Surfactant compositions

A composition comprising:

• (a) 92 to 98 wt. % of a C8-C16 fatty alcohol ethoxylate surfactant;
• and
• (b) 2 to 8 wt. % of a low-mole alkoxylate of the formula:
• R—O—(PO)m(EO)nH
• wherein R is a linear or branched C8-C16 alkyl group, PO is oxypropylene, EO is oxyethylene, m has an average value within the range of 0.5 to 4, and n has an average value within the range of 0 to 1.

A method comprising forming a mixture by combining a nonionic surfactant with 0.1 to 30 wt. % of a low-mole alkoxylate of the formula:

• wherein R is a linear or branched C8-C16 alkyl group, AO is oxypropylene (PO), oxyethylene (EO), or combinations thereof in random or block configuration, p has an average value within the range of 0.5 to 7, the average number of PO groups is within the range of 0.5 to 4, and the average number of EO groups is within the range of 0 to 3;
• wherein the low-mole alkoxylate is included in an amount effective to improve at least one of:
• (a) the ability of the mixture to wet a hydrophobic surface;
• (b) the degreasing ability of the mixture;
• (c) the ability of the mixture to resist excessive foaming;
• and (d) the ease of solubilizing the nonionic surfactant to give a stable formulation.

A composition comprising:

• (a) 70 to 99.9 wt. % of a nonionic surfactant;
• and
• (b) 0.1 to 30 wt. % of a low-mole alkoxylate of the formula:
• wherein R is a linear or branched C8-C16 alkyl or alkanolamide group, AO is oxypropylene (PO), oxyethylene (EO), or combinations thereof in random or block configuration, p has an average value within the range of 0.5 to 7, the average number of PO groups is within the range of 0.5 to 4, and the average number of EO groups is within the range of 0 to 3.

A composition comprising:

• (a) 92 to 98 wt. % of a C8-C16 fatty alcohol ethoxylate surfactant;
• and
• (b) 2 to 8 wt. % of a low-mole alkoxylate of the formula:
• wherein R is a linear or branched C8-C16 alkyl or alkanolamide group, PO is oxypropylene, EO is oxyethylene, m has an average value within the range of 0.5 to 4, and n has an average value within the range of 0 to 1.

A method comprising forming a mixture by combining a nonionic surfactant with 0.1 to 30 wt. % of a low-mole alkoxylate of the formula:

• wherein R is a linear or branched C8-C16 alkyl or alkanolamide group, AO is oxypropylene (PO), oxyethylene (EO), or combinations thereof in random or block configuration, p has an average value within the range of 0.5 to 7, the average number of PO groups is within the range of 0.5 to 4, and the average number of EO groups is within the range of 0 to 3;
• wherein the low-mole alkoxylate is included in an amount effective to improve at least one of:
• (a) the ability of the mixture to wet a hydrophobic surface;
• (b) the degreasing ability of the mixture;
• (c) the ability of the mixture to resist excessive foaming;
• and (d) the ease of solubilizing the nonionic surfactant to give a stable formulation.