Sodium, Petroleum Sulfonates from Some Indian Crudes: Synthesis and Evaluation

The present study deals with the synthesis, identification and evaluation of sodium petroleum sulfonates synthesized from two Indian crudes. The fractions of different boiling ranges were sulfonated using sulfuric acid and 20% oleum as sulfonating agent and the relationships were established between boiling range, sulfonate yield and quality of the product. The yield seems to depend upon the type of the sulfonating agent as well as on the ratio of the oil to sulfonating agent. The sulfonated products were identified by converting them into methyl esters. The methyl esters of the sulfonated products were compared with the esters of sodium naphthalene sulfonates by thin layer chromatography and infrared spectroscopy. The sulfonates synthesised were evaluated for their surface and interfacial tension reduction power in aqueous media against benzene. The interfacial tension of indigeneously synthesised products were also compared with that of sodium dodecyl sulfate (SDS) and TRS 10-410 (a commercial product). The indigenously synthesised products have shown comparable reduction in interfacial tension.