Claims
- 1. In the process for making alkylbenzene sulfonate compounds comprising:
- (A) alkylation of aromatic compounds to produce alkylbenzene compounds wherein the alkyl group has between about 6 and about 20 carbon atoms therein, followed by
- (B) sulfonation of the alkylbenzene compounds to produce the alkylphenylsulfonate derivative thereof;
- the improvement comprising selective production of alkylphenylsulfonates having reduced proportion of the 2-alkylphenylsulfonate isomer thereof; said improvement resulting from contact of the isomeric mixture of alkylbenzene compounds produced in Step (A) above, prior to carrying out Step (B) above, with a crystalline zeolite catalyst having a constraint index of about 1 to 12 and a silica to alumina mole ratio of at least 12, at a temperature of between about 150.degree. C. and 550.degree. C. and a pressure of between about 10.sup.4 N/m.sup.2 and 10.sup.6 N/m.sup.2.
- 2. The process of claim 1 wherein said crystalline zeolite catalyst is chosen from the group consisting of ZSM-5, ZSM-11, ZSM-12, ZSM-23, ZSM-35, ZSM-38, ZSM-48 and offretite.
- 3. The process of claim 1 wherein said alkylphenylsulfonate comprises dodecylbenzenesulfonate.
- 4. The process of claim 1 wherein said temperature is between 200.degree. C. and 400.degree. C. and said pressure is between 5.times.10.sup.4 N/m.sup.2 and 5.times.10.sup.5 N/m.sup.2.
- 5. The process of claim 1 wherein said zeolite is ZSM-5.
- 6. The process of claim 1 wherein said zeolite is ZSM-23.
- 7. The process of claim 1 wherein said zeolite is offretite.
- 8. The process of claim 1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 6 or 7 wherein said zeolite catalyst additionally comprises a binder therefor.
CROSS-REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATION
This is a Continuation-In-Part of U.S. Application Ser. No. 61,222, filed July 27, 1979, now U.S. Pat. No. 4,234,751, issued Nov. 18, 1980.
US Referenced Citations (2)
Number |
Name |
Date |
Kind |
3342888 |
DeWitt et al. |
Sep 1967 |
|
3352933 |
Sorgenti |
Nov 1967 |
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Divisions (1)
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Number |
Date |
Country |
Parent |
61222 |
Jul 1979 |
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