| abstract |
The invention relates to a process for extracting paraffins from their mixtures with alkanesulfonic acids. In the preparation of alkanesulfonic acids by sulfoxidation of C 12 to C 18 n paraffins using UV radiation to initiate the reaction (light-water process), a mixture is obtained which spontaneously removes a substantial portion of unreacted paraffins from a mixture containing the alkanesulfonic acids together with water, sulfuric acid and n-paraffins allowed. To this mixture are added one or more alcohols having four or less carbon atoms, preferably isopropanol, to form a biphasic mixture. This biphasic mixture is treated with supercritical CO2 to extract the n-paraffins, which are recycled to the sulfoxidation process. The paraffin-free product is suitable for the preparation of alkanesulfonates of the desired type by neutralization with suitable bases. |