Alkoxylate blend surfactants
Surfactant compositions that include one or more nonionic surfactants derived from seed oils and having a mixture of at least 8, 10 and 12 carbon atom linear alkyl moieties find use in a number of end use applications as substitutes for petroleum derived surfactants.
1. A surfactant composition comprising at least one nonionic surfactant represented by formula (I)
R—O—(C 3 H 6 O) x (C 2 H 4 O) y —H (I)
wherein x is a real number within a range of from 0.5 to less than 4, y is a real number within a range of from 2 to 10, and R is a mixture of seed-oil based linear alkyl moieties with an alkyl moiety distribution as follows wherein each wt % is based upon weight of all alkyl moieties present in the distribution and all wt % for each distribution total 100 wt %:
Carbon Atoms in Alkyl Moiety
Amount
C 6
0 wt %-40 wt %
C 8
20 wt %-40 wt %
C 10
20 wt %-45 wt %
C 12
10 wt %-45 wt %
C 14
0 wt %-40 wt %
C 16 -C 18
0 wt %-15 wt %
2. The composition of claim 1 wherein x is a real number less than or equal to 3.
3. The composition of claim 1 , wherein x is a real number within a range of from 2-3.
4. The composition of claim 1 , wherein x is less than y.
5. The composition of claim 1 , wherein y is greater than or equal to 2 times x.
6. The composition of claim 1 , wherein x is from 2.5 to 3, and the alkyl moiety is as follows:
Carbon Atoms in Alkyl Moiety
Amount
C 6
0-36%
C 8
22-40%
C 10
27-44%
C 12
14-35%
C 14
5-13%
C 16 -C 18
0-5%
7. The composition of claim 1 , whereby the composition has a pour point of less than 15° C.
8. The composition of claim 1 , whereby the composition has a critical micelle concentration in de-ionized water of less than about 200 ppm.
9. The composition of claim 1 , wherein a 0.05 wt. % solution of the composition in deionized water has a wetting time of less than about 50 seconds.
10. The composition of claim 1 , wherein a 0.1% solution of the composition in de-ionized water has a surface tension of less than 31 dynes/cm.
11. The composition of claim 1 , wherein the composition has a gel range of less than 20%.
12. A detergent or cleaner, comprising the composition of claim 1 in an amount within a range of from 1 weight percent to 99.1 weight percent, in each case based on total weight of the detergent or cleaner.
13. The detergent or cleaner of claim 12 , further comprising an additive and de-ionized water.