| abstract |
The present invention provides aqueous compositions comprising, as well as water, 75% to 90% by weight of alkyl polyethylene glycol ether sulfates which are a mixture of compounds of formula (1) n R 1 —O—(CH 2 —CH 2 —O) x —SO 3 M (1) n wheren R 1 is a branched alkyl or alkenyl group having 8 to 14 carbon atoms and at least one tertiary carbon atom, x is from 3 to 15, M is an alkali metal ion or an ammonium ion,n nwith compounds of formula (2)n nn R 2 —O—(CH 2 —CH 2 —O) y —SO 3 M′ (2) n wheren R 2 is a linear alkyl or alkenyl group having 8 to 14 carbon atoms, y is from 3 to 15, M′ is an alkali metal ion or an ammonium ion,n nwherein the mixing ratio of compounds of formulae (1) and (2) is chosen such that the compounds of formula (1) comprise at least 10% by weight and at most 99% by weight of the total amount of compounds of formulae (1) and (2). |