DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION In Formula I a is from 2.
5 to 7, preferably from 3 to 6.
5, more preferably from 3.
5 to 6, most preferably, a is higher than b.
In Formula II c is from 0.
5 to 4, preferably from 1 to 3, more preferably from 1 to 2.
In Formulas I and II b is from 1 to 10, preferably from 1 to 9, more preferably from 2 to 7, most preferably from 3 to 6.
R is a linear or branched-alkyl or alkenyl group containing from 4 to 11, preferably from 6 to 10, more preferably from 7 to 9 carbon atoms, such as the butyl, butenyl, pentyl, pentenyl, hexyl, hexenyl, heptyl, heptenyl, octyl, octenyl, nonyl, nonenyl, decyl, decenyl, undecyl or undecenyl.
The group R may be branched which is for example the case in 1-methyl-propyl, 2-methyl-propyl, tert-butyl, isopentyl, 2-methyl-butyl, tert-pentyl, isohexyl, isoheptyl, isooctyl, etc.
The group R may be unsaturated which is, for example, the case in 2-butenyl, 3-butenyl, etc.
However, the group R preferably is a linear alkyl group containing the above-mentioned ranges of carbon atoms.
The most preferred group R is the linear octyl group.
R and b in Formula I can be the same or different from R and b in Formula II.
The compounds of Formula I and/or II can be utilized in combination with other non-ionic or ionic surfactants.
Propylene oxide-ethylene oxide derivatives of alcohols are generally known.
They can be produced in a known manner by reacting alcohols first with propylene oxide and then with ethylene oxide.
The published German patent application 41 15 149 discloses an alkoxylation of fatty alcohols wherein 1 to 20 mols of ethylene oxide and/or propylene oxide are reacted with one mol of a fatty alcohol containing 6 to 24 carbon atoms.
U.
S.
Pat.
No.
4,965,014 discloses a liquid non-ionic surfactant mixture comprising compounds of formula R--O--(PO).
sub.
1-2 --(EO).
sub.
6-8 --H, wherein PO is the residue of a ring-opened propylene oxide, EO is the residue of a ring-opened ethylene oxide and R is a mixture of alkyl or alkenyl moieties of a specific distribution wherein 75 to 90 percent of the alkyl or alkenyl moieties contain 9 or 10 carbon atoms
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Molecular Biology 
