Apparatus for the sulfonation or sulfation of organic liquids
OwnerJohn E. Vander Meyinventor
Life of this patent
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Abstract
A continuous process is disclosed which comprises introducing a sulfonatable or sulfatable organic liquid onto a rotating reaction surface as a thin film, rotating the reaction surface at a velocity such that the thin film is continuously moved toward the periphery of the reaction surface, dividing the reaction surface into a plurality of areas, depositing within each area a controlled quantity of gaseous sulfur trioxide over the liquid film, maintaining the pressure during the reaction at subatmospheric levels, controlling the temperature of the reaction surface, moving the reaction product by centrifugal action to the periphery of the reaction surface and continuously collecting the reaction product. An apparatus for carrying out such a process is also disclosed.
Claims15
A rotatable reactor for reacting a thin film of an organic liquid with a gaseous reactant comprising an oblate or substantially spheroidal reaction chamber mounted on a supporting frame for rotation on its axis in a substantially horizontal position, with an inner reaction surface;
- evacuating means for maintaining said reaction chamber under subatmospheric pressure;
- separating means comprising a plurality of parallel discs to divide said reaction surface into successive reaction areas, thus forming corresponding individual chambers to which said reaction areas are exposed;
- said discs being perpendicular to said axis of rotation, a first depositing means to deposit said organic liquid on said reaction surface, a second depositing means for depositing controlled quantities of said gaseous reactant within said individual chambers;
- rotating means to rotate said reaction chamber at a speed such that said organic liquid is continuously moved by centrifugal force as a thin film, successively over said successive reaction areas for exposure to said gaseous reactant, and the resultant reaction product is continuously moved to the inner periphery of said reaction chamber where it accumulates, cooling means for controlling the reaction temperature;
- and means for removing said reaction product from the reactor.
A sulfonation apparatus comprising a spheroidal rotatable reaction chamber having upper and lower hemispheres, a hollow shaft fixed thereto and in communication with said chamber, said hollow shaft being journaled into a supporting base and connected to means for rotating said shaft and attached reaction chamber about a substantially vertical axis of rotation, said shaft surrounding the lower portion of a stationary column extending upwardly substantially to the top of the upper hemisphere within said rotatable reaction chamber, said hollow shaft being rotatable about said stationary column and said column having an opening within the rotatable reaction chamber in communication with gas pumping means for evacuating said reaction chamber, said stationary column containing at least three gas conveying pipelines in communication with controlled sources of a gaseous reactant, each one of said gas conveying lines terminating at its upper end in an opening in said stationary column with each of the said openings being positioned at a different level but within said upper hemisphere, said stationary column having attached to it a plurality of parallel discs, one just above the uppermost opening in said column, one just below the lowermost opening and one between each of the remaining openings, each of said discs encircling the stationary column with its diameter such that it extends substantially to the inner wall of the upper hemisphere at the particular level at which it is attached to the stationary column;
- and below the lowest of said discs at the perimeters and juncture of said upper and lower hemispheres of said reaction chamber there is positioned a collector ring having an inner diameter less than the inner diameter of the reaction chamber at the juncture of said hemispheres, and above said collector ring and adjacent to the inner wall of said upper hemisphere, is positioned a stationary scoop with its leading edge extending in the direction opposite to the direction of rotation of said rotatable reaction chamber, said scoop being in communication with a liquid product conveying line, sloping downward and entering said stationary column, said liquid product conveying line being in communication with pumping means for continuously collecting liquid product accumulating above said collector ring, said scoop being supported in its stationary position above said collector ring by the liquid conveying line and said stationary column to which said line is attached;
- and above the said parallel discs and at the top of said upper hemisphere there is journaled for independent axial rotation an inlet fluid conveying pipeline terminating in a fluid dispersion means, said fluid conveying pipeline being in communication with a source of supply of a liquid reactant, and with means for delivering said liquid reactant through said rotating dispersion means whereby said liquid reactant can be thrown outwardly by centrifugal force and evenly distributed on the inner wall of the upper hemisphere near its pole, to flow as a thin uniform film through concentric bands of reaction surfaces of the inner wall of the upper hemisphere, separated by said parallel discs, for reaction with the controlled gaseous reactant leaving the several openings in said stationary column between said parallel discs, and whereby said product of the reaction will move to the collector ring by centrifugal force for collection and continuous removal by said scoop, said liquid product conveying line and said pumping means.
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.