Surfactants for producing low interfacial tensions I: Linear alkyl benzene sulfonates

and Summary The synthesis of a variety of linear alkylbenzene‐sulfonates is described. These materials have been examined for their ability to promote every low interfacial tensions between alkanes, alkylbenzenes, or alkylcyclohexanes and water. Each surfactant gives its lowest tension against a particular member of each of these homologous series. For these surfactant struc‐tures, the magnitude of its minimum tension is determined by the oil phase equivalent alkane carbon number (EACN) and structure and is largely independent of the particular surfactant used. The position of the minimum tension within the alkane series varies in a systematic and predictable manner. The significance of these results for tertiary oil recovery by surfactant flooding is discussed.