Patent GB-990744-A (GB)
Title: Process for producing an alkylaryl compound suitable for the preparation of biologically soft detergent
IPC: C07C15/107
Filed: 1961-12-27
Abstract: Alkylbenzenes or alkyl phenols, suitable for the production of detergents, are obtained by separating from a paraffinic fraction boiling in the range 125-250 DEG  C. a fraction containing at least 95% normal paraffins, converting the normal paraffins to 1-olefins or to 1-halogen compounds and with such compounds alkylating benzene, toluene, xylene, ethylbenzene, methylethylbenzene or phenol so as to introduce one alkyl group and obtain an alkylbenzene or alkyl phenol having a relatively straight-chain C9-C15 alkyl group (see Division C5). Biodegradable detergents are obtained from the alkylbenzenes by sulphonation followed by neutralization with sodium hydroxide or by nitration followed by reduction to the monoamino compound which is condensed with ethylene oxide or propylene oxide to a polyoxyalkylated detergent product containing 10-15 oxyalkylene units.  Alkylphenols are directly oxyalkylated with ethylene oxide or propylene oxide to introduce 6-15 oxyalkyl units.  In an example a composition is formed from 60% wt. of sodium secondary alkyl benzene sulphonate and 40% sodium sulphate, the secondary alkyl group being introduced by a n-olefin product obtained by dehydrogenation of a C11-C15 normal paraffin mixture separated from a kerosene.ALSO:Alkyl benzenes or phenols, suitable for the production of detergents, are obtained by separating from a paraffinic fraction boiling in the range 125-250 DEG  C. a fraction containing at least 95% normal paraffins by a molecular sieve, urea or thiourea separation, converting the normal paraffins to 1-olefins or to 1-halogen compounds and with such compounds alkylating benzene, toluene, xylene, ethylbenzene, methylethylbenzene or phenol introducing one alkyl group to obtain an alkylbenzene or phenol having a relatively straight chain C9-C15 alkyl group.  The paraffinic feed may be a straight run petroleum, Fischer-Tropsch product, hydrogenated ethylene polymer or hydrogenated fatty acid.  Dehydrogenation to the olefin is effected in the presence of a non-isomerizing catalyst, e.g. a Group VIA metal oxide on a non-acidic carrier, preferably chromia on alumina with added alkali metal oxide.  Halogenation is effected with chlorine or bromine at 10-50 DEG  C. Subsequent alkylation is also conventional using an acidic or Friedel-Crafts catalyst.  Biodegradable detergents are obtained from the alkybenzenes by sulphonation followed by neutralization with sodium hydroxide or alternatively by nitration followed by reduction to the mono-amino compound which is condensed with ethylene oxide or propylene oxide to a polyoxyalkylenated detergent product containing 10-15 oxyalkylene units.  Alkylphenols are directly oxyalkylenated with ethylene oxide or propylene oxide to introduce 6-15 oxyalkylene units.  In an example a composition is formed from 60% wt. of sodium secondary alkyl benzene sulphonate and 40% sodium sulphate, the secondary alkyl group being introduced by a n-olefin product obtained by dehydrogenation of a C11-C15 normal paraffin mixture separated from a kerosene.