Sulfolane - Applications
Agrochemicals
Sulfolane may be used in processes for the formation of insecticides, herbicides and fungicides, chiefly due to the advantages provided by the non-reactivity and high temperature profile of this polar inert solvent.
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Aromatic Extraction
The Sulfolane Extraction Process (licensed by UOP) is used for the production of aromatic hydrocarbons for gasolines, jet fuels and special boiling point solvents.
It combines liquid-liquid extraction with extractive distillation to recover high purity aromatics from reformate or hydrotreated pyrolysis naphtha feeds.
Using Sulfolane minimises utility consumption and capital investment costs, increases plant capacity, reduces utility consumption and improves product purity.
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Dyestuffs
To increase the colour-fastness of dispersed dyes applied to hydrophobic synthetic fibres, Sulfolane can be used as an intensifier.
Electronics
As a component of electrolyte solvents in batteries with lithium or similar light metal anodes, Sulfolane confers a higher efficiency to those batteries than previously used electrolytes.
Extractive Distillation
Sulfolane can be used as a reflux liquid to effectively separate compounds with similar boiling points.
Fractionation
Preliminary liquid phase extraction with Sulfolane allows fatty acids to be fractionated into saturated and unsaturated components.
Gas Sweetening (Sulfinol Process)
The Sulfinol Process (licensed by Shell) is used for purifying acidic (or sour) gas streams, ie the removal of compounds such as hydrogen sulphide, carbon dioxide, carbon oxysulphide, carbon disulphide and mercaptans.
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Pharmaceutical
Sulfolane is a high purity, versatile polar aprotic solvent that is used in the synthesis of raw materials and intermediates or as a full process solvent medium. It is miscible with water and aromatic hydrocarbons and has exceptional chemical and thermal stability. Sulfolane can also be recycled. www.degussa4pharma.com/auxi.asp
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Polymer Production
As a polymerisation solvent, Sulfolane can be used in a number of systems, such as water soluble polysaccharide polymers prepared from a glucose solution in Sulfolane with a phosphoric acid catalyst.
Cellulose acetate and polylactams benefit from the addition of Sulfolane to act as a plasticiser.
Printing Inks
Jet printing ink formulations containing Sulfolane has good storage stability, do not clogg printer nozzles, and give high quality prints with good fixation on substrates.
Reaction Solvent
Sulfolane is an excellent solvent for numerous reactions, particularly those where anhydrous and polar solvents are required.
Textiles
Sulfolane is used as a spinning and casting solvent giving an improvement in the properties of synthetic fibres and fabrics.