Patent GB-776360-A (GB)
Title: Soapless synthetic detergent compositions and processes for their production
IPC: C09K23/08
Filed: 1954-06-24
Abstract: Aliphatic hydrocarbon sulphonates suitable for detergent compositions (see Group III) are prepared by sulphonation, or sulpho chlorination and saponification, of aliphatic hydrocarbon fractions boiling within the ranges 270-320 DEG  C. and 100-200 DEG  C., the product from the higher boiling fraction being rich in mono sulphonates and the other containing a larger amount of di- and poly-sulphonates.  The hydrocarbon fractions are preferably free from olefines.  The sulphochlorination may be effected in a solvent, e.g. carbon tetrachloride.  In an example, a mixture of chlorine and sulphur dioxide in a 1:1,5 volume ratio is passed through a hydrogenated Fischer-Tropsch aliphatic hydrocarbon fraction of 270-310 DEG  C. boiling range exposed to electric light, at 35 DEG  C., until the saponification number of the product reaches 130.  The product is then saponified with aqueous caustic soda solution, the supernatant layer of unconverted hydrocarbon is removed, the sodium sulphonate solution is evaporated down, methanol is added, and residual unreacted hydrocarbons are extracted with light petroleum spirit. The solution is evaporated to dryness and the sodium sulphonate is freed from sodium chloride by extraction with methanol.  Another hydrogenated Fischer Tropsch aliphatic hydrocarbon fraction of boiling range 130-180 DEG  C. is similarly sulphochlorinated, but to a saponification number of about 260-300, and then similarly converted into the corresponding sodium sulphonate.  The alkaline earth metal and triethanolamine salts are also referred to.ALSO:Detergent compositions are produced by sulphochlorinating or otherwise sulphonating an aliphatic hydrocarbon distillation fraction of boiling range 270-320 DEG C. to obtain a product (a) rich in monosulphonates, separately sulphochlorinating or otherwise sulphonating an aliphatic hydrocarbon distillation fraction of boiling range 100-200 DEG C. to obtain a product (b) which contains a greater proportion of disulphonates or other polysulphonates than that contained in product (a), and blending the products in the ratio of 75-95 parts of product (a) to 25 to 5 parts of product (b).  The aliphatic hydrocarbons used are advantageously acylic and preferably consist wholly or largely of normal hydrocarbons, but up to about 25 per cent of branched chain hydrocarbons may be present.  They are suitably obtained by Fischer-Tropsch synthesis and should preferably be free from olefines.  Aliphatic hydrocarbon sulphonates having 12 to 14 carbon atoms in the molecule are preferably excluded from the products entirely, or the proportion present is greatly reduced, advantageously to less than 20 per cent and preferably less than 5 per cent.  The sulphochlorination or other sulphonating step may be carried out in an inert solvent, such as carbon tetrachloride.  In the example hydrogenated Fischer-Tropsch aliphatic hydrocarbon fractions of boiling range 270-310 DEG C. and 130-180 DEG C. respectively are separately sulphochlorinated with a chlorine-sulphur dioxide mixture saponified with caustic soda and purified (see Group IV(b)).  The sodium sulphonates thus obtained are dissolved in water to form 10 per cent solutions and 80 parts of the first sulphonate solution are mixed with 20 parts of the second to form a solution of a detergent composition.  The sulphochlorinated hydrocarbon fractions may be blended in the specified proportions before being converted into sulphonates.  The sulphonated products may also be converted into their potassium, alkaline-earth metal or triethanolamine salts, and polyphosphates and cellulose esters or ethers may be included in the compositions.