Alkylaromatic sulfonate compositions from mixed hydrocarbons

A process comprising:

• (a) blending a hydrocarbon mixture comprising one or both of alkylated naphthalenes and di-alkyl benzenes with a linear alkyl benzene (LAB) composition so as to obtain a blended alkylaromatic precursor comprising (i) from 2 to 60 wt % of the alkylated naphthalenes, and/or (ii) from 2 to 60 wt % of the di-alkyl benzenes, provided that total wt % of alkylated naphthalenes and di-alkyl benzenes in the blended alkylaromatic precursor does not exceed 80 wt %;
• wherein the LAB composition comprises at least 95 wt % of isomers of one or more compounds each in accordance with Formula (X):
• where 6<x+y<18, and x and y are each at least 1;
• and
• further wherein the alkylated naphthalenes are selected from the group consisting of mono-alkylated naphthalenes, di-alkylated naphthalenes, tri-alkylated naphthalenes, and combinations thereof, and the di-alkylbenzenes are each in accordance with any one of Formulas (III), (IV), or (V) below:
• where, in each of Formulas (III) (V), R1 and R3 are each independently C1-C15 alkyl that is either unbranched or, if branched, has pendent chains no longer than 2 carbon atoms;
• and
• (b) sulfonating the blended alkylaromatic precursor composition to obtain a blended alkylaromatic sulfonate composition.