THE DESULFONATION OF PHENOLSULFONIC ACIDS IN AQUEOUS SODIUM HYDROGEN SULFATE MIXTURES

Abstract Phenol and phenolsulfonic acids are rapidly sulfonated and desulfonated in aqueous sodium hydrogen sulfate, with or without added sulfuric acid. At temperatures above 130°C, desulfonation competes with sulfonaton sufficiently to allow steam stripping of phenol from the reaction mixtures, even under conditions of low water content. Above 170°C removal of phenol is less efficient because the water content is very low and the predominant species in the reaction mixture is 2,4,6-phenoltrisulonate. Key Words: Phenolphenolsulfonic acid sulfonationdesulfonationsodium hydrogen sulfatekineticsHPLC