Bisulfite reaction with olefins
AssigneeEthyl Corporation
InventorsRobert J. Ellis, Lawrence H. Shepherd, Jr., Richmond M. Starrett
Life of this patent
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Abstract
A process is disclosed for producing alkyl sulfonates by the addition of bisulfite ions to olefinic double bonds. In the process, ammonium, or alkali metal bisulfite and olefins having from about 8 to about 30 carbon atoms per molecule are reacted in the presence of lower alkanol having from 2 to about 4 carbon atoms, water and a reaction initiating agent.
Claims22
A process for preparing alkyl sulfonate salts which comprises reacting from about 1.0 to about 1.7 mols of aqueous ammonium or alkali metal bisulfite with about 1.0 mols of straight chain terminal olefin having from about 8 to about 30 carbon atoms per molecule in the presence of lower alkanol having from 2 to about 4 carbon atoms per molecule and an effective amount of a reaction initiating agent, at a pH of from about 5 to about 8, at a temperature of from about 25.degree. to about 200.degree.C, the reaction system containing from about 70 to about 95 wt. percent of water and lower alkanol, the weight ratio of alkanol to water ranging from about 1:4 to about 3:1, the initial pH of the reaction mixture being from about 5 to about 8, SO.sub.2 being fed to the system as the reaction progresses to maintain a selected pH of from about 5 to about 8, said process being conducted in the absence of free oxygen.
A process for preparing alkyl sulfonate salts which comprises producing a reaction mixture containing the addition product of ammonium or alkali metal bisulfite and straight chain terminal olefins having from about 8 to about 30 carbon atoms per molecule, reaction initiating agent, water, and lower alkanol having from 2 to about 4 carbon atoms per molecule, the system containing from about 70 to about 95 wt. percent of water and lower alkanol, the weight ratio of alkanol to water ranging from about 1:4 to about 3:1, withdrawing intermittently or continuously a portion of the reaction mixture, and replacing the withdrawn reaction mixture with additional bisulfite, olefin, water, alcohol and reaction initiating agent to maintain said proportions of bisulfite while maintaining a pH of from about 5 to about 8 and a temperature of from about 25.degree. to about 200.degree.C by the addition of SO.sub.2, said process being conducted in the absence of free oxygen.
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.