Abstract: Disclosed are methods for making the phosphonium sulfonate salt of generic formula (1): wherein each X is independently a halogen or hydrogen, provided that the molar ratio of halogen to hydrogen is greater than about 0.90; p is 0 or 1 and q and r are integers of 0 to about 7 provided that q+r is less than 8 and that if p is 1 then r is greater than zero; and each R is the same or different hydrocarbon radical containing 1 to about 18 carbon atoms, the method comprising the steps of combining in an aqueous medium, a compound of the generic formula (2): wherein M is K, and X, q, p, and r are as defined above, with a compound of the generic formula (3): (R)4P-Z ??(3) wherein Z is a halogen and R is as defined above; and separating the phosphonium sulfonate of formula (1) from the aqueous medium. Also disclosed is an antistatic composition comprising phosphonium sulfonate (1), and articles prepared therefrom.