Claims
- 1. A method for neutralizing alkyl benzene sulfonic acid to provide alkyl benzene sulfonate, the method comprising steps of:(a) mixing alkyl benzene sulfonic acid with at least one of alkali metal salt, alkaline earth salt, and mixture thereof in an extruder to provide a mixture, wherein the extruder is operated at a screw speed of at least about 20 rpm, (b) neutralizing the alkyl benzene sulfonic acid to alkyl benzene sulfonate.
- 2. A method according to claim 1, wherein the alkyl benzene sulfonic acid comprises linear dodecyl benzene sulfonic acid.
- 3. A method according to claim 1, wherein the step of mixing comprises mixing the alkyl benzene sulfonic acid with a mixture of alkali metal salt and alkaline earth salt.
- 4. A method according to claim 3, wherein the alkali metal salt comprises sodium metal salt, and the alkaline earth salt comprises magnesium salt.
- 5. A method according to claim 4, wherein the molar ratio of sodium metal salt to magnesium salt is 3:1 to 1:1.
- 6. A method according to claim 4, wherein the molar ratio of sodium metal salt to magnesium salt is about 2:1.
- 7. A method according to claim 1, wherein the mixture is provided at a pressure of between about 5 psig and about 150 psig.
- 8. A method according to claim 1, wherein the extruder comprises a single screw extruder.
- 9. A method according to claim 1, wherein the extruder comprises a twin screw extruder.
- 10. A method according to claim 1, wherein the extruder is operated at a screw speed of between about 20 rpm and about 300 rpm.
- 11. A method according to claim 1, wherein the extruder is operated at a screw speed of between about 40 rpm and about 150 rpm.
- 12. A method according to claim 1, wherein the mixture in the extruder is provided at a temperature of between about 50° C. and about 200° C.
- 13. A method according to claim 1, further comprising a step of:(a) discharging the alkyl benzene sulfonate at a temperature of at least about 30° C.
- 14. A method according to claim 1, wherein the mixture in the extruder is provided at a pressure of between about 5 psig and about 6000 psig.
- 15. A method according to claim 1, further comprising a step of:(a) discharging the alkyl benzene sulfonate directly into a packaging receptacle.
- 16. A method according to claim 1, wherein the step of neutralizing occurs during the step of mixing.
- 17. A method according to claim 1, wherein the steps of mixing and neutralizing occur without the application of external heat to the extruder.
Parent Case Info
This application is a divisional of application Ser. No. 09/282,001, filed Mar. 29, 1999, now U.S. Pat. No. 6,387,870, which application is incorporated herein by reference.
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