Sulphonation ( Chemithon)

1) Why is SO3 concentration required in case of ethoxylated product less in comparison to that
required for AOS?
2) How can we run plant at partial capacities? How does it impact the economics of the
process.
3) “The chilled air is then dried in dual, automatic pulse-less desiccant-type air dryers to a dew
point of –80°C (–112°F).”
4) What are the equipments that need to be taken care off for maintaining a fixed mole ratio?
5) What do we mean by free oil in case of sulphonation process? We are not using any
triglycerides here.
6) How do the 2 air dryers work?
7) “If the dryer bed is too hot, the process air dew point will be higher than desirable due to
the increased equilibrium concentration of water in the hot air exiting the dryer.”
8) Are we converting the regeneration air for steam generation?
9) “The sulfur passes through a highly accurate mass flow meter prior to delivery to the sulfur
burner.” What is this meter? How is it different from other flow meters?
10) Freezing pt. of sulphur:112.8 degree C
11) Minimum viscosity at 136 degree C
12) refractory-lined atomizing sulfur burner where combustion with the dry process air generates
sulfur dioxide (SO2).
13) sulfur dioxide gas leaving the burner is cooled to 420°C and delivered to a three-stage
vanadium pentoxide catalytic converter, where the gas is filtered and converted to sulfur
trioxide (SO3).
14) Convertor efficiency is 99-99.5%
15) the sulfur trioxide gas leaving the converter is cooled to nearly ambient temperature in an
SO3 double pipe cooler Page 22 of 36 © 1997 The Chemithon Corporation followed by an
SO3 water cooled heat exchanger.
16) For reaching a dew point of -60 degree celcius at air temp of 6-7 degree C , RH should be 2-3
%
17) Why are we using a cascade cooler in chemithon when we can pass the tubes through shell
and tube HE
18) Organic is pumped with the help of a gear pump
19) The mole ratio needs to be kept in check but which is given priority, organic or SO3, it seems
like it is given to organic with the help of the gear pump mostly, can we control the SO3 feed
rate, where does it have to go?
20) Suppose SO3 is not being supplied in required amounts what is the procedure then. Also in
the opposite case?
21) What is the enthalpy of this reaction?
22) A molecule of anionic surfactant is composed of a lipophilic oil soluble “tail” (typically an
organic molecule C12-C14) and a hydrophilic water soluble “head” (such as SO3 −).

Sulfonation is the term that identifies an electrophilic chemical reaction where a sulfonic group
SO3H is incorporated into a molecule with the capacity to donate electrons. The product of this
chemical reaction is recognized as sulfonic acid if the electron donor molecule is a carbon.

On the other hand, the sulfating process involves the incorporation of the SO3H molecules to an
oxygen atom in an organic molecule to form C−O−S bonds and the sulfate group (Figure 1). Sulfates
acids can be easily hydrolyzed, and for this reason an immediate neutralization is required after the
sulfate group is formed

23) SLS reaction has an enthalpy of -150 KJ/Mole

24) Olefin sulfonation ∆H = -210 kJ/mol
25) As long as the reaction advances the viscosity of the liquid phase increases (ca. 100 times the
initial value). The depletion of reactants reduces the reaction rate and the increase of
viscosity slow down the mass transfer process in the film. In this point the co-current
coolant, this has already removed a huge amount of heat from the first reactor zone, works
as a heating current that controls the viscosity of the film.
26) 25 mm diameter and 7 mtr long tubes
27) Residence time in reactor is 2-3 minutes.

28)
29) Caustic soda, usually 50 wt% NaOH, is the most common neutralizing agent. However,
caustic potash, aqueous ammonia, triethanolamine, and other agents are compatible with
the neutralizer.
30) A positive displacement pump circulates paste through the process heat exchanger and a
large portion of this stream recycles back to the mixer. A pressure control valve allows
product to leave the recycle system as feed enters.
31) The detergent market is rapidly changing as a result of three interrelated drivers. The first is
the "green" movement in which consumers are demanding environmentally friendly
products and packaging. The second is the move toward compact detergents which
eliminate large bulk fillers from detergent formulations. The third is a desire on the part of
consumers for "natural" products which are perceived as purer and less harmful to the
environment. All of these forces are moving detergent producers to modify their processes
and their choice of feedstocks.
32) Chemithon Turbo TubeTM dryer. Do we have it here? Why not?
33) How do we dispose off any spillage?
34) How much time does foam take to settle? How to defoam? Is there any additive for it? Does
it affect our product specifications?
35) How is the co current reaction feasible? Why not counter current?
36) What different kind of pumps does chemithon use?
 37) Why is the space required by chemithon smaller comparatively?
38) What are the capacities of both Old and new sulphonation?
39) Does the product form foam during transportation?
40) How are we ensuring that people in sulphonation are not inhaling a lot of SO2?
41) If the product quality is the same in new and old sulphonation, is it economic for us to run old
sulphonation now?

What do you mean by hystric (triple pressed stearic acid)?

What do you mean by assay GLC/

How does a coriolis flow meter work ?

FAT SPLITTING

What are tocopherols ( natural antioxidants in fats that inhibit auto oxidation )

What are the unsaponifiable materials present in oils? E.g. Sterols

Why does agitation in the FSP column degrade the process efficiency?

What is the reason for darkening of oil at elevated temperatures?

Does glycerine decompose into Acrolein at such high temperatures in the column?

Catalyts promote decomposition of glycerine into acrolein

At what height is the sparge ring located?