The Chemithon Corporation

David E Farmer

William B Sheats

Norman C Foster

Thomas J Loughney

Ronald K Borrevik

A process is provided for sulfonating an organic reactant which, upon sulfonation, produces a viscous sulfonation reaction product having a viscosity substantially greater than 1,500 centipoises at a reaction temperature wherein the sulfonation reaction product is more than 85% by weight completely reacted. The process utilizes an elongated, enclosed reactor surface greater than about 15 feet in length having upstream and downstream ends and equipped with a heat exchanging surface. The process comprises cocurrently flowing a film of organic reactant and a gaseous sulfonating agent downwardly in the reactor while pressurizing the sulfonating agent cocurrently along said reactor surface while providing a pressure drop between upstream and downstream ends of the reactor to impart sufficient velocity to the gaseous sulfonating agent to thin the film of the viscous sulfonation product. The reactor surface is provided with sufficient length to subject the film to contact with the high velocity gaseous mixture for sufficient time to produce a sulfonation reaction product which is greater than about 85% by weight completely reacted.

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Seattle, WA, United States of America

David E Farmer