castoreum, civet, clove oil, galbanum , jasmine, rosemary oil, sandalwood, orange oil, lemon oil, rose extract, lavender, musk, pine oil, and cedar; and an enzyme selected from a cellulase, a hemicellulase, a peroxidase, a protease, a gluco-amylase, an amylase, a lipase, a cutinase, a pectinase, a xylanase, a reductase, an oxidase, a phenoloxidase, a lipoxygenase, a ligninase, a pullulanase, a tannase, a pentosanase, a malanase, a beta-glucanase, and an arabinosidase.

2. The composition of claim 1 , wherein R in the extended chain anionic surfactant of formula (I) is a linear C8 to C20 alkyl chain or a branched C8 to C20 alkyl chain or a mixture thereof.

3. The composition of claim 1 , wherein A is selected from the group consisting of sodium, potassium, magnesium and ammonium.

4. A single phase microemulsion comprising the aqueous composition of claim 1 and an oil component selected from an ether, a liquid ester, a mineral oil, a vegetable oil, an animal oil, and a mixture thereof.

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

6. The single phase microemulsion of claim 4 , wherein the oil component is present in an amount ranging from about 0.5% by weight to about 75% by weight, based on the total weight of the single phase microemulsion.

7. The single phase microemulsion of claim 4 , further comprising the auxiliary component.

8. The single phase microemulsion of claim 4 , wherein the single phase microemulsion is substantially free of electrolytes.

9. A method for producing a single phase microemulsion comprising mixing the composition of claim 1 with an oil component.

10. A method of removing a soil or stain from a hard surface or soft surface comprising contacting the composition of claim 1 and the hard surface or soft surface.

11. An aqueous composition consisting of:

(i) an extended chain anionic surfactant of formula (I)

R-(L) x -(O—CH2-CH2) y -O—SO3-A  (I) and

(ii) an extended chain intermediate surfactant of formula (II)

R-(L) x -(O—CH2-CH2) y -OH  (II)

wherein: R in the extended chain anionic surfactant of formula (I) is a linear or branched, saturated or unsaturated, substituted or unsubstituted, aliphatic or aromatic hydrocarbon radical having from about 6 to about 36 carbon atoms and R in the extended chain intermediate surfactant of formula (II) is a linear or branched, saturated or unsaturated, substituted or unsubstituted, aliphatic or aromatic hydrocarbon radical having from about 6 to about 36 carbon atoms;

L is a linking group comprising a block of polypropylene oxide or a mixture of polyethylene oxide and polypropylene oxide;

A is selected from hydrogen, a monovalent metal cation, a divalent metal cation, ammonium cation and an organic group substituted ammonium cation;

x is the average degree of alkoxylation of the linking group L ranging from about 2 to about 20; and

y is the average degree of ethoxylation ranging from 1 to about 5,

(iii) from about 95% by weight to about 99.5% by weight, based on the total weight of the composition, of water, and

(iv) optionally an auxiliary component selected from a water insoluble solvent, a base, an antioxidizing agent, a suspending aid, a chelating agent, a radical scavenger, a cleaning and surface-modifying polymer, a builder, an antimicrobial agent, a germicide, a hydrotrope, a colorant, a stabilizer, bleach, a bleach activator, a suds controlling agent, an enzyme, a soil suspender, an anti-corrosion inhibitor, a brightener, an anti-dusting agent, a dispersant, a pigment, a dye, a pearlescent agent, a rheology modifier, a skin care active and a mixture thereof.

12. A single phase microemulsion comprising the composition of claim 11 , and an oil component.