Premium
A contribution to understanding secondary reactions in linear alkylbenzene sulfonation
Author(s) -
Moreno A.,
Bengoechea C.,
Bravo J.,
Berna J. L.
Publication year - 2003
Publication title -
journal of surfactants and detergents
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
SCImago Journal Rank - 0.349
H-Index - 48
eISSN - 1558-9293
pISSN - 1097-3958
DOI - 10.1007/s11743-003-0257-2
Subject(s) - chemistry , linear alkylbenzene , hydrolysis , sulfonic acid , molar ratio , organic chemistry , chromatography , catalysis , pulmonary surfactant , biochemistry
Modern industrial sulfonation of linear alkylbenzene (LAB) in falling film reactors produces p ‐alkylbenzene sulfonic acid (HLAS), which is usually neutralized with caustic soda (NaOH) and used in detergent formulations. During the sulfonation process, other products such as anhydrides and sulfones are also formed. Four reactions are proposed to occur during aging and hydrolysis. As a consequences, approximately 25% of sulfones and 75% of unreacted LAB are removed during aging and are transformed into additional active matter. Anhydrides are completely eliminated during hydrolysis. On the other hand, sulfones formed during the process are difficult to remove once formed. The goal of this work was to optimize the various operating conditions of the sulfonation process and to understand the various secondary reactions that occur therein so as to obtain a maximal active ingredient concentration in the final sulfonated product and a minimum of unsulfonated matter. Formation of sulfones can be minimized by using an SO 3 /LAB molar ratio slightly lower than the theoretical optimum.