Process for making taurine

A process for forming taurine, comprising:

• reacting monoethanolamine with sulfuric acid to provide an 2-aminoethanol hydrogen sulfate ester product;
• wherein the first, esterification step is accompanied by at least some concurrent water removal in producing the 2-aminoethanol hydrogen sulfate ester product;
• combining the 2-aminoethanol hydrogen sulfate ester product with at least one of carbon dioxide, a carbonate, or a bicarbonate and with at least one of a sulfite or a bisulfite to form a sulfonation reaction mixture;
• and
• heating the sulfonation reaction mixture for a sufficient time to form a taurine product therefrom;
• wherein the molar ratio of the carbon dioxide, carbonate, bicarbonate, or any combination thereof to the 2-aminoethanol hydrogen sulfate ester product in the sulfonation reaction mixture is equal to or greater than 0.1 and less than 1.0;
• wherein the concurrent water removal is accomplished at least in part by use of both an inert particulate material that possesses the capability of receiving and removing water from the process and then removing the inert particulate material including its associated water from the process, and spray drying or thin film evaporation;
• wherein the spray drying or thin film evaporation follows some reaction of monoethanolamine with sulfuric acid in the presence of the inert particulate material to form the 2-aminoethanol hydrogen sulfate ester product.