Bench-scale falling-film reactor for sulfation with sulfur trioxide

TECH 2

Kim Millspaugh, kim.millspaugh@shell.com, Bryan M. White, W. Warren Schmidt, Pamela A. Escobar, and Kirk H. Raney. Shell Chemical Company, Westhollow Technology Center, PO Box 1380, Houston, TX 77251
Several detergent range alcohols were reacted with sulfur trioxide (SO3) within a novel bench-scale falling-film sulfation apparatus. Products were produced in 100 ml to 4 L quantities. The quality of the final product was determined by measuring conversion, color, and inorganic sulfate content. At this small scale, conversions still approached 98-99 % with low color and salt formation, but as the SO3-to-feed mole ratio increased above 1.06, yellowing of the anionic surfactants was evident. The investigated organic feeds were various commercial alcohols produced by OXO or modified-OXO reactions with alkenes.
 

General Papers
1:30 PM-5:55 PM, Monday, 11 September 2006 S.F. Downtown Courtyard by Marriott -- Soma 3, Oral

Sci Mix
8:00 PM-10:00 PM, Monday, 11 September 2006 Moscone Center -- Hall D, Sci-Mix

Division of Chemical Technicians

The 232nd ACS National Meeting, San Francisco, CA, September 10-14, 2006