A surfactant composition comprising:
alkylarylsulfonate surfactant system comprising at least two isomers
of the alkylarylsulfonate surfactant of the formula:
##STR1##
wherein:
L is an acyclic aliphatic hydrocarbyl of from 6 to 18 carbon atoms in total;
M is a cation or cation mixture and q is the valence thereof;
a and b are numbers selected such that said composition is electroneutral;
R is selected from H and C1 to C3 alkyl;
R"; is selected from H and C1 to C3 alkyl;
R"; is selected from H and C1 to C3 alkyl;
any of R and R"; is nonterminally attached to L and at least
one of R and R"; is C1 to C3 alkyl; and
A is aryl; and
wherein:
said alkylarylsulfonate surfactant system comprises two or more isomers
with respect to positions of attachment of R, R"; and A to L;
in at least about 60% of said composition, A is attached to L in the
position which is selected from positions alpha- and beta- to either of the two
terminal carbon atoms thereof; and
wherein further said alkylarylsulfonate surfactant system has at least one
(preferably both) of the following properties:
said alkylarylsulfonate surfactant system has a ratio of nonquaternary
to quaternary carbon atoms in L of at least about 10:1 by weight, when said quaternary
carbon atoms are present; and
there is no more than 40% by weight loss as measured by Hardness Tolerance Test.
