Abstract: A method for sulfonating olefins comprising the steps of mixing (A) internal olefins having 8 to 22 carbon atoms with (B) alpha-olefins having an average carbon atom number, larger by 3 to 7 than that of the internal olefins (A) in a weight ratio of (A)/(B)=95/5 to 5/95, and sulfonating the resultant mixture with a sulfonating agent. Thus, internal olefins can be sulfonated at a high conversion.

Abstract: A mixture of a saturated fatty acid ester sulfonate and an unsaturated fatty acid ester sulfonate, which is useful as an active ingredient of a detergent, is prepared at a stroke by sulfonating a mixture of a saturated fatty acid ester and an unsaturated fatty acid ester by using as a sulfonating agent a saturated fatty acid ester having SO.sub.3 adsorbed therein in an amount larger than the equimolar amount, and then neutralizing the sulfonation product.

Abstract: A method for sulfonating polystyrene having an average molecular weight of 200 to 50,000 in a halogenated hydrocarbon solvent comprising the step of reacting the polystyrene with a sulfonating agent under a condition of a shearing force of 0.08 to 1.5 N/cm.sup.2 by using an agitator satisfying the following requirements (I) and (II):0.1<d/l<0.7 (I)4<Q/V<400 (II)wherein d is a blade diameter (m) of the agitator, l is a nominal diameter of a mixing reaction chamber, Q is a discharge amount (m.sup.3 /min) of the agitator, V is a liquid volume (m.sup.3) of the mixing reactor chamber, and Q/V represents a circulation number (l/min).

Abstract: A process for producing the salt of an alpha-sulfo fatty acid alkyl ester having the general formula (I): ##STR1## wherein R.sub.1 is an alkyl or alkenyl group having 6 to 20 carbon atoms, R.sub.2 is an alkyl or alkenyl group having 2 to 8 carbon atoms, and M is an alkali metal, an alkaline earth metal, ammonium, or an organic base comprising the steps of:sulfonating a fatty acid alkyl ester having the general formula (II):R.sub.1 CH.sub.2 COOR.sub.2 (II)wherein R.sub.1 and R.sub.2 are the same as defined above;neutralizing the sulfonated product; anddecomposing a sulfonic acid anhydride having the general formula (III): ##STR2## wherein R.sub.1 and R.sub.2 are the same as defined above, contained in the reaction mixture. Thus, the desired salt of an alpha-sulfo fatty acid alkyl ester can be produced at a high yield from a fatty acid alkyl ester having an ester-bonded alkyl group with 2 or more carbon atoms.

Abstract: A surfactant composition comprising: (A) a sulfonic acid salt of a lower alkyl ester of a C.sub.8 to C.sub.22 saturated fatty acid; and (B) a sulfonic acid salt of a lower alkyl ester of a C.sub.8 to C.sub.22 unsaturated fatty acid, wherein the weight ratio (A/B) of the component (A) to the component (B) is 95/5 to 5/95.This surfactant composition has improved rinsing properties without reduced detergency characteristics.

Abstract: A process for producing a sulfonate of an unsaturated fatty acid lower alkyl ester comprising the steps of:(i) sulfonating a mixture of (A) a lower alkyl ester of an unsaturated C.sub.8 to C.sub.22 fatty acid and (B) a lower alkyl ester of a saturated C.sub.8 to C.sub.22 fatty acid in a weight ratio of (A)/(B)=90/10 to 5/95 with a sulfonating agent in such a manner that the amount of the unreacted component (A) in the total unreacted components in the mixture is at least 0.3% by weight; and(ii) neutralizing and hydrolyzing the sulfonated product.This process provides the desired sulfonate of unsaturated fatty acid ester having a pale tone color at a high conversion. When the sulfonated product is separated by using (a) a polyol (or polyhydric alcohol) having 2 to 8 carbon atoms, (b) an alkylene glycol in a liquid state at an ambient temperature, or (c) an olefin having 6 to 30 carbon atoms, the desired sulfonate can be separated at a high recovery efficiency and with good workability.

Abstract: A process for effectively removing unreacted oil from a surfactant slurry containing the same comprising:continuously feeding steam from one side of a pressure vessel into an anionic surfactant slurry containing unreacted oil in the pressure vessel while maintaining a pressure in the system of at least 5 kg/cm.sup.2 ; andsimultaneously discharging the anionic surfactant slurry from the other side of the pressure vessel into a low pressure region to effect vaporization of the unreacted oil from the anionic surfactant slurry.

Abstract: An odorless polyoxyethylene alkyl ether sulfate concentrate having a concentration of about 85 wt. % or more can be obtained by treating a polyoxyethylene alkyl ether sulfate aqueous solution having a concentration of about 60-80 wt. % under reduced pressure and at a temperature of 50.degree.-130.degree. C.

Abstract: Alkylbenzene is sulfonated in a thin film type sulfonation process by adding 2 through 20 parts by weight, based on 100 parts by weight of said alkylbenzene, of alkylbenzene sulfonic acids having alkyl groups of 1 through 20 carbon atoms and/or benzene sulfonic acids to the alkylbenzene prior to the contact thereof with diluted gaseous sulfur trioxide. The addition of alkylbenzene sulfonic acids and/or benzenesulfonic acid effectively prevents the formation of adherent deposits on the surface of a reaction wall.

