Patent GB-825952-A (GB)
Title: Improvements in or relating to process of producing sulphonated alkylated aromatic hydrocarbons
Inventor: SHARRAH MARION LESTER
IPC: C07C309/31
Filed: 1956-08-03
Abstract: Detergent compositions comprise, in conjunction with builders such as sodium tripoly phosphate and sulphate, an inorganic or organic base salt of an alkylated aromatic sulphonic acid prepared by a method (see Group IV (b)) which consists in polymerizing an olefine comprising ethylene and/or propylene to form a polymeric material having an average M.W. corresponding to 6-18 carbon atoms in the molecule, treating a fraction thereof with a Friedel-Crafts metallic halide under conditions of temperature, pressure and time such that those components having a terminal double bond are preferentially polymerized, fractionally distilling the treated material to recover a desired fraction, alkylating an aromatic hydrocarbon, e.g. benzene or toluene, with that fraction in the presence of a Friedel-Crafts metallic halide, sulphonating a mono-alkyl aromatic fraction of the alkylate and neutralizing the resulting acid.  The alkylating polymer is preferably the trimer or tetramer of propylene.  Specifications 804,346 and 804,347, [both in Group IV (b)], are referred to. Reference has been directed by the Comptroller to Specification 671,353.ALSO:Alkylated aromatic sulphonates are prepared by a process comprising the steps of (a) polymerizing an olefine comprising ethylene and/or propylene to produce a polymeric material having an average M.W. corresponding to 6-18 carbon atoms in the molecule, (b) fractionally distilling from the polymer so formed a cut having an average M.W. approximately equal to that desired in the alkyl substituents of the sulphonate product, (c) treating the cut with a Friedel-Crafts type metallic halide under conditions of temperature, pressure and time such that those components of the cut which contain a terminal double bond are preferentially polymerized, (d) fractionally distilling from the treated cut a cut having a boiling range approximately that of the cut described in (b) above, (e) condensing the cut with an aromatic hydrocarbon in the presence of a Friedel-Crafts metallic halide to form alkylated aromatic hydrocarbon products, fractionally distilling therefrom a fraction of mono-alkylated aromatic hydrocarbons in which the alkyl groups have the number of carbon atoms envisaged in (b) and (d), sulphonating this fraction and neutralizing the resulting sulphonic acid.  Step (a) may be effected in conventional manner using aluminium chloride, hydrogen chloride or phosphoric acid as catalyst.  The desired cut obtained in the subsequent fractionation may be treated with the Friedel-Crafts halide in step (c) at about 25-150 DEG  C. for from 1/4 to 24 hours, using 1-10% or more of the halide. The polymer may then be purified in specified manner prior to the refractionation of step (d).  The alkylation in step (e) is preferably effected with excess of aromatic hydrocarbon, e.g. benzene or toluene, at 100-160 DEG  F., desirably employing aluminium trichloride which may be added portionwise during the condensation.  This stage may be effected batchwise or continuously.  The crude alkylation mixture may be settled and catalyst sludge removed and then further purified by the sulphuric acid extraction and caustic wash treatment described in Specification 804,347.  The subsequent fractionation may be effected under reduced pressure.  The Friedel-Crafts halides used in steps (c) and (e) may be the same or different and various chlorides, bromides, iodides or fluorides of boron, zinc, aluminium, gallium, scandium, titanium, tin, antimony and bismuth are mentioned.  The recovered purified alkylate fraction may be sulphonated in conventional manner followed by addition of water to separate out the spent acid. Preferably, however, sulphonation is effected in the manner described in Specification 804,346.  The neutralization of the resulting sulphonic acid may be carried out using alkali as alkaline earth metal hydroxides or organic bases such as the alkanolamines, e.g. ethanolamines, or morpholine. The products are improved detergents and may be produced in powder form containing builders (see Group III).  Reference has been directed by the Comptroller to Specification 671,353.