Abstract: A liquid detergent composition is provided which contains, based on the total weight of the composition, 5-40 wt. % of an anionic surface active agent, 1-10 wt. % of an amine oxide, 0.5-5 wt. % of an alkali metal halide and 0.04-1.5 wt. % of at least one inorganic salt selected from sulfites, phosphates and thiosulfates. The liquid detergent composition does not corrode a manufacturing apparatus and is excellent in detergency and is mild to the skin.

Abstract: Light colored homogeneous and aqueous alpha olefin sulfonate solutions wherein about 10 to about 30 wt. % of the sulfonate contained in said alpha olefin sulfonate solutions is 4-hydroxyalkane sulfonate.

Abstract: Clear and homogeneous aqueous olefin sulfonate solutions having no turbidity and suitable for use, as an active ingredient, in synthetic detergents. These solutions contains (i) 20 through 45% by weight of olefin sulfonate, (ii) 0.1 through 5 parts by weight, based on 100 parts by weight of the olefin sulfonate, of component A selected from the group consisting of (a) aliphatic polycarboxylates having carbon atoms of 2 through 6, (b) benzoates and (c) benzene carboxylates having at least one substituent selected from hydroxyl group and sulfonic group, and (iii) 1 through 10 parts by weight, based on 100 parts by weight of the olefin sulfonate, of component B selected from the group consisting of monocarboxylate having carbon atoms of 1 through 3 and gluconates.

Abstract: A homogeneous aqueous alpha-olefin sulfonate composition, which does not form "liquid crystal" due to temperature change and/or with the lapse of time, is presented. This composition contains, as a "liquid crystal" formation inhibitor, approximately 1 to approximately 10 parts by weight, based on 100 parts by weight of the alpha-olefin sulfonate, of at least one additive selected from the group consisting of allyl sulfonic acid, methallyl sulfonic acid, sorbic acid, gluconic acid, malic acid and the salts of said acids.

Abstract: A process for manufacturing a highly concentrated sulfate solution or slurry which comprises neutralizing a sulfuric ester of higher alcohol or its ethoxylate with an aqueous caustic alkali solution, thereby preparing a crude neutralization product containing the sulfate in the range of from 45 wt. % to 55 wt. % and the caustic alkali in the range of from 1.5 wt. % to 3.5 wt. % and having a viscosity less than 50 poise; and commingling the resulting crude neutralization product with the sulfuric ester in the range of from 30 parts by weight to 100 parts by weight per 100 parts by weight of the crude neutralization product and a highly concentrated caustic alkali solution capable of sufficiently neutralizing the sulfuric ester, thereby reducing the quantity of sulfate contained in the resulting mixture in the range of from 60 wt. % to 75 wt. % and the quantity of caustic alkali contained therein less than 0.5 wt. % of the quantity of sulfate.

Abstract: Process for the production of light-colored internal olefin sulfonates substantially free from unreacted olefins comprises sulfonating an internal olefin with gaseous SO.sub.3 to produce a sulfonation reaction mixture, neutralizing said sulfonation reaction mixture with caustic alkali without hydrolysis of sulton contained in the mixture, adding to the neutralized sulfonation reaction mixture an extracting reagent selected from halogenated hydrocarbons to form an extract phase containing unreacted olefin and a raffinate phase containing internal olefin sulfonates and sultons, and hydrolyzing the resulting raffinate phase in the presence of caustic alkali.

Abstract: Disclosed is a process for producing the magnesium salt of an olefin sulfonic acid comprising the steps of:sulfonating and neutralizing an olefin having 10 to 20 carbon atoms, and; then,hydrolyzing sultone contained in the resulting neutralization product in the presence of,(a) magnesium hydroxide, magnesium oxide and a mixture thereof and(b) an additive selected from the group consisting of benzoic acid, citric acid, malic acid, phosphoric acid, polyphosphoric acid and water-soluble salts thereof,at a temperature within the range of from 110.degree. C. to 180.degree. C.

Abstract: Disclosed is a process for producing a clear aqueous solution of the magnesium salt of an olefin sulfonic acid by (i) sulfonating an olefin with an gaseous sulfur trioxide, (ii) neutralizing the resulting sulfonated olefin with an inorganic alkali consisting of magnesium hydroxide and/or oxide and an organic amine selected from water-soluble alkanol amines in specified amounts and, then, (iii) heating the neutralized mixture at a pH of from 6.0 to 8.0. Thus, a clear aqueous solution of the magnesium salt of an olefin sulfonic acid having no bad odor and no color deterioration can be obtained.

Abstract: A method of preparing a light-colored internal olefin sulfonate at a high yield, which comprises sulfonating an internal olefin with SO.sub.3 gas under 1.3 moles per 1 mole of said olefin thereby producing a sulfonation mixture which still contains 10 to 20% by weight of unreacted olefin, adding anhydrous sodium sulfate and concentrated sulfuric acid to this sulfonation mixture thereby further sulfonating said unreacted olefin, neutralizing the resulting sulfonation product with caustic alkali and then hydrolyzing the thus neutralized product.